Parks & Wildlife Protecting Finland’s natural treasures New initiatives and greater social impact

economies. We can now utilise our Our involvement and expertise in experiences to cherish the 29 cultural project work have also increased. Our total heritage sites we have taken over from spending on project work in 2014 was the National Board of Antiquities. double the figure for 2010. We enabled During 2014 we have expanded our We have also made progress more than 110 jobless youngsters across activities at Parks & Wildlife Finland promoting well-being. We started to the country to gain welcome work experi- (formerly known as Metsähallitus Natural systematically assess how much visitors ence. A project run with the city of Lieksa Heritage Services) and launched new to national parks and the users of our demonstrated how outdoor recreation initiatives to increase our social impact. fishing and hunting services value can activate people who have long been their experiences. Respondents to our unemployed. We have also increasingly e have already built up an questionnaire surveys truly appreciated provided useful employment for inmates international reputation for the well-being benefits of their activi- from open prisons, helping them to W our work managing Finland’s ties – estimating for instance that a visit integrate back into society. national parks and stocks of game species, to a national park is worth an average of Public sector organisations are and providing facilities that promote 208 euros, corresponding to the value of expected to improve productivity – quite outdoor recreation and boost local several months’ membership in a gym. rightly, since they use tax-payers’ money. At Parks & Wildlife Finland we have shown that we can work productively and cost-effectively. I hope we have also shown that effectiveness can involve much more than doing more work with fewer personnel. Our work gives society plenty of added value in terms of benefits n e enjoyed by individual citizens and busi- ain k nesses. We hope that the new parliament on will continue to support our efforts to a R a cherish Finland’s natural and cultural pekk a- heritage for the good of our people and kk the national economy.

tsähallitus / Ju/ M e tsähallitus Photos: Rauno Väisänen, Director, Parks & Wildlife Finland Parks & Wildlife Finland now runs popular historical attractions including the Raseborg Castle ruins.

Editors: Päivi Rosqvist, Tiina GrahnTranslation: Fran WeaverLayout: Marianne KatainenMetsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland

www.metsa.fiwww.outdoors.fiCover: Wild forest and lakeland scenery in the new Southern Konnevesi National Park in Central Finland.

photo: Metsähallitus / Meri-Hilkka Mäkelä1 500 copiesISBN 978-952-295-100-7 (printed)ISBN 978-952-295-101-4 (pdf)Edita Prima Oy, Helsinki 2015. PEFC/02-31-135 is increasingly bringing in visitors who also enjoy other local attractions. The park’s visitors spent 2.7 million euros more in the Kuusamo region in 2014 than in 2009. Photo: Basecamp Oulanka Social and economic benefits from outdoor recreation

Metsähallitus’s Parks & Wildlife Finland eople feel happier and more ener- health benefits than day-trippers. People unit manages Finland’s national parks getic after visiting our national parks visiting in groups also enjoy social well- and other protected areas. We provide P or other beautiful natural attrac- being benefits and strengthen friendship services for hunters and fishers who use tions, as shown by survey findings. The bonds. The physical benefits enjoyed by state-owned lands and waters. Safe and psychological, social and physical benefits visitors include fresh air and the chance well-indicated routes through Finland’s enjoyed by people visiting natural areas to experience silence. superb landscapes encourage everyone have never been studied as extensively in In financial terms the health benefits to get out into the wild. Our national Finland before. perceived by visitors to our national parks welcomed almost 2.3 million visi- The survey results indicate that trips parks in 2013 are worth an estimated 226 tors in 2014. Their spending benefited to national parks give peace-of-mind and million euros. local economies by a total of more than reduce stress. People who stay overnight Fishers and hunters feel that they 125 million euros. in natural settings enjoy even more gain more in terms of well-being by taking

