Based
on data I have received (list of species, characterizations of areas,
specimens) all these areas are ecologically valuable. These areas
are valuable despite of the fact that most of them are fairly small
in size and quite separated from each other.
Althought
the inventories have been done in hurry, several species of old-growth
forests and endangered forest species have been found in all areas.
However, these areas can be compared to other old-growth forest areas
(which are already known and inventoried earlier) after thorough
inventories of species. Therefore the loggings in these areas should
be cancelled in order that the surveys could be done. I do not doubt
for a moment that thorough research would prove these areas to be
among the most valuable old-growth forests in Northern Karelia.
The value
of these areas is further increased by the fact that they are situated
in southern part of Finland. As protected areas they would make a
good contribution to the network of protected areas, heart of which
is the Patvinsuo National Park.
Mr.
Heikki Kotiranta
Finnish
Environmental Institute
Nature
and Land Use Division
P.O.
Box 140
FIN-00251
Helsinki Finland