Early summer newsletter reports efforts in fisheries, rewilding, Arctic Circle peatlands and – yes – traditional knowledge of Eurasian squirrel. The season is here!
Fisheries in the rewilding landscape of Onkamo lakes in North Karelia are under way. Captain Karoliina is leading efforts to determine the status and trends of the fish, eutrophication levels and structure of the bay areas. Healthy catches of pike, pikeperch, bream and many other species are coming into the fish traps and produced at the HQ to fish products. We expect the yields to increase towards midsummer as the waters warm up.
Similarly, we are working with LUKE at the lower Koitajoki to investigate the situation of the land-locked Atlantic Salmon and migratory smolts. As a part of the ELSP efforts on Koitajoki the monitoring trap is gently trapping those salmon who leave on their migration, and following a review of their size and numbers, they are released downstream as an important action to determine how the stocks are doing. So far in the first 3 weeks numbers of smolts have been low around 15 fish. The trap monitoring will last until mid-summer.
In rewilding news exciting things are moving ahead. We are already restoring in the range of 80 hectares of peatlands and Valkeajoki stream in Koitajoki. Also Pahkasuo peatland has been restored by River Guardians and Snowchange staff this week. Koitajoki restoration will continue throug the season. At the Arctic Circle we expect a busy rewilding season with Ranua peatlands under way. As one of the major sites Miehinkäaapa peatland from Salla, over 140 hectares and with adjacent sites at 200 hectares, joined the programme in winter. It is an example of an outstanding Arctic Circle region peatlands associated with the Climate Breakthrough. Another highlight was the Palojärvi old growth forest and river in Selkie, North Karelia, that joined the programme in late May.
In the science news a new paper out in Ecology and Evolution reviews the traditional knowledge, science and status of Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). It has played an important role in Finnish traditional culture and livelihoods since pre-historic times. This paper analyzes the current role, status, and trends of the red squirrel using both available scientific evidence and testimonies from oral historians who were immersed in Finland’s boreal hunting societies during the mid-1900s.
The convergence of observations points to the decline of this iconic mammal of northern forests and increased migration to urban habitats. Red squirrels are not currently seen as being of great relevance to conservation efforts, despite their central role in spreading seeds and in boreal predator–prey food chains. If the animal is lost from Finland’s remaining boreal timber forests, their absence may have consequences that are not yet understood. This article contains previously unavailable cultural knowledge of the Eurasian red squirrel, directly curated by knowledge holders. It presents an important nexus of different ways of knowing.
We look forwards to a busy rewilding and fishing summer! Check back in June for summer updates.