UPM and Finnish Ministry of Environment agree on peatland nature conservation
May 16 2012 UPM, the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and the Center for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Central Finland have agreed on a very significant purchase of nature conservation areas and on the establishment of private conservation areas in Central Finland.
The areas are located in Kyyjärvi, Karstula, Pihtipudas and Kinnula. According to the agreement, the state will purchase a total of 795 hectares from UPM for nature protection purposes. In addition, based on a decision by the Center for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, private conservation areas, totalling 323 hectares, will be established on UPM's land.The protected areas are mainly parts of the Natura 2000 network. Of the total protected area, 485 hectares are included in the Boreal Peatland LIFE project, supported by the EU's LIFE Program.