Over 120 hectares of new nature reserves will be established in Espoo
In Espoo, nature reserves cover up to 13 per cent of the city’s land area. The share of protected areas will increase further when Mätäjärvi, Pitkoskorpi and Teirinsuo-Vitmossen as well as Hynkänlampi are included in the network of nature reserves.
At its meeting on 10.2.2025, the Espoo City Board decided to promote the establishment of new nature reserves in Espoo. Increasing the protected area is part of Espoo’s long-term efforts to strengthen biodiversity and prevent biodiversity loss.
Environmental Specialist Tia Lähteenmäki welcomes the City Board’s decision to protect new areas.
“All of the new areas have been identified as valuable in terms of natural values in the Espoo Biodiversity Action Plan,” Lähteenmäki explains.
The new nature reserves represent the best of mire nature in Espoo
Teirinsuo-Vitmossen, located in Gumböle, is one of the most impressive mires in Espoo. Up to 60% of the area consists of habitats classified as endangered. A large number of endangered plant species have also been found in the area. Among other things, threatened lesser pond-sedge and green shield-moss have been found in the area, as well as the rare swamp willow, few-flowered sedge and carnation sedge.
Mires are also protected in Soukka. In terms of land area, Mätäjärvi is small. However, its fens, swamps and forested wetlands have a particularly high level of biodiversity.
Pitkoskorpi in Kalajärvi expands the Tremanskärr nature reserve by approximately three hectares. The species of the bilberry-dominated old-growth forest and mire include hare's-tail cottongrass, smooth black sedge and marsh calla.
Large contiguous areas create an ecological network
The fourth protected area is a nearly 80-hectare forest area located northeast of Hynkänlampi. It has been found to be particularly important to ecological connections, because it connects existing smaller nature reserves. The area is home to several endangered biotopes, such as forested wetlands, pine mires and conifer forests.
“Ecological connections allow animals, for example, to move between areas. They also give vegetation the opportunity to spread to new habitats. The area also has significant natural value in several ways, which is why establishing the nature reserve is perfectly justified,” Lähteenmäki explains.
The City of Espoo’s Environmental Protection is responsible for the development of nature conservation, the identification and delimitation of areas worth protecting, and the preparation of conservation proposals and nature surveys.
“It is great that our long-term efforts to protect nature in Espoo will take concrete form this year through the establishment of up to four new nature reserves,” says Tarja Söderman, Director of Environmental Affairs.
Espoo also encourages private landowners to protect nature
“All landowners can establish nature reserves. For example, the METSO programme and various environmental aid agreements may also provide financial compensation for establishing a nature reserve,” Lähteenmäki points out.
Next, the establishment of new nature reserves in Espoo will be forwarded to the Uusimaa ELY Centre for a decision.
More information about the new nature reserves
Espoo Biodiversity Action Plan and Report
Teirinsuo-Vitmossen on the map(external link, opens in a new window)
Soukka’s Mätäjärvi on the map(external link, opens in a new window)
Kalajärvi’s Pitkoskorpi on the map(external link, opens in a new window)
Hynkänlampi on the map(external link, opens in a new window)