3 Parks & Wildlife Finland now produces services in Chinese for visitors in Lapland and Nuuksio. Photo: Jouni Männistö

longer trips. People of working age and in Kuusamo and the hilltops of attracted almost 300,000 women of all ages particularly find such National Park in Karelia. The exhibitions visitors. activities relaxing. Some 90% of hunters at our nature centres in both of these Destinations in Finnish Lapland, and 80% of fishers felt that their hunting popular parks have been revamped. The Eastern Finland and the Helsinki area and fishing trips significantly improved exhibitions utilise new technology to help are also popular with tourists from their social, psychological and physical visitors to virtually experience the parks’ Russia. An ongoing two-year project will well-being. Hunters walk an average of 8 unique nature. Visitors can also enjoy a upgrade the services we provide for these kilometres a day out in the forests, often new film about nature’s changing seasons visitors through language training and in challenging terrain. Visitors to national in Oulanka and its twin park Paanajärvi, the production of material in Russian. parks hiked an average of 15 km a day. just over the Russian border. This produc- A similar scheme targeting Chinese tion was funded by the EU, Finland and visitors particularly aims to promote the Millions of people enjoy Russia, as part of the Fennoscandian Nuuksio, Urho Kekkonen and Lemmenjoki Finland’s natural assets Green Belt Project. national parks, the Finnish Nature Centre During 2014 Finland’s national parks and Our nature centres welcomed more Haltia, and the Northern Lapland Nature our other areas welcomed a total of 5.6 than a million visitors in 2014. The Centre Siida. Our customer service staff million visitors, and our web services were Northern Lapland Nature Centre Siida and and other service providers are studying more widely used than ever – especially Pyhä–Luosto Visitor Centre Naava each Chinese culture and language. on mobile devices. welcomed almost 100,000 visitors. The A delegation from the Forestry Depart- Finland’s best loved national land- Finnish Nature Centre Haltia in Espoo had ment of Hunan Province recently visited scapes include Oulanka National Park 115,000 visitors, while nearby Nuuksio the Helsinki area and Northern Lapland

4 as part of ongoing Finnish-Chinese In NE Finland we established new agencies throughout Finland. The collaboration. riverside fishing waters with a total length ministries who supervise our work asked of 200 km. Many of our recreational us to find out how our partners see Collaboration to provide fishing waters can now be viewed in us. Out of 500 respondents 80% are memorable experiences online videos. generally happy or very happy with the of wild Finland Through our Moved by Nature project cooperation with us. During 2014 we worked to enhance in Eastern Finland we trained volunteer Of our international partners, 95% opportunities for year-round nature women of the Martha Organization were pleased with the cooperation. They tourism in Lapland for Finnish and interna- to work with school groups, aiming to saw us as an organisation with the high tional visitors. Our most popular national encourage teachers to take groups out level of expertise and commitmet. park, Pallas–Yllästunturi, welcomed more into the natural environment. The project than half a million visitors – largely due to has also developed new ways to improve International cooperation increased summer tourism. Together with children’s health and attitude to nature. on conservation local service providers we are developing a The Finnish Heart Association The Fennoscandian Green Belt consists Village to Village tourism package concept. gave Metsähallitus an award in 2014 of a chain of existing and planned nature This popular idea has attracted more than recognising the way our work promotes reserves extending through the border- 100 partner firms interested in offering cardiac health by providing facilities lands of Finland, Russia and Norway from services such as accommodation, catering that encourage people to enjoy healthy the Gulf of Finland to the Arctic Ocean. and the transportation of trekkers’ luggage outdoor activities. Parks & Wildlife Finland is actively to their next overnight destination. involved in this international scheme, The second annual Finnish Nature Successful partnerships realising projects that enhance coopera- Day was marked during the last weekend Parks & Wildlife Finland has extensive tion between national parks and nature in August with more than 100 events networks of partners including busi- centres in Finland and Russia to promote attracting over 11,000 participants in all. nesses, organisations and administrative sustainable nature tourism. During an EU project we also produced materials for schoolchildren and tourists highlighting the shared natural and cultural heritage of the three countries’ borderland regions. In our work protecting marine life in the Baltic Sea we work closely with organisations including HELCOM and the EU Marine Expert Group. We have shared our experiences of marine habitat inven- tory methods, marine mapping, and the creation of underwater nature trails and cultural trails for visitors with diving gear. At the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney we highlighted cross-border cooperation between twin national parks, the benefits of parks for local economies, health impacts, the planning of protected areas inhabited by indigenous people, and scope for sustainable fishing and hunting in protected areas. At the congress Metsähallitus signed a cooperation agreement with the Korea National Park 700 youngsters participated in Fishing Rod Day events in June. Photo: Metsähallitus / Kari Sarajärvi Service and a provisional agreement on

