Espoo establishes new nature conservation areas
Espoo protects biodiversity by expanding its conservation area network. Espoo’s new nature conservation areas are the treeless mire Turvesuo in Pohjois-Tapiola, Smedsviken in the north-east corner of Lake Bodom and the forests around Kalittoma at Kalajärvi. Establishing new conservation areas is part of Espoo’s long-term efforts to enhance biodiversity and prevent biodiversity loss.
The Espoo City Board decided to promote establishing new nature conservation areas in its meeting on 4 December 2023. Espoo recognised the three new conservation areas about to be established as valuable natural sites in its Action Program for Natural Diversity(external link, opens in a new window). Espoo now has more than 140 nature conservation areas.
Establishing new nature conservation areas is also part of the Nature-wise Espoo project which aims to protect and increase biodiversity in Espoo. The goal of the Nature-wise Espoo project is to reach a state where human activity does not decrease biodiversity or ecosystem services. Establishing new conservation areas also promotes EU's biodiversity strategy.
“Nature conservation and enhancement of biodiversity require long-term efforts which Espoo is strongly committed to. Establishing large conservation areas is challenging in an urban environment. Since the conservation areas are small, we are creating a network. This ecological network protects nature in the long term,” says Tarja Söderman, Director of Environmental Affairs at Espoo.
“The city is going to establish around three new nature conservation areas a year and carry out any necessary nature surveys to achieve this,” says Aino Niemi, Environmental Specialist at Espoo.
The new nature conservation areas represent gems of bog, lake and forest environments
The treeless mire Turvesuo, aka Muolaansuo, in Pohjois-Tapiola is the only part of Turvesuo which has not been drained. This is relatively rare in Southern Finland as 80% of the region’s bogs have been drained. The Turvesuo mire is also the only area in the capital region where the endangered carnivorous plant spoonleaf sundew has been spotted. A pine swamp with large shrubs and the highly endangered spruce swamp surround the open bog. Single-family housing surrounds the Turvesuo mire.
There are lush riparian forests, valuable black alder swamps and a maple grove as well as water area in the northern part of Lake Bodom. A large number of waterfowl, waders and grove birds live in the Smedsviken area which will now be protected. For example, the endangered greenfinch and near-threatened great crested grebe and common snipe enjoy it there. Smedviken also serves as a breeding and resting spot for the endangered moor frog.
The forests surrounding the Kalittoma pond at Kalajärvi are impressive rock pine forests. The oldest trees are over 250 years old. The new conservation area is surrounded by existing nature conservation area which will now expand. Kalittoma has an abundance of decaying wood which is important for biodiversity. There are plans to build fitness stairs in the area.
Picking berries and mushrooms is permitted in the conservation areas under the right to roam and everyone’s rights.