Reindeer grazing forests threatened by logging in 2004-2005 in Inari, North Finland, Sami area: Kessi

Area code in maps prepared by reindeer herders and NGOs: Inari 34, Kessi

Logging in Kessi is opposed by the reindeer herders, whose reindeer herding livelihood is largely dependent on natural pastures, ie free grazing in the forests. Metsähallitus has continued large scale loggings and road construction in Kessi wilderness despite the uninterrupted opposition of the local reindeer herders (Paatsjoki reindeer herding co-operative). Metsähallitus seems to have no real will to take reindeer herding into account in the area.

Metsähallitus has refused to negotiate with the reindeer herding co-operative, although Metsähallitus is obliged to do so according to Finnish Reindeer Herding Act.

When the loggings in the Kessi area started in the spring of 2002, not only the opposition to all loggings and road contruction in the area was disregarded but also a much easier demand was not regarded. The herders wanted that the irreplaceable lichen cover of this crucial winter pasture area for reindeer would be saved as far as possible and therefore demanded that there would be no loggins during the snow-free summer and autumn time. They were not heard and the operations have been going on through all seasons up to the late autumn 2003 when the loggings were still again going on in lichen areas.

Logging in the area continued in May 2003. Another logging operation was started in September 2003 and completed in November 2003. More logging again deeper in the area is now scheduled for spring 2004 = forests in photographs in this page.

[Photos: logging in Kessi in May 2003]
[Photos: logging in Kessi in September - November 2003]