Concerns rise over protection of endangered freshwater mussels in Finland

Recent incidents in Finland have raised serious concerns regarding the protection of endangered freshwater mussels, particularly following multiple occurrences where heavy machinery has crossed delicate streams and rivers. Project manager Pirkko-Liisa Luhta of Metsähallitus reported that there have been “a double-digit number” of such instances involving machinery driving over critical waterways for these mussels, known as raakku.

The latest incident occurred at Hukkajoki, where biologists were present conducting research on raakku populations when they witnessed the destruction. Hukkajoki was part of a Life Revievs initiative to rejuvenate raakku habitats, and Luhta had to contact the local environmental authority to halt timber operations immediately after learning about the damage.

Historically, similar violations have been discovered through fieldwork, leading to the revelation of entire populations of raakku being adversely affected by machinery. For instance, in 2018, a population of mussels was found after noticing discarded shells along a trail made by an all-terrain vehicle. In another case, it was found that a logging machine had crossed Hukkajoki at the same spot a decade prior.

Experts estimate that the recent open-cut logging may have seen heavy machines traverse the river as many as 400 times, leading to disastrous sediment build-up known to be harmful to the raakku. While there has been an increase in awareness regarding the locations of these vulnerable mussels since 2021, Luhta criticized the practice of machinery crossing waterways, noting that it’s uncommon in neighboring countries like Sweden, where different safety measures are enforced. As the situation unfolds, further uncovering of similar incidents is anticipated, as many sensitive areas remain within forestry zones.