Recent years have brought new research information about the watercourse load caused by economic forests, revealing that the role of drained peatlands, in particular, is more significant and long-lasting than previously thought. In addition to nutrients that cause eutrophication of water bodies, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, peatlands also wash into water bodies solid matter, humus, and soluble carbon, which dye the waters brown, consume oxygen, and cause sedimentation on the bottoms.
According to the research, one of the most effective water protection measures in forestry is surface filtration, where nutrient and solid matter-rich waters from drainage areas are directed to undrained peatlands.
This is not only an effective way to reduce watercourse load but also an excellent method to improve the condition of peatlands affected by drainage. Even if a peatland itself has not been drained, it can still suffer from the drying effect of surrounding drainages. Peatlands that receive water from surrounding areas are starting to dry out and become barren due to the drainages around them, as the naturally flowing waters are diverted around them through ditches. By redirecting the waters back to the peatland, this drying trend can be halted, achieving significant water protection benefits with relatively small investments.
The project aims to improve water protection in forestry and the condition of waters through cost-effective, efficient, multi-objective water protection measures, namely water restoration.
The project plans and implements water restorations and promotes the broader adoption of the method on private lands. The project also maps landowners’ attitudes towards water restorations through a landowner survey.
Partners and Funders
The largest funder of the Private-Vespa project is the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre). Other funders include Ii Micropolis, the John Nurminen Foundation, United Bankers, and Finsilva. The project is implemented in collaboration with Tapio Oy, Ii Micropolis Oy, and the John Nurminen Foundation. In the selection of pilot areas for the project, cooperation has been made with United Bankers, Finsilva, and the Natural Heritage Foundation.
The project started on April 5, 2023, and it ends on June 15, 2025.
Additional information
Project Manager Mr. Jouni Tanskanen
tel +358 40 554 9273, [email protected]
In cooperation
