PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KALEVALA NATIONAL PARK - Tacis Project ENVRUS9704
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Tacis Project ENVRUS9704
PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
KALEVALA NATIONAL PARK
Petrozavodsk 2001Table of contents: Preface 3 Abstract 4 Introduction 5 I. Feasibility of establishing the Kalevala National Park 6 1. History of establishment 6 2. Area and borders 8 3. Description of nature 8 3.1. Geographic location and transport accessibility 8 3.2. Climate 8 3.3. Geological, geomorphologic and soil features of the area 8 3.4. Lakes and rivers 9 3.5. Mires and paludified lands 10 3.6. Forests 11 3.6.1. Natural characteristics in the structure and dynamics 11 3.6.2. Natural fire regime and its impact in the spontaneous forest dynamics 11 3.6.3. Current forest situation 13 3.7. Flora 14 3.7.1. Vascular plants 14 3.7.2. Bry’ophy’ta 14 3.8. Lichens 14 3.9. Wood-destroying aphylophorous fungi and phytosanitation of wood stands 15 3.10. Fauna 15 3.10.1. Mammals 15 3.10.2. Birds 16 3.10.3. Insects 18 3.10.4. Fish 18 3.11. Landscapes 19 4. History and culture 21 5. Past and modern nature management 23 6. Modern socio-economic situation 23 7. Assessment of the Kalevala National Park according to ecological, cultural and socio-economic 25 parameters II. Proposals to the Management Plan 29 1. Goals of the Park’s establishment 29 2. Regulation of activities in the Kalevala Park 30 2.1. General provisions 30 2.2. Forestry 31 2.3. Farming 33 2.4. Fishing 33 2.5. Hunting 33 2.6. Picking of mushrooms, berries and herbs 33 2.7. Use of trails and facilities 34 3. Zoning of the Park’s territory 34 3.1. Principles of zoning 34 3.2. Zones of the Kalevala Park 35 3.2.1. Special (frontier) zone 35 3.2.2. Strictly protected zone 36 3.2.3. Special protected zone 36 3.2.4. Recreation zone 36 3.2.5. Visitor service zone 37 3.2.6. Forestry zone 38 3.2.7. Historical zone 38 4. Location of infrastructure 38 4.1. National Park Office 38 4.2. Ranger’s cabins 39
4.3. Visitor centre 39 4.4. Information points and boards 40 4.5. Access to the Park 40 4.6. Provision of services 40 4.7. Hiking trails 42 4.7.1. Main water routes and objects 42 4.7.2. Objects of history and culture 42 4.7.3. Some ornithological hiking routes and objects 42 4.7.4. Some mire hiking routes and objects 42 4.7.5. Model tourist routes 42 5. Administration and personnel 43 5.1. Structure of the administration 43 5.2. Administration working methods 44 5.3. Opportunities to work efficiently with the Kostomuksha Strict Nature Reserve 45 6. Organisation of the main activities in the National Park 46 6.1. Conservation of natural and cultural heritage 46 6.2. Nature interpretation 47 6.3. Ecological education 48 6.4. Research 48 6.5. Tourism 48 7. Basic provisions of the five-year plan of actions 50 7.1. Plan of priority actions for five years 51 7.2. Funding of the Park’s operations 51 7.3. Sources of funding 53 Reference list 54 Annexes 56
Preface
This report consists of the documents, which, according to the Russian legislation, are needed for the
establishment of the Kalevala National Park: The feasibility Study for the establishment of the NP, and
Proposal for the Plan of the Kalevala National Park. Including an Action Plan for the five first years for the
NP. In addition, in the Tourism Strategy for the Karelian Green Belt, there are more information,
guidelines and prognosis presented about tourism development in this territory. After handing over the
documents to the beneficiary of the Tacis Project “Karelia Parks Development”, the Government of the
Republic of Karelia, the future of the National Park is in the hands of the Republic and the Russian
Federation.
Preparation of this plan has been possible due to the funding of the European Union Tacis Programme.
Support to the Kalevala National Park was one of the activities in the Karelia Parks Development project
that was implemented here in 1999-2001. During the project, the Municipal Entity of the Kalevala
National Park was established together with local administration of the Kostomuksha Town. Its main task
is to develop and maintain the park infrastructure, services and tourism before the National Park is
officially established. The Municipal Entity was also the local recipient of the training and equipment,
which is needed for the park management and which was received from the Tacis project. However, it is
only a transition period organisation, which will once be replaced by the National Park administration.
