Authority orders Versowood to restore stream damaged by clear-cutting

Versowood has restored a damaged stream channel in Nastola after an order from the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. Yle reports that the forestry company’s clear-cutting operation destroyed part of the Marinoja watercourse in Ruuhijärvi in March 2025.

About 40 Versowood timber buyers carried out the restoration in early June as part of a staff wellbeing day. The damaged channel extended for about 75 metres, and the natural streamlet, which had flowed between rocks, had in places turned into mud.

“The weather was fine, and it was good outdoor activity together. We are not always just dealing with paperwork, but got to do physical work as well. The group was very pleased,” Versowood forestry director Pauli Otava said.

The company was required to carry out the work because the authority supervising compliance with the Water Act had ordered it to do so. Versowood received the order from the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. The permit and supervision authority is overseeing its implementation.

Marja Craig, a leisure resident at Marinoja, watched the company’s employees work from her cottage.

“They came here to restore the channel as part of a staff wellbeing day, with an expert giving instructions on how to proceed,” Craig said.

She said at least some of the workers carried the rocks enthusiastically.

“There was a lot of activity. They were very engaged when I spoke with them. We were pleased that they came to do something. The matter did not remain only at the level of talk,” Craig said.

Mari Pänkäläinen, a restoration project manager at Tapio Palvelut, acted as the expert and trainer. Tapio Palvelut is a state-owned company providing forestry and nature-related expert services to the private sector. Pänkäläinen prepared the restoration plan, which was approved by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

A new channel was built

Logging residue had been piled near the road on top of the channel, preventing water from flowing normally. The piles were removed last autumn.

“In June, the work continued with the channel itself being restored by hand. The structure of the channel had been broken,” Pänkäläinen said.

The original channel had almost completely disappeared in the upper section of Marinoja. Imported rock material was needed for the restoration.

“A new channel was built in the worst-damaged upper section so that the water could be directed into it. Further down, natural stones were used that had apparently been lifted from the area at some point,” Pänkäläinen said.

Black alders were planted along the banks. Their root systems will bind the edges of the channel and reduce erosion.

Not a typical restoration method

Almost all of Versowood’s employees involved in timber procurement took part in the restoration. Otava said the day also provided an opportunity to update the staff’s knowledge.

Choosing a staff wellbeing day as the method of restoration is not typical in similar cases. Pänkäläinen said restoration work is often commissioned as a contract instead.

“In this case, the solution worked well. The participants were able to see how easily a streamlet close to its natural state can be damaged. In practice, doing the work is an effective way to learn, and the party that caused the damage can also take part in repairing it,” Pänkäläinen said.