Police launch investigation into potential environmental crime by Stora Enso in Central Finland

The police have initiated a preliminary investigation into a potential environmental crime in Central Finland. The investigation aims to determine whether Stora Enso cleared forest in a breeding area of the flying squirrel. The logging site is owned by the city of Äänekoski.

Sami Yli-Karjanmaa, chairman of the Central Finland Flying Squirrel Association, has filed a complaint against Stora Enso and the city of Äänekoski regarding clear-cutting practices. Stora Enso has recently been in the spotlight due to reported damage from logging operations in Suomussalmi.

According to the police, the investigation focuses on logging activities that occurred between April 1 and April 15, 2024. The Flying Squirrel Association claims that Stora Enso holds the logging rights for the area and has found flying squirrel droppings and nesting trees adjacent to the logged region.

Veli-Pekka Välisaari, a crime commissioner with the Central Finland police, stated that the investigation is in its early stages. No individuals are currently suspected of committing a crime; the authorities are trying to establish what happened and who was responsible.

Välisaari commented, “Someone has been logging there, and it is likely Stora Enso. However, it is still unclear who commissioned the work and whether someone was aware of the area’s significance.”

Stora Enso’s communications director, Ingrid Peura, stated that she is not aware of the investigation, saying, “We have no comments on this. We do not recognize such a case, and without acknowledging the police investigation, we cannot comment further.”

Additionally, the police are conducting a separate preliminary investigation related to another report concerning the breeding and resting sites of flying squirrels, covering the period from July 20, 2020, to April 15, 2024. This investigation is also in its early stages. The flying squirrel is classified as endangered, and environmental laws prohibit the degradation of its breeding and resting habitats.