5 collaboration with Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. Finland’s living cultural heritage In January 2014 Parks & Wildlife Finland took over the running of 29 historic sites around Finland from the National Board of Antiquities. These sites include medieval castle ruins, the Sámi heritage farmstead of Välimaa in Lapland, and the sea fortress of Svartholma in the Gulf of Finland. We also now manage the former military islands of Vallisaari, off Helsinki, and Örö in the Archipelago Sea. Aided by additional government funding we have started to plan the future use of these sites. Working together with local authorities, residents, service providers and the National Board of Antiquities, we aim to make them into thriving attractions and event centres, while safeguarding their natural and While visiting the Välimaa Sámi heritage farmstead in Lapland, children from the Sámi cultural values. indigenous community produced Sámi-language films to be shown on TV and on Parks & The fortified island of Örö will open Wildlife Finland’s Sámi-language website Lundui.fi. Photo: Metsähallitus / Pentti Pieski to visitors during 2015, and we will gradually make it into an important centre for nature tourism in the Archipelago National Park. The island has sandy shores, Protecting the heritage of interesting military relics and many historic buildings. A plan has been drawn the indigenous Sámi people up to prepare the island to receive some 30,000 visitors annually in the future. The Sámi are a group of indigenous preserves traditional Sámi buildings Regular boat services will run to Örö from peoples with their own languages, in these lands. summer 2015, and work has begun to cultures and identities, who live in Parks & Wildlife Finland is the create a harbour for visiting private boats. northern parts of Norway, Sweden, first public authority anywhere in the Building restoration work has also begun. Finland and Russia. Their traditional world to apply the voluntary Akwé:Kon Restoration work has continued at livelihoods include reindeer-herding, guidelines defined in connection Vallisaari and nearby Kuninkaansaari. hunting, fishing and handicrafts. with the UN Convention on Biological These islands lie off Helsinki near the Finland is home to about 7,000 Sámi Diversity to promote the involvement Suomenlinna sea fortress – a UNESCO people. When managing lands in the of indigenous peoples in decisions on world heritage site. Visitors should be Sámi homeland region in northern- land use and management in their able to discover their natural and historic most Lapland Metsähallitus respects homelands. attractions from 2016. the Sámi people’s rights to preserve and develop their own cultures, and

6 Working together for nature

Parks & Wildlife Finland collaborates supported nature conservation, while pups. The volunteers worked for two with various partners on projects where many other projects have promoted weeks creating 240 possible dens. The our public funding is used to leverage nature tourism. scheme was a success, since out of the 64 wider funding and benefits. Over the pups born in late winter 59 were raised in last five years our annual EU project Building snowy dens the artificially enhanced den sites. During funding levels have doubled to 5.2 for rare lake seal pups winters with little snow only 50–70% of million euros. We also greatly appre- The Saimaa ringed seal is an endangered the seals’ pups survive, but this year more ciate the time and skills many people freshwater seal found only in Finland’s than 80% survived thanks to the volun- contribute to our nature conservation Lake Saimaa. The five-year Saimaa Seal teers’ efforts. The Ministry of the Environ- work on a voluntary basis. LIFE Project has been launched to help ment and the Finnish committee of the ensure its survival. International Union for the Conservation t Parks & Wildlife Finland we During the winter of 2014, when of Nature (IUCN) gave the volunteer den- are able to bring together organi- snowfall rates were unusually low, a makers the Best Deed for Nature award A sations and people from different team of more than 100 volunteers piled for 2013–2014. sectors to work productively. Extensive up snowdrifts by lakeshores for seals to The project has also used divers to EU LIFE projects have particularly use to make the winter dens for newborn survey seal breeding success rates, and

↓ Saimaa ringed seal numbers remained stable at around 300 individuals. Photo: Mervi Kunnasranta

