Asking for protection between Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi national parks.
This area contains invaluable natural forests that need immediate protection. Establishing a protected area in the area between national parks would create an important ecological corridor connecting the diverse forest areas of the national parks and other natural forests. It would also enable species to spread to new areas, ensure the survival of forest species and prevent habitat loss. metsäaktivisti Saga Lusa
What if the Helvetinjärvi and Seitseminen conservation areas looked like this?
The proposal for the expansion of the national park was made by the Pirkanmaa’s branch of Finnish Association for Nature Conservation and the forests were mapped by Luonnonmetsätyöryhmä. Metsähallitus has carried out logging in the area since the protection proposal, so when establishing a protected area, its location must be reassessed and, if necessary, the area expanded to ensure the restoration of the natural state as well as possible.
Natural forests must be protected
Between the Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi national parks lie numerous valuable natural sites that need immediate protection. There are an alarmingly few natural forests left in southern Finland, and the fragmentation of habitats is endangering the survival of species.
Four of the sites mapped by Luonnonmetsätyöryhmä are located in the area between the national parks. The Riuttaskorvi, Nallikallio, Alainenjärvi and Rontonmaa forests are still unprotected natural forests. In these forests you can find numerous threatened species and habitats, and even primeval forest.
Luonnonmetsätyöryhmä’s mapThe conservation proposal would unite forests
The protection proposal made by the Pirkanmaa district of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation would combine previously protected forest and bog areas between national parks into a single area. This would protect endangered species and habitats such as ravens and bogs living in the area.
Metsähallitus has carried out logging in the area since the protection proposal, so when establishing a protected area, its location should be reassessed and, if necessary, the area should be expanded to ensure the restoration of the natural state as well as possible.
Suomen Luonnonsuojeluliito’s proposalEcological corridors as a means to stopping nature loss
In addition to saving natural forests, protecting the forest between national parks would create an important ecological corridor. An ecological corridor would connect the already highly diverse forest areas of national parks and enable species to spread to new areas.
There are an alarmingly few natural forests left in Southern Finland, and protecting them alone is not enough. In order to stop the loss of nature or achieve international conservation goals, previously degraded habitats must also be protected and restored. A protected area between Helvetinjärvi and Seitseminen national parks would enable the spread of threatened species living in existing protected areas and ensure the survival of species despite habitat loss and climate change.
Article from Suomen Luonto magazine about ecological corridors (In Finnish)”It is becoming the last moment to save many threatened species and protect animal nesting in this area, which has been fragmented in recent years due to logging. Forests that have been in commercial use will be allowed to return to their natural state.” — Vilma Riitijoki
Korpikäytävä art project
20.10.2024 until the Seitseminen Nature Center
The artists in the Korpikäytävä exhibition include local artists and art that tells the story of the region's forests. The gallery will feature works by Outimaija Hakala, Anne Allo, Vilma Riitijoki, Meri Karhu, Aimo Kuivamäki, Johanna Havimäki and Aino Johansson. They deal with encounters in the forest, humans' relationship with their environment and other animals, and the possibilities of living in another world and empowerment.
Explore the art exhibition
Taiteilijat
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Korpikäytävä-event
On Finnish Nature Day 31.8.2024
On August 31 2024, Metsäliike and the Tampere Forest Group organized a public event called Korpikäytävän at the Seitseminen Nature Center, demanding the protection of the area between Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi. The event will bring the area's forests into public discussion by inviting researchers, decision-makers, local people and media representatives.
Check out the event and pictures
Exhibition opening
Panel discussion
The panel discussed the importance of ecological corridors, habitat fragmentation and climate goals as part of the conservation proposal. The panelists were Finlandia Prize-winning author and Chair of Luonnonperintösäätiön Anni Kytömäki, planner of the protected areas group of the Finnish Environment Institute's Nature Solutions unit Ninni Mikkonen, regional planning and national park planning expert and SLL Ylöjärvi Association Hannu Raittinen, and Metsähallitus' Kuru Area Manager Ilkka Korhonen.
Korpikäytävä’s forest camp
Nature mapping
Climbing training
Work together
The forests in the proposed protection area between Helvetinjärvi and Seitseminen national parks are state-owned and the decision on their logging is made by Metsähallitus. The area between the national parks can be protected either by expanding the area of the national park by a decision of Parliament or by forming another nature reserve by a decision of the government.
The Ministry of the Environment and Metsähallitus are responsible for the preparatory work, which must also hear the opinions of municipalities, regions and organisations. This means that you can influence them at many levels: the municipal councillors of Ruovesi and Ylöjärvi, the regional councillors of Pirkanmaa, members of parliament and Metsähallitus.