Finding:
old-growth forest logging planned.
When
the old-growth forest conservation program
for northern Finland was prepared in 1998, the forests of Alannesuo-Raatevaara
were classified as A-sites by the Finnish
Government. In other words, they should be protected in the landscape
ecological planning.
However,
over half of the old-growth forest in the area was later designated
by the FPS for commercial use. According to a report by the FPS itself,
"the inventory area has so called classical
old-growth forests with abundant dead wood, the structure of the forest
is multi-layered and dense...observations of the flying squirrel...".
In the winter of 2001, two areas of about 15 hectares in total will
be clearcut.
Source
of information: the FPS Timber Catalogue 35.
Probable
buyers of the timber: UPM-Kymmene, StoraEnso.
