Local reconciliation sought for forest disputes in Lapland
Published 11 September 2009
Common ground is being sought in the negotiations between Metsähallitus, Greenpeace and local parties concerning the land use of the forest areas located in the northern parts of Kittilä, Sodankylä, Savukoski and Salla, considered to be valuable by environmental organisations.
A regional steering group, chaired by Executive Director Esko Lotvonen, has been called in to co-ordinate the negotiations. The steering group’s other members are Matti Hepola, Director of the Lapland Regional Environment Centre; Pertti Viik, Executive Manager of the Reindeer Herders’ Association; Hannu Virranniemi, Director of Forestry at Pölkky Oy; Sini Harkki, forest campaigner for Greenpeace, as well as a representative of the Sámi Parliament, to be appointed at a later date. Metsähallitus is represented in the steering group by Regional Directors Juhani Karjalainen, Kii Korhonen and Jyrki Tolonen. Metsähallitus’s Ilkka Vaara will function as secretary.
Local co-ordination will take place in municipal working groups, consisting of representatives from the municipalities and Metsähallitus as well as the reindeer herding co-operatives, sawmills and Greenpeace. A representative of the Sámi Parliament will also take part in Sodankylä.
A consensus concerning the future use of the areas for forestry purposes and its restrictions is sought by the end of October. Possible new land use decisions will be incorporated into the Metsähallitus´ Eastern and Western Lapland Natural Resource Plan’s interim review, which is soon set to begin. A broad-based co-operation group will be assembled in connection with the Natural Resource Plan. The group will present to Metsähallitus’s Management Group the land-use solutions and proposals concerning the scale of Metsähallitus’s operations.
The steering group’s first meeting was held on Thursday 10 September 2009. The parties’ common goal is to find solutions that do not endanger the availability of wood for Northern Finland’s sawmills and the forest industry or its acceptability in the market, nor the natural wilderness forests and the most important grazing areas for reindeer husbandry. The co-ordination of these objectives will not be a simple task but all of the parties involved are committed to reaching a joint decision concerning the use of these areas.
For further information, please contact Regional Director Kii Korhonen, Metsähallitus, Tel. +358 400 300 861