World Heritage List Sites in Metsähallitus Areas

The UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was ratified in 1972. Finland joined the Convention in 1987. The convention is a treaty agreement to maintain a list of sites which have been deemed internationally valuable for their cultural and natural heritage. The list is called the World Heritage List. Sites are considered for the list by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee after the country in which the site is has proposed the site. In Finland proposals for cultural heritage sites are drawn up by the Ministry of Education and the ones for natural heritage sites by the Ministry of the Environment.
 

 The Struve Geodetic Arc was accepted onto the World Heritage List in 2005 as an achievement in science and technology. Six of the arc’s measurement points are located in Finland, including three in Metsähallitus areas: in Tarvantovaara Wilderness Area, at Aavasaksa and on Mustaviiri Island in Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park.

The Kvarken Archipelago (see picture) became Finland's first natural heritage site on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006.

Metsähallitus also manages sites which are being considered for the World Heritage List.

More Information

• UNESCO World Heritage (whc.unesco.org)
• UNESCO's State Parties: Finland (whc.unesco.org)
  Includes sites inscribed and on the Tentative List
• World Heritage Sites in Finland (www.minedu.fi)
• Kvarken Archipelago as a World Heritage Site (www.kvarkenworldheritage.fi)
• Kvarken Archipelago Nature Reserve (www.nationalparks.fi)