7 natural state. Some 3,500 schoolchildren have also visited local peatlands as part of the project. Our new EU-funded Light & Fire LIFE project is the first such scheme in Finland to cover private lands as well as state-owned lands. It involves organising controlled burning to recreate natural conditions in sunlit habitats such as esker slopes and coastal meadows, to benefit their characteristic flora and fauna. About half of the project’s total budget of more than four million euros will be covered by EU funding. New hope for vanishing wildlife Metsähallitus and the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute started to work with Russian partners to restore The Frigga fritillary benefits from peatland protection schemes such as Boreal Peatland LIFE. salmon populations that have vanished This project, the most extensive EU LIFE project so far realised in Finland, ended in 2014. from Eastern Lapland. Mature salmon Photo: Metsähallitus / Jussi Murtosaari caught in Russian waters have been moved to waters near the Finnish-Russian frontier. Fifty of the fish were radio- assigned a ranger to ensure that local project’s total budget of some 6.7 million tagged to enable scientists to study their fishers only use seal-friendly nets and euros. Our experts have closely monitored migratory movements, behaviour and traps. the impacts of restoration work on the occurrence in spawning areas in rivers and peatlands’ hydrology, water quality, vege- lakes on both sides of the border. LIFE projects protecting tation, bird-life, butterflies and dragon- The reintroduction of these salmon peatlands and sunlit habitats flies. Their findings show that these areas should also help endangered local Much of Finland was originally covered are successfully reverting towards their freshwater pearl mussel populations to by various kinds of natural peatlands, but many of these areas have been drained over the years to create farmland or promote forestry. Our Boreal Peatland New handbook for ecological restoration LIFE project aimed to restore natural in drained peatlands hydrological conditions and landscapes Metsähallitus has published an abridged English version of a in many of these drained peatlands by detailed guide to best practices for the restoration of drained filling in ditches and removing excess peatlands. The handbook compiles knowhow accumulated over tree growth. The five-year project, which more than 25 years of peatland habitat restoration in Finland, ended in 2014, restored a total area of together with useful background information on peatland ecology 4,700 hectares of peatland habitat, with and hydrology. The guide has been designed to encourage and a million metres of ditches infilled. The facilitate peatland restoration work in other countries. project created employment for local The handbook Ecological restoration in drained peatlands – best practices from Finland contractors amounting to 90 person- can be downloaded at julkaisut.metsa.fi/julkaisut/show/1733. years. EU funding covered half of the

8 Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen took part in a voluntary work scheme organised by Parks & Wildlife Finland and WWF on the old sea fortress of Vallisaari. Photo: Metsähallitus / Téa Karvinen

recover. These molluscs have not been where they earlier lived, aiming to restore in 2014 attracted record numbers of able to reproduce successfully, since their thriving populations that can be sustai- participants. 75 such events were organ- larval stage lives in the gills of salmonid nably hunted. It is important to prevent ised in our protected areas, including new fish. Surveyors looked for pearl mussel interbreeding between wild forest kinds of events like the pop up voluntary larvae in about a hundred streams reindeer and their domesticated cousins. work scheme run at Linnansaari through and rivers in NE Finland over the years Finland has two separate populations the national park’s Facebook pages. In 2012–2014. Adult mussels were found of wild forest reindeer: one in Western our marine national parks volunteers living in nine rivers, but young mussels Finland built up through reintroductions combated litter and invasive alien species were only observed in three rivers. The 30–40 years ago; and a natural popu- to mark the designated Gulf of Finland species’ populations were also mapped in lation in NE Finland that has declined Year 2014. a Nordic project which indicated that the alarmingly. Expert amateur naturalists did invalu- mussels are faring worse than was earlier able work surveying the nesting sites of believed. Their decline can only be halted Valuable work contributions rare birds. Their observations showed that if river basins are restored and fishways from volunteers white-backed woodpeckers and golden are built to enable salmon to migrate Volunteers make vital contributions to the eagles both had a good year. Record naturally. management of habitats and sustainable numbers of golden eagle territories were We have also begun to plan reintro- game and fish stocks, and species moni- occupied, and 213 eaglets were raised. ductions of wild forest reindeer in areas toring work. Our summer work events Peregrine falcon breeding rates were

