Nature

In addition to the origins of the Saimaa ringed seal, a recent study has provided new information on the collapse of the genetic diversity of the Saimaa ringed seal.

The Saimaa ringed seal does not appear to be a close relative of the current eastern sea lions, as has been thought until now. According to new research, the evolutionary history of the Saimaa seal places it within the Arctic region, and more specifically within the North American seal group.

A surprising finding was revealed in a joint study by several Finnish universities and international research institutes. The evolutionary history of the Saimaa ringed seal was investigated using DNA from museum specimens.

The Saimaa ringed seal lives only on the Saimaa, where it is previously thought to have become isolated from other seals around 9,000 years ago, when land uplift cut off its route to the Baltic Sea at the end of the Ice Age. However, new research does not seem to support this view.

Also, the present-day Norse of the Viennese Sea, which are geographically the closest Arctic Norse to the Saimaa Norse, do not seem to be closely related to them. The same applies to the tile holder.

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New information on the origins of the Saimaa ringed seal: no close relatives of the Saimaa ringed seal are found in the present-day eastern sea orphansRead More »

Several tonnes of household waste have ended up in a river in Bosnia as a result of illegal dumping.

The Drina River, which flows through the Balkans, has become a huge garbage raft containing more than ten thousand cubic metres of rubbish.

The raft in Bosnia-Herzegovina has slowly formed as people illegally dumped various types of household waste into the river.

The bin contains plastic bottles, car tyres, used household appliances, etc.

The waste has accumulated in the river from several tributaries of the Drina, as well as from the illegal landfills located near it.

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The Drina River became the biggest garbage dump in the Balkans – see video of the huge waste binRead More »

On Saturday morning, the activists interviewed were about to go skiing on the fells. The demonstrators said they would again stop logging by Metsähallitus near the Aalistunturi protected area.

Demonstrators protesting against logging by Metsähallitus returned to the Aalistunturi area in Kolari today.

This Saturday morning, representatives of the so-called Forest Movement went skiing in the Aalal tundra. The protesters intend to stop the logging by Metsähallitus.

According to Korhonen, there are 14 demonstrators whose aim is to stop the forestry machines. On Saturday morning, Korhonen believed that they would “be carried out of the forest again”. Protesters have come to Aalistunturi from all over Finland

– Quite a large group is from Rovaniemi, says Korhonen.

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Protesters returned to Aalalunturi and plan to stop logging againRead More »

Before the winter, the Kipsi project started monitoring water quality in the Ostrobothnia regions with 9 new monitoring points. These will collect data on the impact of gypsum on the coarser soils in Ostrobothnia.

The KIPSI project, coordinated by the ELY Centre of Southwest Finland, has started monitoring water quality in the Ostrobothnia regions. Water quality is monitored at 9 new monitoring points. Data will be collected on the impact of gypsum in the coarser soils of Ostrobothnia.

The demand for gypsum in the summer of 2022 was very high, especially in the Ostrobothnia regions. In total, almost 38 000 hectares of arable land were applied for gypsum application aid.

It is estimated that the use of gypsum for soil improvement can significantly reduce the amount of solids and nutrient load to the sea off the coast of Ostrobothnia.

During a winter with plenty of water, we immediately get fresh information on how many nutrients are transported to the Gulf of Pohjanlahti and how well the gypsum retains the solids of the flooded fields and the phosphorus that accelerates the bloom of algae.

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The effects of gypsum treatment of fields on water quality in Ostrobothnia will be investigatedRead More »

Among other things, gliding squirrels thrive in the new nature reserves in northern Espoo. The city plans to establish several new nature reserves in the coming years.

Three new nature reserves have been created in northern Espoo, the city says in a press release.

New nature reserves The Liselott nature reserve is on Lake Siikka.

Liselott, which covers 2.4 hectares, is a valuable forest area with aspen and spruce trees, according to the city.

