Jukajoki River restoration project - Linnunsuo wetland co-management
- Country
- Finland
- Site/Location
- North Karelia
- Link
- http://www.snowchange.org/re-wilding-actions-in-finland-snowchange-hq-in-selkie/
- Contact
- antoinescherer.pro@gmail.com
The Linnunsuo wetland is located in North Karelia, Finland. Once a pristine boreal marshmire, the area has been destroyed by decades of peat mining. This industry turned the former peatland into a source of pollution for the whole Jukajoki river basin, which led to a series of ecological disasters that affected the local communities. Together, they managed to make the peat energy company stop its destructive activities there and restore the area.
Linnunsuo is now a 110 hectare restored wetland (the largest in Finland) owned by Snowchange Cooperative, who is managing the area in collaboration with all local actors. This innovative co-management gathers birdwatchers, hunters, fishermen, academic and private partners and local authorities, among others. This system aims to break down the dominant top-down model for land use, as the different actors are consulted before taking any management decision and participate in field actions whenever needed.
As the area is still under restoration, the Linnunsuo wetland co-management system is showing by example how the communal use of the landscapes can benefit both nature and people. In addition to being highly relevant in terms of climate change, the Linnunsuo wetland is now a place of great importance for birds and many other animals, and the restoration of nature is accompanied by a strong focus on preserving traditional sustainable livelihoods. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is used in a complementary way with more modern science to ensure the effectiveness of restoration work, as well as to recognize the value of local cultures and the need for more inclusive systems.
The Linnunsuo wetland, in the context of the Jukajoki restoration project, is one of the flagship sites of the nation-wide Landscape Rewilding Programme, which aims to restore back to health thousands of hectares of boreal forests and peatlands in Finland.
The Linnunsuo wetland is located in North Karelia, Finland. Once a pristine boreal marshmire, the area has been destroyed by decades of peat mining. This industry turned the former peatland into a source of pollution for the whole Jukajoki river basin, which led to a series of ecological disasters that affected the local communities. Together, they managed to make the peat energy company stop its destructive activities there and restore the area.
Linnunsuo is now a 110 hectare restored wetland (the largest in Finland) owned by Snowchange Cooperative, who is managing the area in collaboration with all local actors. This innovative co-management gathers birdwatchers, hunters, fishermen, academic and private partners and local authorities, among others. This system aims to break down the dominant top-down model for land use, as the different actors are consulted before taking any management decision and participate in field actions whenever needed.
As the area is still under restoration, the Linnunsuo wetland co-management system is showing by example how the communal use of the landscapes can benefit both nature and people. In addition to being highly relevant in terms of climate change, the Linnunsuo wetland is now a place of great importance for birds and many other animals, and the restoration of nature is accompanied by a strong focus on preserving traditional sustainable livelihoods. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is used in a complementary way with more modern science to ensure the effectiveness of restoration work, as well as to recognize the value of local cultures and the need for more inclusive systems.
The Linnunsuo wetland, in the context of the Jukajoki restoration project, is one of the flagship sites of the nation-wide Landscape Rewilding Programme, which aims to restore back to health thousands of hectares of boreal forests and peatlands in Finland.
