March 29, 1999: Finnish state enterprise Forest and Park Service continues clearcutting the last remaining old-growth forests in eastern Finland. Old-growth forests with trees up to several hundreds years old have been logged in this spring especially in municipality of Kuhmo close to the Russian border.

Forest Service sells most of its timber to StoraEnso, UPM-Kymmene and Vapo Timber.
Hundreds of truckloads of old-growth timber has been transported to Finnish factories from old-growth forests in region.

Take a look at the photos in this page and visit the pages below - reports from different areas. You can also click arrows on the map.

This is Finnish forestry in 1999 - not sustainable at all.

>>> Photo report from old-growth forest area Kangaslampi, Kuhmo

>>> Old-growth forest area Haukilammet, Kuhmo

>>> Greenpeace Nordic takes action in Kukkuri forest

More old-growth logging to come

In spring 1999 the Forest and Park Service will clearcut five old-growth forests more in Kuhmo municipality. Timber from old-growth forests situated close to the Russian border very close to the nature protection areas Ulvinsalo and Elimyssalo has already been sold to UPM-Kymmene, StoraEnso and Vapo Timber.

Areas in question are included in the list of valuable old-growth forests in Finnish state lands made by all major Finnish NGOs in 1998. List and maps of areas were handed out to Forest Service and industry in January 1998. No actions have been taken by authorities to protect these forests. Industry keeps buying all the old-growth timber the Forest Service delivers.

Photo: Spruce dominated old-growth forest waiting for to be clearcutted near Ulvinsalo nature protection area. Ancient pine trees can be seen in silhouette of the forest.

Photos by the Finnish Nature League 1999 / Risto Sauso