Planning and Monitoring of Restoration Work

The sites to be restored are chosen, and the procedures are planned with care. The planning of habitat restoration begins with the inventory of the protected area. At this stage, information on the natural conditions of the area, such as the habitats, tree stands, amounts of decaying wood and the resemblance to the natural state, are collected.

The information is saved in a geographical information system. Based on map inspection and the information gathered, the restoration sites are chosen. The restoration sites are placed in forests with the least resemblance to a natural forest. The allocation of the restoration activities takes into account the occurrences of endangered species and other valuable features, in the vicinity of which habitat restoration can support existing conservation values. The choice of restoration sites is also affected by the other uses of the area and work safety issues.

Monitoring the Process of Restoration

The aim of monitoring is to show whether the objectives of forest restoration are met after the restoration measures. At burning sites, the intensity of the fire and the growth of saplings are monitored. At sites where small openings have been created, the amount of saplings is followed. At sites where dead and decaying wood has been generated, the amount of decaying wood and the decay process are monitored. For example, the spread of insects and polypores to the restored areas is studied in species inventories. The results of the evaluations can be used to improve future restoration measures.