Rare protected plants destroyed in Hämeenlinna with each flower valued at €1,493

The city of Hämeenlinna has reported that protected populations of the critically endangered Hämeenkylmänkukka (cold flower) have been deliberately uprooted in an act of vandalism, with authorities treating the incident as a serious environmental crime, Yle reports.

Three clusters of the strictly protected plant were destroyed at the Ahvenisto outdoor swimming area on Thursday, prompting the city to file a police report for violation of nature conservation laws. The Finnish Ministry of the Environment has set the value of a single flower at €1,493.

The Hämeenkylmänkukka is classified as critically endangered and is legally protected under both national legislation and the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV). It is found almost exclusively in the Kanta-Häme region, where conservation efforts have long been underway to preserve its remaining populations.