About 9000 hectares of old-growth forests of Northern Karelia and southern parts of Kainuu were left out of the protection program for state-owned old-growth forests of southern Finland in autumn 1996.

Although lots of ecological surveys have been done in these areas by both Environmental authorities, FPS itself and NGO`s, Finnish Assocation for Nature Conservation and Nature League decided to collect more data from old-growth forests which had been left out of protection plans. Among these areas nine forests were chosen and quick surveys were done in september 1996. We collected data mainly of polypores (fungi), flying squirrel and some other easily identified old-growth species. Also data of age structure of the forests and amount of dead and decaying wood were collected.

NGOs asked two experts of old-growth forest research (specialized in polypore species) in Finland to write statements based on data collected from the forests.

Mr. Tuomo Niemelä from University of Helsinki and Mr. Heikki Kotiranta from Finnish Environmental Institute wrote statements, saying among other things, that the areas could definitely be classified as valuable old-growth forests. Quotations under the photos are from statement of Mr. Niemelä. Click here to see the statement of Mr. Kotiranta

Of these nine areas in question, three was partially logged during the autumn 1996, and one forest was logged completely in december. New loggings have been planned by FPS.

"Among other values, several habitats of endangered flyinq squirrel prove that this area is worth of protection. Basic data I have received tells that area should definitely be protected." Mr. Tuomo Niemelä, University of Helsinki

"Forestry activities must not be allowed to harm biodiversity. The FPS`s entire staff is trained to take the natural values of the forest into account in its daily work." Forest and Park Service, 1996

"..Great amount of species depending on old-growth, undisturbed forests have been found in this area... Inventories have been done in short time, but they`ve revealed better nature values that in many of Finlands nationalparks." Mr. Tuomo Niemelä, University of Helsinki

"..key biotopes for threatened species are deliberately excluded from forestry, or else management methods applied are aimed at enchangening their natural value." Forest and Park Service, 'flexible forestry', 1996.