Breeding and resting places for flying squirrels have been found in the area. There is also a lot of rotting wood, which is important for biodiversity.

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Espoo establishes three new nature reservesRead More »

According to Managing Director Juha S. Niemelä, maintaining even current national parks requires a lot of money.

According to Niemelä, the maintenance of the current 41 national parks requires a lot of money, and their funding is not always even enough for the necessary maintenance.

The Ministry of the Environment has received numerous applications for new national parks, such as Kolar’s Aalistunturi, where logging was stopped this week by a protest.

According to Niemelä, the national park proposal should not be a way to prevent the cutting down of state forests.

More than 40 comments were received on the environmental impact assessment of the project.

The South Ostrobothnia Regional Development Centre calls for more attention to be paid to underwater nature and winter shipping in the planning of a giant offshore wind farm.

Skyborn Renewables Offshore Finland plans to build up to 120 power plants in the sea area off Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Uusikaarlepy. It would be located about 25 km off the coast.

The company’s environmental impact assessment programme received 46 comments and five opinions.

Traficom and Väylävirasto state in their statements that the evaluation should clarify the effects of the park on the shipping of the Gulf of Bothnia, both nationally and with a cross-border examination.

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Ely-Keskus: more attention to be paid to the effects of the Jättimäinen offshore wind farm on underwater nature and shippingRead More »

Investing in forest regeneration is in everyone’s interest. The renewed certification that will come into force at the beginning of February will also strengthen the sustainability of forest management and wood production.

Industrial demand for wood is at a significant level. This is due to the end of Russian timber imports, investments to increase the use of wood and the demand for energy wood.

Last year, 1.4 million cubic metres of wood were purchased from private forests in Lapland. This is 100,000 cubic metres less than the year before. Similarly, three million cubic metres were purchased in North Ostrobothnia and 1.8 million in Kainuu.

In Lapland, regional differences in the timber market are large. There are challenges in certain areas of Upper Lapland and Eastern Lapland, but the demand for energy wood has stimulated the timber market in these areas as well.

– This year, taking care of the growth condition of young forests and investing in the renewal of forests, i.e. increasing the amount of cultivation, will be particularly emphasized, states Heikkonen.

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A busy year of timber trade expected in Lapland – MTK says it is important to take care of the growth condition of young forestsRead More »

Last year, a citizens’ initiative brought results. Initially, open water swimming will be organised as a four-time trial.

Posians will have a new open-air swimming venue. It will open at the end of January in the Kirikeskus, a hotel in a mountain resort.

The open-air swimming spot was the result of a local initiative last winter.

Initially, open water swimming will be organised as a four-way trial.

The swimming spot is organized in cooperation with Posio municipality, Posio Pyrintö and Erämaahotelli Kirikeskus.

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Posians can take a dip in the open water at the end of JanuaryRead More »

A skating track of more than two kilometres appeared in Kontiolahti at the beginning of December. Now it is flooded with skaters and the lights of headlamps show that even the darkness of mid-winter does not stop skaters from enjoying the ice.

The light of an ice rink shines in the dusky evening on the ice of the small Onkilampi pond in Lehmo, Kontiolahti. Next to the lantern is a fresh sign directing pilgrims to dig the openings away from the newly opened skating rink, so that water does not rise to the ice and spoil the nature sports site, which was built with the help of volunteers.

However, Santa Claus from the Lehmo Village Association heard about the men’s efforts, and remembered them with a gift basket. Now a Lehmo entrepreneur has also started to sponsor fuel costs for the ploughmen.

Backcountry skiing is on a great upswing. In just a few years, the number of enthusiasts has increased by several thousand.

In addition to the people of Talkoo and companies, some municipalities have also made the joys of excursion skating possible. For example, a 10-kilometer track on the ice of Tuusulanjärvi is being prepared in cooperation between the two municipalities.

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Two men worked together to create an amazing skating rink on Onkilampi iceRead More »