9 average; but gyrfalcon breeding rates We enhanced our supervision of photographs are used to identify locali- were very poor for the sixth year running, hunting and fishing by employing a virtual ties of interest for more detailed field with only three fledglings ringed. ranger in addition to our 12 game and inventories. In the open fells of northernmost fisheries wardens who work in the field Data fed into geographical information Finland volunteer hunters participated in around Finland. The new virtual ranger systems is widely applied, for instance a red fox cull designed to help arctic foxes was a police officer whose job involved when we plan how areas will be managed. to return to Finland from nearby breeding following online and social media discus- Universities and research institutes also areas in Swedish and Norwegian Lapland, sions related to hunting and fishing, and benefit from these data banks. by removing their red fox competitors. joining such discussions to contribute Parks & Wildlife Finland also manages Every summer hunters also visit almost advice about good practices. many marine areas, where we are increa- 1,000 game survey sites around Finland. singly applying data compiled over the Their observations are used to help define Better data on species years as a part of the Finnish inventory game bird hunting quotas for the autumn. found in protected areas programme for the underwater marine Surveys of the species occurring in environment. We have now initiated Support for sustainable protected areas have focused on the habi- ecological monitoring of seabed habitats. hunting and fishing tats of threatened species. These surveys Our income from sales of fishing, hunting have found many species not previously Extensive new and off-road snowmobile permits rose to observed in Finland, and compiled plenty protected areas a record five million euros. The resulting of useful data, especially on insects. Many new protected areas, including two funds are used to improve game habitats, The 20-year task of surveying habitats new national parks, were established fishing waters and other facilities for in Lapland, which total 40,000 square in 2014 in state-owned lands already hunters and fishers. kilometres, was closing to its end. Aerial managed by Metsähallitus. In SW Finland alone more than 90 new protected areas were set up, with a total area of 130 km2. New protected areas totalling 130 km2 around Lake Saimaa were set up particularly aiming to protect the lake’s endangered seals. As part of the wide-ranging METSO forest biodiversity programme Metsähal- litus protected 130 km2 of forest earlier managed for commercial forestry. Protected areas totalling almost 330 km2 were added to the Fennoscandian Green Belt as part of the Kalevala Park scheme in the Finnish-Russian borderlands near Suomussalmi. Parks & Wildlife Finland marks out the boundaries of new protected areas, and makes plans for their future sustainable management.

Willow grouse numbers in Northern Lapland were 50% higher than in 2013. Photo: Metsähallitus /

Timo Eskola

10 Teijo recently became Finland’s 39th national park. The park offers varied opportunities for outdoor activities. Photo: Metsähallitus / Téa Karvinen Two new national parks created through citizens’ initiatives

Finland now has 39 national parks, visitors can enjoy beautiful lakes and At Southern Konnevesi we will now after two new parks were created by marshes, rugged terrain and diverse develop nature tourism and facilities for the Ministry of the Environment at Teijo forests just a stone’s throw from a long visitors together with local businesses and and Southern Konnevesi on the basis inlet of the sea. organisations, as the management plan of citizens’ initiatives. The old-growth Forests earlier managed within the for the new park takes shape. forests and undeveloped lakeshores of Teijo Hiking Area will from now on be Establishing a new national park Konnevesi in Central Finland, and the left to revert to their natural state in the invariably helps the local authorities and varied natural and cultural settings of new national park. Recreational fishing businesses to expand tourism. Both of the Teijo in the southwest both add signifi- will continue in Lake Matildanjärvi. Teijo new parks encompass Natura 2000 sites cantly to our network of national parks. National Park, with its easy trails and already owned by the Finnish State. As diverse activities is well-suited for families visitor numbers grow, the valuable natural outhern Konnevesi offers opportuni- with members of all generations from features will be carefully safeguarded ties for outdoor activities from babies to grandparents. through ecological measures. S kayaking to berry-picking. At Teijo 11 Cherishing Finland’s natural and cultural heritage Successfully promoting We compile information on nature and manage natural and cultural attractions under the supervision of the Ministry of conservation and the Environment.

Nature conservation in numbers in 2014 recreation • 1,627 hectares of forest and mire habitats restored • 4,310 hectares of traditional agricultural Services to encourage people biotopes managed to experience nature • 137,614 hectares of terrestrial biotopes Our revamped Outdoors.fi website is the surveyed most popular service for outdoor enthusi- • species surveyed on 1,621 hectares asts in Finland. It presents more than 300 • 2,273 ancient cultural heritage sites and destinations, with links to our map service 334 protected buildings in care of P&WF Excursionmap.fi. Both of these services A mobile application was released for the map now also have mobile applications. service Excursionmap.fi. Photo: Tapani Mikkola Hunters and fishers can use our Eräluvat.fi website and online shop to find places to enjoy their sport and buy the Good facilities attract visitors necessary permits. The same site can now and boost tourism also be used to pay the national fisheries We use public funds to provide free facili- management fee and to buy provincial ties for outdoor recreation around Finland. lure-fishing permits. Income from fishing and hunting permits Permits for using snowmobiles in state- is used to manage hunting grounds and owned lands can now be easily purchased fishing waters. Local businesses provide by phone, from our customer service tourism services near our attractions. points or through the Eräluvat.fi website. Studies have indicated that funds invested Beetles of the critically endangered species by the state in national parks and hiking Cucujus cinnaberinus were discovered in Customer service in numbers in 2014 areas generate economic benefits worth ten 2014. Photo: Lubomir Hlasek • 1.1 million individual visitors at times the original investment on average, in the Luontoon.fi (Outdoors.fi) website the shape of local employment and business • almost 1.9 million downloads at opportunities. The funds raised through Productive use of the Retkikartta.fi (Excursionmap.fi) website permit fees generate seven-fold benefits. project funding • 286,000 individual visitors at Together with our partners we use project the Eräluvat.fi website Local economic impacts in numbers funding to promote nature tourism • over 1 million visits to customer service points • 5.6 million visits to areas managed by around Finland and manage natural • 63,619 participants in client groups provided Parks & Wildlife Finland areas to preserve threatened species and with guidance • 2.3 million visits to national parks habitats. • over 7,000 kilometres of marked trails • impact of national parks on local economies • 2,900 maintained picnic sites totaled an estimated income of 125.8 million euros Project information 2014 • customer satisfaction ratings averaging 4.3 • 50,100 hunting permits and 70,151 fishing • about 100 ongoing projects (on a scale of 1–5) permits purchased • EU project funding levels have doubled to • satisfaction ratings among hunters 3.7 • estimated local economic impacts of hunters 5.2 million euros in five years (2010–2014) (on a scale of 1–5) and fishers were 28.2 million euros

