Kalevala Park - Interreg III A Karelia 2003 - 2005
Kalevala Park - genuine nature for all
Interreg III A Karelia
An extensive complex of nature reserves called Kalevala Park is emerging on the eastern border of Suomussalmi municipality, in the Kainuu region. The same area, but on the Russian side of the border, in Russian Karelia, will see the establishment of a national park also under the name Kalevala. Establishment of these parks is currently under way in the Finnish and Russian governments. This website will provide information on the Kalevala Parks project, the goal of which is to promote the establishment of the parks and to prepare future co-operation between them. The web pages will also shed light on the special character of these areas and on the lives of the local people, past and present.
The Kalevala Park being established in Suomussalmi will provide genuine experiences for all those who love nature and the great outdoors. Untouched nature and magical moments in the wild can also be found in the Kalevala National Park planned for the Russian side, close to the Finnish border.
Project Goals
The primary goal of the Kalevala Parks project is to encourage an interest in the relationship with nature that the local people have cherished for generations, as well as an interest in the protected areas of the parks. Another aim is to promote nature tourism in compliance with sustainable development through cross-border co-operation. Nature tourism is a viable resource particularly in remote areas close to the border, which also are experiencing increased international interest.
The Kalevala Park of Suomussalmi comprises several separate nature conservation areas and covers a total area of 27 500 hectares. The largest single areas are the Martinselkonen conservation area and the Murhisalo area. The park complex will also include the Hossa hiking area, on the northern side of Suomussalmi municipality, and in the southern part of the municipality, the Karelian village landscape of Kuivajärvi-Hietajärvi. The total area comprises 360 square kilometres. The Kalevala National Park on the Russian side of the border covers a contiguous area of 740 square kilometres.
The objective of the Kalevala Parks project is to support rapid establishment of the parks on both sides of the border. Other aims are promoting familiarity with and respect for the culture of the people living in the forests of Viena or White-Sea Karelia and the Kainuu regions and the nature moulded by them. A further goal of the project is to create a network of entrepreneurs supporting ecologically and culturally sustainable use of the area's resources and a model for co-operation between the Hossa hiking area and the Russian actors. We also feel it is important to promote public awareness of these unique wilderness areas and the way of life related to them.
To support these aims, the Kalevala Parks project will maintain an Internet site and organize exhibitions and other events to provide information about the areas and local people. A book on the areas, their nature and cultivation of natural resources will be compiled and published in the spring of 2005.
Project Participants
The Finnish actors involved in the project include the Ostrobothnia Natural Heritage Services of Metsähallitus, the municipality of Suomussalmi, the trekking tour company Hossanretki Oy and the Kainuu Museum. The Russian co-operation partners are the Kostamuksha (Kostamus) urban district, Kostamuksha nature conservation area (zapovednik) and the Kalevalsky (Kalevala) district.
Contact persons:
Project manager Kerttu Härkönen,
Tel. +358 205 64 6456, mobile phone +358 40 7435333
E-mail: first name.last name@metsa.fi
Address:
Metsähallitus, Natural Heritage Services, Ostrobothnia
Kalevala Parks Project
Syväyksenkatu 22
FIN-89600 Suomussalmi FINLAND