The Varsinais-Suomen district of the Nature Association and the Turku Ekokapina invite people to mourn the fate of the forest condemned to be felled in Skanssinmäki on Sunday.
Luontoliitto has tried to influence the will of the city of Turku to save Skanssinmäki forest from construction. The issue has been the *Kaadatan kaava, no forest* campaign of the Finnish Forest Association’s forest group.
The means have been a municipal initiative, an address, a demonstration and a discussion with municipal decision-makers. The companies have not produced results.
In 2021, the city of Turku has approved a site plan that indicates the construction of apartment buildings in the Skanssinmäki forest in the fast-growing Skanssi area.
According to the Norwegian Nature Association, the forest, rich in natural values, is disappearing under construction.
On Sunday, March 5, the Varsinais-Suomen district of the Nature Association and Turku Elokapina will organize the *Goodbye to Skanssimäki forest* event. Friends of the forest gather to mourn the fate of the forest condemned to be cut down at 5 p.m. The event begins with a gathering at the intersection of Skanssinkatu and Rompolitie.
Luontoliitto reminds us of significant nature values
The Nature Association is upset with the site plan of the city of Turku, under which a grove of noble trees has been left. According to the association, the city has classified it as a cultural grove. There is also a mountain ridge.
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Luontoliitto also highlights ambiguities related to the planning and decision-making process of the Skanssinmäki area.
– In the area of \u200b\u200bSkanssinmäki’s site plan, LUO sites were marked during the proposal stage of the general plan (a site important for the diversity of nature), but later the sites were removed from the list of LUO sites and the map. In terms of time, there seems to be a connection with the planning process, Aino Juvonen recalls the past stages.
In 2015, the environmental protection of the city of Turku also mapped the habitat types in the Skanssi area. It has found the nature under Skanssinmäki’s current site plan to be valuable.
Luontoliitto reminds us that zoning construction in forests is no longer sustainable urban planning at a time when consideration of nature loss and the climate crisis should be included in all decision-making. The Turku city strategy also states that ecological values \u200b\u200bguide Turku’s planning and construction.