In January over 380 hectares of old growth and natural forests have been included into the Landscape Rewilding Programme. Additionally a site in Suomussalmi celebrates the legacy of a Karelian rune singer Jussi Huovinen.
Pauttiselkä old growth forest is a major Sámi reindeer herding forest in the community of Vuotso. It is directly linked with the UKK National Park and Sompio strict nature reserve. At 100 hectares it portrays outstanding biodiversity and natural values.
Two other major forest-peatland complexes open the year. Vanhala has sections that have been logged but the wilderness parts of the site support high biodiversity and the Joutsenaapa EU Nature 2000 site. It is at 134 hectares. Kumpurinne-Sieppi OGF forest and peatlands form a nationally relevant support to Ounas-Pallas national park in Muonio. Some parts of this 130 hectare forest complex have timber over 200 years old, never logged and fully intact peatlands of outstanding natural values.
We commemorate and celebrate the lifework of Karelian rune singer and knowledge keeper Jussi Huovinen with the Hyryvaara site in his village in Suomussalmi. This 15 hectare peatland and forest complex supports Murhisalo Eu Nature 2000 site and through th esite we remember the significant works and cultural heritage of Jussi, who passed away in 2017.