12 Worthwhile employment in all regions of Finland Half of Parks & Wildlife Finland’s staff are based in our Southern Finland region, a quarter work in Ostrobothnia; and a quarter are in Lapland. We hire many seasonal staff, support youth employ- ment schemes, and provide work for convicts from open prisons. Our projects Managing Finland’s also provide wide-ranging work for local contractors. Volunteers also kindly give their time to make valuable contributions natural assets in 2015 to our nature conservation work.

Working for nature still offers peaceful natural settings even though the park attracted record • total work input of P&WF staff was visitor numbers in 2014. Photo: Metsähallitus / Téa karvinen 624 person-years. • employment for 110 young, unemployed During 2015 Parks & Wildlife Finland to national parks and other users persons during 2014 will continue to look after Finland’s of our services. • convicts from open prisons worked precious heritage, including national for 51 person-years. parks, cultural sites and sustainably Promote growth in tourism • 2,510 volunteers worked a total managed game and fish stocks. through productive partnerships of 23 person-years We will for instance: • We will help to increase tourism in SW Finland by opening the fortified island of Increase the value Örö to visitors and improving facilities in of our national heritage the new Teijo National Park. • We will restore valuable cultural • We will reinforce our position as a heritage sites including the sea fortress of significant actor in tourism in the Helsinki Svartholma and the Raseborg Castle ruins. metropolitan area. • We will plan reintroductions of wild • We will improve facilities for visitors to forest reindeer to expand and connect the the popular Urho Kekkonen National Park, species’ distributions. especially in the vicinity of the Saariselkä • We will use EU-funds to manage sunlit resort in Lapland. habitats and safeguard the endangered species they host. Cherish Finland’s natural and cultural heritage applying Help people experience nature all our skills and energy to improve their well-being • Our new geographical data systems • We will encourage people to get outdoors will be taken in to use. by adding municipally run natural recrea- • We will continue to employ jobless tional areas to our Excursionmap.fi service. young people to give them valuable • We will collect the national fisheries income and experience. management fees to improve the services • We will help to rehabilitate convicts EU-funded peatland habitat restoration connected with fishing permits. from open prisons by providing projects have been realised around Finland. • We will start to systematically monitor meaningful outdoor work. Photo: Philippe Fayt the well-being benefits enjoyed by visitors

13 finances of Parks & wildlife Finland in 2014 Metsähallitus’s public administration functions The activities of Parks & Wildlife Finland are largely financed from Metsähallitus is a state-owned enterprise that provides services the national government budget. Additional income is obtained related to natural resources. Metsähallitus’s activities are divided from fees paid for hunting and fishing permits, and rents. into commercial operations (including forestry and real estate deals) and the public administration services provided by Parks & Wildlife Ministry of the Environment . mil. Finland (including nature conservation, hunting and fishing services and the provision of free facilities for outdoor recreation). The public Income . mil. services are largely financed from the national government budget. Ministry of Agriculture % and Forestry . mil.