On behalf of the consortium running this project (the consortium was including Metsähallitus, Finnish
Environment Institute, Indufor Oy and Kampsax International A/O). I wish to thank Andrei Gromthsev as
the author of this plan, and all the Russian and foreign experts, who have contributed to preparation of
the plan and other ways supported development of this unique territory to an internationally recognised
national park.
Jouko Högmander
Team Leader of the Tacis Project Karelia Parks Development ENVRUS9704
3Abstract
This report briefly characterises and assesses the Kalevala National Park through a wide range of
ecological, cultural and socio-economic parameters. The document describes the functional zoning and
Park’s Regulations for the functional zones based on the Russian legislation in force. The concluding part
of the paper proposes priority actions needed for the successful operations of the Park.
The material does not cover all the problems related with the establishment and work of the National
Park. In particular, the terms of reference do not require discussing questions connected with individual
design and planning projects.. Some data is presented in a concise form, which is accounted for by the
assigned compactness of the document. So, some data characterising the National Park in detail is not
included in the version for publication.
Nonetheless, the presented material on the Kalevala National Park has no analogues at the time. The
document can easily be broadened in any aspect. The paper gives all basics for decision-making on the
establishment of the Park and successful work of the Park.
The proposed Kalevala National Park encompasses 95 886 ha of uninhabited forest in the northern part
of the Kostomuksha Municipality (over 90%) and western part of Kalevala National District in the
Republic of Karelia. In the park territory there are 437 lakes, 250 small rivers and 153 km of shoreline.
Forests cover 68 243 ha or 71% of the area, mires 19% and waters 10%. Pine is dominating in about
85% and spruce in 10% of the forests. There are 10,3 million cbm of commercial timber within the
proposed park borders. . In old times, selection cuttings and minor use of firewood around settlements
have taken place.
There are only 10 inhabitants on a private-owned area within the park borders in Venehjärvi
settlement, in old times there were about ten other small settlements within the proposed park.
The main values justifying the Kalevala National Park establishment, are as follows:
! Largest virgin pine forests in Fennoscandia. The total area of pine-dominated forests is about
68 000 ha. West of the this wilderness, there are only fragments left of pine forests regenerated on
natural way after forest fire in the whole of Europe.
! Refuge and centre of distribution for many taiga species. There are viable populations of for
example brown bear, forest reindeer, wolverine and flying squirrel in the park. 23 bird species of the
Red Data Books of Russia, Karelia, Fennoscandia or Finland, are breeding here.
! Wilderness with cultural value, forest in close contact with the old rune-singer villages. These
forests are a part of the former and current life of people living in Vuokkiniemi, Latvajärvi, Venehjärvi
and Vuonninen.
! Recreational attraction of large, virgin wilderness is nowadays remarkable in Europe. The
value of it is only growing in future, and it is possible to start using it for the advantage of local
people. Combining eco-tourism and cultural tourism provides a good opportunity to develop this
territory to one of the main attractions for tourists in Karelia.
! The Kalevala National Park is an important part of the Green Belt, which covers a strip on both
sides of the state border from the Barents Sea to the Gulf of Finland.
The most serious threat for the park establishment is forestry, which has so far only lightly touched
the southeast corner of the area in the form of clearcuts of 652 ha. Wild tourism, including risk of forest
fires, illegal fishing and hunting should also be taken into consideration in planning the future of the NP.
As a result of a socio-economic analysis it can be found, that the establishment of the Kalevala
National Park will, in the long run, mean less income from forest to the Republic of Karelia and the
Russian Federation. With those logging methods currently in use in territories close to the border, cutting
the forests of the proposed national park would not bring job opportunities in Kostomuksha or Kalevala
districts. At the same time one of the unique wildernesses in Northwestern Europe would be lost forever.
The whole Karelia needs protected areas in order to show that the all-inclusive approach in forest use is
applied here. Nature tourism is expected to be here popular, when the park has been established and the
main infrastructure and services are set up. It will bring directly and indirectly jobs and income for the
4nearest villages and to a wider area as well. Thus, combination of nature conservation and tourism is
considered to be the best alternative for the use of this territory.
The National Park would not noteworthy limit the rights of local people in using natural resources.
Hunting will be forbidden in the park, but this area in not important for locals as a game resource. Picking
of berries and mushrooms as well as fishing will continue as earlier. Strictly protected zone will be closed
for all visitors. Other restrictions or gathering of entrance fee to the park are not concerning people in the
nearest villages.
