Helsinki (News release) -- UPM and the nature conservation organisation Luontokollektiivi are starting the restoration of the approximately 100-hectare Western Valkeasuo in Tohmajärvi, North Karelia, Finland. The restoration of the drained peatland, owned by UPM, will increase the biodiversity of the mire by restoring the mire ecosystem and reduce nutrient loads from Lake Polvijärvi and its downstream waterbodies and carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The restoration of the Western Valkeasuo is a co-funded EU project.

Image: Tuuli Hakulinen

The Western Valkeasuo is one of the first restoration sites in UPM's habitat programme. The actual restoration work will start with the harvesting of trees in January, as the Western Valkeasuo has been sparsely forested in the past. After logging, the ditches that were once dug in the peatland will be blocked to bring the water level back to what it was before the draining. Raising the water level will prevent peat decomposition and reduce nutrient leaching.

"About half of Finland's peatlands have been drained for forestry use. For peatland restoration to become mainstream, it is important to involve large landowners in restoration activities," says Tuuli Hakulinen, Chair of the Luontokollektiivi.

In February 2024, UPM published a habitat programme that aims to increase biodiversity in the company's forests in Finland. The programme will restore at least 3,000 hectares of peatland habitats and implement management measures in at least 100 other sites of biodiversity value. The habitat programme is part of UPM's global Forest Action programme.

"We've been open to proposals for potential sites and cooperation, as we want to increase our expertise in restoration and restore sites that have a big impact on nature. Now, we can cooperate with the Luontokollektiivi and the best experts in the field," says Miika Laihonen, Senior Specialist, Environment and Biologist at UPM Forest.

In 2018, UPM had already set a target to improve biodiversity in its forests. To achieve this goal, nine different indicators have been set to measure progress. One of the indicators is the number of restoration and biodiversity projects. UPM has also linked the pricing mechanism of its stand-by credit to forest biodiversity and climate objectives.