Ministry of % Our areas in numbers 2015 Employment and The administration of lands and waters owned by the Finnish State the Economy . mil. (which amount to about a third of the country’s total area) has been % placed in the care of Metsähallitus. Ministry of Justice Metsähallitus administers areas with a total extent of 125,000 . mil. % • % square kilometres, including 91,000 sq km of state-owned land and % European Union . mil. 34,000 sq km of state-owned waters.

Other funding . mil. • Of these totals Parks & Wildlife Finland manages 39,000 sq km of land and 32,000 sq km of waters (totaling 71,000 sq km), including: Total: . mil.  – 39 national parks, 19 strict nature reserves, and about 500 other nature reserves (together totaling 17,000 sq km) – 12 wilderness areas (with a total extent of 15,000 sq km).

The organisation of Parks & Wildlife Finland 1.1. 2015

STEERING UNITS: DIRECTOR Rauno Väisänen ADMINISTRATION Deputy Director Marja-Liisa Hintsanen DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS A.i. Director Arto Ahokumpu SOUTHERN FINLAND OSTROBOTHNIA LAPLAND FINANCIES Financial Manager Sirpa Niironen A.i. Regional Director A.i. Regional Director Regional Director Matti Määttä Samuli Sillman Jyrki Tolonen COMMUNICATIONS Communications Manager Päivi Rosqvist

PA MANAGEMENT PLANNING Head of Region A.i. Head of Region Head of Region Manager Markku Vickholm Seppo Manninen Arja Halinen Elina Stolt

GAME AND FISHERIES Head of Region Head of Region Head of Region Manager Jukka Bisi Jarmo Väisänen Erkki Turtinen Pirjo Ilvesviita

NATURE CONSERVATION Head of Region Head of Region Head of Region Manager Aimo Saano Harri Karjalainen Pirkko Siikamäki Päivi Paalamo RECREATION Head of Region A.i. Head of Region Head of Region Manager Anneli Leivo Jouni Aarnio Matti Tapaninen Sakari Kokkonen PROCESSES Regional Teams Regional Teams Regional Teams Park Superintendents Park Superintendents Park Superintendents

14 Norway

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF VISITS TO Kuusamo...... 20 200 Kilpisjärvi Northern Lapland Nature CENTRES AND CUSTOMER Kvarken...... 13 600 Ivalo Fell Lapland Saariselkä SERVICE POINTS IN 2014 Liminganlahti...... 54 800 Pallastunturi Koilliskaira Linnansaari...... 8 300 Yllästunturi (Total: 1. 007,500 visits.) Northern Lapland...... 98 500 Savukoski Pyhä-Luosto Oulanka...... 51 900 Karhunkierros Service point Visits Pallastunturi...... 40 900 Sweden Oulanka Archipelago...... 12 200 Pyhä–Luosto...... 96 900 Kuusamo Syöte Hossa Ekenäs...... 16 100 Ruunaa...... 5 500 Hailuoto Russia Fell-Lapland...... 27 900 Saariselkä...... 44 200 Liminganlahti

Hailuoto...... 12 100 Saimaa...... 30 600 Kalajoki Kuhmo Haltia...... 115 000 Savukoski...... 7 100 Ruunaa

Hossa...... 39 800 Seitseminen...... 28 700 Kvarken Koli Häme...... 16 000 Syöte...... 33 900 Ivalo...... 13 900 Teijo...... 17 000 Linnansaari Kalajoki...... 33 200 Yllästunturi...... 80 700 Seitseminen Saimaa Karhunkierros...... 7 200

Kilpisjärvi...... 10 200 Häme sähallitus 2015 Koilliskaira...... 12 000 Metsähallitus nature centres and customer Teijo Haltia

Koli...... 48 700 service points 2014. Contact information and Archipelago Ekenäs © Me t Kuhmo...... 10 400 services: www.outdoors.fi > Customer service Estonia

