Hämeenvaara - area in municipality of Taivalkoski
Old-growth forest destruction in Finland by governmental Forest and Park Service 2001 and 2002

"Majority of the Hämeenvaara forest has remained almost in its natural state... a considerable amount of exceptionally valuable old-growth forest rich in broad-leaves and dead wood can be found in the area.."
Inventory report of Forest and Park Service in 1994

JANUARY 2002 Forest activists have been camping at the Hämeenvaara forest site since January 7 where the state enterprize Forest and Park Service (FPS) logs old-growth forest. FPS has already several times asked the police to come to the site to make sure it can log the valuable forest. In the 1990s the Forest and Park Service stated through its CEO, Eero Tilli, that it will not "log forests under police protection". Recent events show that the FPS has changed its policy. RECENT PHOTOS BELOW.

According to inventories by the FPS itself, the area is an exceptionally valuable old-growth forest. "Ministry of environment is responsible for monitoring that the old growth forest protection programme is put into practice. It is the authority responsible for the matter." says Olli Manninen from the Finnish Nature League.

>>> The Forest and Park Service changes policy - Old-growth forests will be logged, under police protection if necessary Press release Jan. 8
>>> Government-owned old-growth forest is again felled in Taivalkoski - The high profit target of the Forest and Park Service allows no admissions for nature Press release Jan. 7

Hämeenvaara forest, Taivalkoski

Finding: old-growth forest logging allowed. Road construction in to the area began in the beginning of April 2001.

According to inventories by the Forest Service, the area is an exceptionally valuable old-growth forest. Several old-growth forest indicating and endangered species have been found in the area. Hämeenvaara is included in the Protection Program for Old-Growth Forests in Northern Finland as an area whose ecological value should be preserved by the Forest Service.

However, the area will be fragmented with 70-80 hectares of clearcuts in summer and winter of 2001.

During summer 2001, the Forest Service has made several attempts to start logging in the area. Every time activists of the Finnish Nature League have stopped the logging.

Tens of threatened and old-growth forest indicator species have been found from the area. One of the findings is endangered Flying squirrel.

More photographs and information on Hämeenvaara-forest from http://www.greenpeace.fi/forest