Functional zoning of the NP is proposed in the plan. 17% of the National Park would belong to the
strictly protected zone with no access and 1,5% to the special protected zone. They are established in a
remote and less accessible part of the territory in order to safeguard natural succession of primeval
forests for scientific purpose.
Plan for the facilities and services are presented. The office of the NP is to be located in
Kostomuksha. The Visitor Centre will be constructed in Vuokkiniemi. The access to the park will take
place through four gates: Levijärvi in north, Venehjärvi and Ponkalahti-Latvajärvi road in Southeast and
Latvajärvi in south. Five camping grounds with good service (cabins, sauna, guard) would be constructed
and many other campsites with simple facilities further in to the park. Three long hiking trails and a
number of shorter ones will be constructed in the NP:
In the park administration 43 permanent employees and a number of temporary workers are needed
to keep the park running. It is proposed that the staff would be taken gradually during the five first
years. Construction of the park is estimated to need investments of 50,6 million Rubles (equal to 2,024
million Euros) during the ten first years, after which the need of investments will decrease. The largest
investments are proposed to be planning and construction of the office in Kostomuksha and the Visitor
Centre in Vuokkiniemi, which will probably need external support. During the five first years of the NP,
annual need of funding is estimated to grow from 3,1 million to 9,5 million Rubles (equal to 124 000 –
379 000 Euros) and the incomes from 0,16 million to 1,71 million Rubles (equal to 6 400 – 68 400 Euros).
Before establishment of the Kalevala National Park, the Municipal Entity of the Kalevala National
Park will take care of the activities. It has been the local recipient of the Tacis project Karelia Parks
Development ENVRUS9704 and got a good start in developing the park infrastructure and tourism was
there before the official establishment of the NP.
5Introduction
The idea of establishing the Kalevala National Park was first launched by the Environmental Protection
Laboratory of the Forestry Institute, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the
late eighties (recommendations of S. V. Sazonov). However, the first inventory, and biological as well as
cultural assessment of the territory was done in 1997 by a large team of experts from the Forest
Research Institute, Institute of Biology, North Institute of Water Problems, and the Institute of History,
Language and Literature of the Karelian Research Centre. The State Environmental Committee of the
Republic of Karelia gave an assignment for this job. This Management Plan has been prepared on the
basis of the analysis and conclusions of that inventory (Material of Inventory…Report…1997). In abstract
form, they were published both in Russian and English (Inventory Materials…, 1998; Assessment of
Natural Complexes and Ecological Feasibility Study…, 1998). In addition, the additional information
collected during an expedition of Project experts to the area of Lake Lapukka in July 2000 and a three-
day snowmobile tour to the central part of the Park has been utilised. Statistics from the Kostomuksha
and Kalevala local administrations about the socio-economic situation; the participatory hearings
arranged; and socio-economic data collected for the Tacis Project “Karelia Parks Development” in the
Park and adjacent territory have been used (T. Morozova et. al. 2001).
This document has been gradually developed as a result of comments and proposals of the Team Leader
and experts of the Tacis Project. At the final stage the materials were amended and enlarged in
compliance with recommendations of the Biodiversity Conservation Centre (Moscow).
It should be mentioned that until recently the area of the Kalevala Park remained both not yet exploited
and unexplored due to its remoteness and poor accessibility. This is why Fennoscandia’s largest area of
pine dominant coniferous taiga has remained here (Picture 1). More inventories are needed to get a
detailed description of economic and cultural characteristics. The given material displays quite a
comprehensive description of features and current situation with natural complexes and cultural values of
the region. The socio-economic background has been considered, too. Against this background
alternatives of using the territory as a National park or as category III forest for forestry are discussed
and the National Park establishment strongly recommended. Principles of the Park developmental plan,
including zoning, regulation of activities, organisation and priority actions, are presented separately
This proposal for the establishment of the Kalevala National Park was developed on the base of Terms of
Reference and recommendations of the management of the Tacis Project “Karelia Parks Development”
ENVRUS 9704.