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF VISITS TO Linnansaari...... 30 500 ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF VISITS TO NATIONAL PARKS IN 2014 Nuuksio...... 285 200 NATIONAL HIKING AREAS IN 2014 Oulanka...... 179 600 (Total: 2.286,500 visits. Southern Konnevesi NP Pallas–Yllästunturi...... 514 800 (Total: 355,300 visits. Teijo Hiking Area became was established 1.9.2014, Teijo NP 1.1.2015.) Patvinsuo...... 13 000 a part of the new Teijo NP 1.1.2015.) Petkeljärvi...... 18 800 National park Visits Puurijärvi–Isonsuo...... 8 400 Hiking area Visits Archipelago...... 54 700 Pyhä-Häkki...... 15 900 Evo...... 64 400 Bothnian Bay...... 9 800 Pyhä–Luosto...... 101 600 Hossa...... 51 700 Bothnian Sea...... 48 000 Päijänne...... 14 000 Iso-Syöte...... 25 100 Eastern Gulf of Finland...... 14 200 Repovesi...... 98 200 Kylmäluoma...... 25 800 Ekenäs Archipelago...... 48 000 Riisitunturi...... 22 400 Oulujärvi...... 39 500 Helvetinjärvi...... 18 900 Rokua...... 17 800 Ruunaa...... 81 200 Hiidenportti...... 10 200 Salamajärvi...... 14 000 Teijo...... 67 600 Isojärvi...... 12 300 Seitseminen...... 41 000 Kauhaneva–Pohjankangas...... 7 200 Sipoonkorpi...... 75 200 Koli...... 135 200 Southern Konnevesi...... 9 700 Kolovesi...... 10 200 Syöte...... 36 600 Kurjenrahka...... 36 600 Tiilikkajärvi...... 8 400 Lauhanvuori...... 11 000 Torronsuo...... 12 000 Leivonmäki...... 12 900 Urho Kekkonen NP...... 288 600 Lemmenjoki...... 12 200 Valkmusa...... 10 800 Next page: Map on protected areas and Liesjärvi...... 28 600 national hiking areas. →

15 Kaldoaivi Paistunturi Parks & Wildlife Norway Kevo

Malla Vätsäri Finland Käsivarsi Muotkatunturi Metsähallitus is a state-owned enterprise Pöyrisjärvi Ivalo Tsarmitunturi that provides services related to Finland´s Tarvantovaara Lemmenjoki Enontekiö Hammastunturi natural resources. Parks & Wildlife Finland Pulju Urho Kekkonen National Park is a unit of Metsähallitus, providing public Pallas-Yllästunturi Sompio administration services which are largely Kemihaara Kittilä Värriö financed from the national government Tuntsa budget. National park Sodankylä Strict nature reserve Maltio Wilderness area Pyhä-Luosto Parks & Wildlife Finland National hiking area ● manages national parks, strict nature State-owned public water World Heritage Site Rovaniemi reserves, wilderness areas, national hiking Pisavaara Sukerijärvi Oulanka areas and most of the state-owned public Riisitunturi waters Runkaus Kuusamo ● protects and manages species, habitats Kemi Syöte Kylmäluoma Iso-Syöte and cultural heritage in state-owned areas Bothnian Bay Hossa ● provides outdoor recreation services for hikers Sweden Olvassuo Russia ● sells permits for hunting, fishing and Oulu snowmobiling. Paljakka Rokua Pelso Oulujärvi Kajaani Kuhmo www.metsa.fi – information Kokkola Ulvinsalo on the activities and organisation Hiidenportti Kvarken archipelago Iisalmi Tiilikkajärvi Nurmes www.outdoors.fi – information on the Ruunaa Vaasa Salamajärvi protected areas and services for hikers Salamanperä Koli Patvinsuo Seinäjoki Kuopio Koivusuo Pyhä-Häkki www.excursionmap.fi – hiking-destinations Southern Konnevesi Joensuu Kauhaneva- Petkeljärvi and hunting and fishing areas on a map Pohjankangas Lauhanvuori Jyväskylä Kolovesi Häädetkeidas Helvetinjärvi Linnansaari www.eraluvat.fi – web service for purchasing Leivonmäki Seitseminen Savonlinna hunting and fishing permits Isojärvi Mikkeli Pori Tampere Sinivuori Bothnian Sea Päijänne www.haltia.com – Finnish Nature Centre Haltia: Vesijako Puurijärvi-Isosuo Evo Repovesi all of Finland’s nature under one roof and closer Hämeenlinna Lahti Vaskijärvi Kouvola Torronsuo to the visitor in the Helsinki region. Kurjenrahka Liesjärvi Turku Valkmusa sähallitus 2015 Sipoonkorpi Kotka Teijo Nuuksio Helsinki Karkali © Me t Parks & Wildlife Finland on Youtube Gulf of Finland Archipelago Hanko National Park Ekenäs Archipelago

Estonia Finland’s national parks, strict nature reserves, wilderness areas, national hiking areas and public waters under Metsähallitus’s management as of 31.12.2014. (Teijo National Park was established 1.1.2015.)