Half of the applications for compensation in Finland came from North Karelia. Damage was caused by white-fronted geese, whooper swans, ravens, cranes and terns.
Restrained animals caused a lot of damage in the province last year.
The most significant was the damage caused to crops by white-fronted geese. The area of crop damage was about 9 400 hectares, of which about 95% was grassland. Damage was also caused by song swans, ravens, cranes and terns.
Almost 270 applications for compensation were received from North Karelia, which is more than half of the number of applications in the whole country.
North Karelia received 2.8 million euros in compensation from the ELY center. The compensation amount was the largest in the province’s compensation history.
The damages for 2022 were still paid based on the old legislation. A new law on preventing and compensating damage caused by protected animals entered into force in February of this year. The goal of the new law is to develop and clarify the regulation on compensation for damages.