In this report, materials of the following experts of the Tacis Project are stated without references under
edition of Andrei Gromtsev (according to components):
Doctor of Biology P.I.Danilov and L.V.Bliudnik (Mammals), Candidate of Biology A.V.Kravchenko (Vascular
Plants), Candidate of Geography V.A.Kolomytsev (Mires and Paludified Lands), Candidate of Biology
O.L.Kuznetsov, Doctor of History S.I.Kochkurkina (History and Culture), A.V.Litvinenko (hydrology),
Candidate of Biology S.V.Sazonov (Birds), Doctor of Biology (Fish). Authors of other materials are
referred to in the text. Materials of A.N.Gromtsev (2000) are used in the text with no references. The
maps have been prepared by a group of experts headed by Anatoli Shreders. Analysis of socio-economic
aspects and management planning were prepared together with the director of the “Kalevala Park”
Municipal Entity S. S. Demidov. The Socio-economic Assessment Report prepared in the Tacis Project has
been used. Estimates of economic trends of the National Park were made in the Tourism Strategy for the
Karelian Part of the Green Belt (Friman & Högmander 2001).
Andrei Gromtsev did general preparation and scientific edition of the document. Information, comments
and help was given by the Director of the Municipal Entity of the Kalevala National Park, Sergei Demidov.
Comments and proposals were also given by Jouko Högmander and Matti Määttä as foreign experts of
the Tacis project. The plan drafts were discussed with local people and administrations in three seminars
in November 1999, February 2000 and May 2000, and the guidelines of the content was presented in
public meetings in Vuokkiniemi, Kalevala and Kostomuksha.
The report was written in Russian, Dimitri Titkov made translation. In the English version, always when
possible, the original Karelian or Finnish place names are used.
6Picture 1. Location of the Kalevala National Park. Mature and overmature forests are marked in the
picture according to 1997 data from satellite images processed by P. Litinski, boundaries of the image are
marked with a dotted line.
7I Feasibility of establishing the Kalevala National Park
1. History of establishment
The idea of establishing the Kalevala National Park was first launched by the Environmental Protection
Laboratory of the Forestry Institute, Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the
late eighties (recommendations of S. V. Sazonov). Early in the nineties, the proposed Park consisted of
three fragments - around Lakes Ohtanjärvi, Venehjärvi, and near the Vuonninen settlement (totalling 90
thousand hectares). Later, the Venehjärvi area with well-preserved primary forests was expanded to
reach 115 thousand ha (Picture 1). In August 1997, the Government of the Republic of Karelia issued a
decree1 to reserve this area until the final decision on the area and boundaries of the proposed Kalevala
NP is made. At the end of 2000, the Karelian Government made a decision to prolong reservation of the
territory for the Kalevala National Park for one more year. In 1998-1999 changes were made in the area
of the Park pursuant to recommendations of the Karelian Research Centre and with prior agreement with
the administration of the Kostomuksha Municipality. The Kostomuksha Strict Nature Reserve
(Zapovednik) organized discussions on fixing boundaries of the proposed Park.
As a result, the whole territory proposed for the National Park is situated within compartments reserved
by Republic of Karelia’s Decrees (1996 – 1999) and agreed with the administration of the Kostomuksha
Municipality (# 470 of June 24, 1998). In 1999, this version of the National Park’s borders was agreed
with the major environmental NGOs of Russia. A decision to support establishment of the Kalevala NP
and to address a relevant request to the Government of the Republic of Karelia was made at a session of
the Kostomuksha Town Council (ordinance of the Kostomuksha Town Council # 285 of December 26,
2000). Support of the proposals on the establishment of the Kalevala National Park was received from the
administration of the Kalevala District (Letters of the Head of the Local Administration to the Government
of the Republic of Karelia #2150 of 01.02.1999, #2/207 of 16.05.2000).
2. Area and Borders.
According to environmental parameters, it is feasible to include into the area of the proposed Park the
following compartments (figure 2):
176-184 of the Vuonninen forest division of the Kalevala forest district:
1-10, 15-28, 38-51, 71-84, 100-112, 129-140, 163-175, 176, 178 (partially), 179 (partially) of the
Vuokkiniemi forest range of the Kostomuksha forest district.
This area ensures conservation of all elements of the biotic diversity connected with the commonest
primary forests of the north-taiga sub-zone of East Fennoscandia (recommendations of the Karelian
Research Centre/Russian Academy of Science).
Nonetheless, considering natural and cultural originality and outstandingly picturesque Lakes Venehjärvi,
Marjaselkä, Keynäsjärvi (with historic settlements) and Keynäs Waterfall, etc., these water objects with
narrow aquatic conservation zones have been added to the area of the NP within the following
compartments:
52-57, 85-90, 113-120 of the Vuokkiniemi forest range of the Kostomuksha forest district, and a part of
compartment 1 of the Latvajärvi forest range (around Lake Pirtojärvi).
