Metsähallitus transforms former peat extraction site into wetland in Valkeasuo, Finland

Metsähallitus, the Finnish forestry agency, is transforming a former peat extraction site in Valkeasuo into a wetland spanning approximately 120 hectares. This new habitat aims to attract migratory white-fronted geese and mitigate the agricultural damage caused by the birds. Petri Silvennoinen from Metsähallitus noted that the impact of this endeavor on the geese will become evident over time.

The protected white-fronted geese thrive in Arctic regions during the summer before migrating to Central Europe for winter. Their population has surged from a few hundred thousand in the 1990s to nearly 1.5 million today. Geese flying over eastern Finland, including areas like Novaya Zemlya in Russia, have been identified as problematic for local agriculture, where they consume grass intended for livestock and leave droppings on fields. To counter such issues, the ELY Centre paid €1.4 million in damages due to geese in North Karelia last year and has employed goose herders and developed various deterrent methods.

The wetland restoration began in August and is expected to continue into next year. The project has been facilitated by a drier-than-normal summer, which eased work on the soft peat land. The overall cost is estimated at around €200,000, and it is set to become one of the largest constructed wetlands in Eastern Finland after completion.

These wetlands play a vital role in biodiversity, offering habitats for endangered species, and also help to reduce nutrient loading in water bodies. In response to the EU’s summer approval of a restoration directive, Finland is formulating a national plan to implement these conservation measures.