Thus, the total area of the Park reaches roughly 96 000 hectares, and the length of the
border is 153 km (Table 1).
1
Regulation #938 of November 4, 1996 of the Government of the Republic of Karelia “Reservation of Territory for Establishment of
National Parks in the Suojärvi, Muezerka and Kalevala National Districts and the Kostomuksha Municipality of the Republic of Karelia
in the years 1996 to 2000”.
Regulation #492 of August 25, 1997 of the Republic of Karelia “Additional Reservation of Territory for the Proposed Kalevala
National Park”.
Regulation #291 of May 31, 1999 “Amendments to the Regulations # 938 and 492 of November 4, 1996 and of August 25, 1997 of
the Chair of the Government of the Republic of Karelia”.
8In addition, justified by the cultural importance’s, it is reasonable to incorporate Lake Latvajärvi (with the
centre of the area in the Latvajärvi rune settlement).As an individual object together with 300-500-meter
protection strap along the shoreline (in compartments 180, 187, 188 of the Vuokkiniemi forest division of
the Kostomuksha forest district) but without formal inclusion in the borders agreed earlier at the locale
level.
Table 1
General characteristics of the land area of the National Park (ha, according to forest
inventory data)
Forestland
Forest range Total Woodland Forested Mires Water Others2
area land
Territory of the Kostomuksha Municipality (91,3% of the total area of the Park)
Vuokkiniemi 87 148 61 739 61 500 16 856 8 358 194
Latvajärvi 408 303 303 49 57 +
Total in the district 87 556 62 042 61 803 16 905 8 415 194
Territory of the Kalevala National District (8,7% of the total area of the Park)
Vuonninen 8 330 6 201 6 201 1 491 620 18
Total in the Park 95 886 68 243 68 004 18 396 9 035 212
% of the total area 71 17 19 9,5 0,5
3. Description of Nature
3.1. Geographic location and transport accessibility
The territory of the proposed Kalevala Park is located in the westernmost area of central part of the
Republic of Karelia. Its western border goes along the Russian-Finnish border (Picture 1). On the whole,
this region has relatively good road connections due to closeness of the town of Kostomuksha and a
cross-border checkpoint Vartius-Lutta at the Russian-Finnish border. The southern and eastern
peripheries of the proposed Park are accessed on gravel roads. The northern and northeastern limits of
the National Park (NP) are also road-accessed.
Over the half of the area of the NP is situated behind the border fence of the frontier guards,
along which a road runs from the south to the north (marked by a dotted line at Picture 2).
But this road is applicable for 4WD vehicles only. At the moment, there are no roads to the west of the
border fence.
3.2. Climate
The region features frosty and long winters with short and cold vegetation and even shorter non-frosty
period, and much downfall (500-600 mm/year, Atlas of the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Republic, 1989).
The recorded maximum and minimum temperatures are +35° and –50°, relatively. The sum of daily
mean temperatures above 5° over the vegetation period is 1450-1650. The number of days with snow-
cover is 170-180. The duration of the non-frost period is 80-95 days. The average temperature of the
warmest month (July) makes up to +14,5°C, and the coldest month – about -12,5°. According to the
“Atlas… “ the region is considered to be “the coldest” region across Karelia in terms of the soil heat rate.
3.3. Geological, Geomorphologic and Soil Features of the Area.
The area is located in the Southeast slope of the Baltic Shield, which gradually turns in the outmost
Southeast of Karelia into the Russian Valley. Small outcrops of the crystalline foundation are observed
everywhere. The foundation is composed of Pre-Cambrian crystalline rocks (granite, gneiss, etc.) ageing
over three billion years. However, in general, the surface of the Baltic Shield in this region is overlapped
by Quaternary deposits of different depths (from dozens of centimetres to 20-30 meters). In the genesis,
alluvial (washed up river silt), lake (peat mires on former lakes, etc.), glacial (moraine), lake-glacial,
2
Roads, forest cuttings, hayfields
9water-glacial (washed off when by water torrents the glacier melted) deposits can be observed. They all
are spread over the NP in different ratios. The hill-ridge relief creates the basic background. The relief of
the crystalline foundation almost entirely covered by thin loamy sand glacial deposits (Picture 3) forms it.
Minimum and maximum marks of the earth above the sea level are 104,4 m and 277,7 m. The western
part of the National Park is mostly a plain while the eastern part is prevailed by hills ands ridges (see
chapter 3.11).
The topsoil is created by alluvial-humus-ferrous-sandy podzols. In the Southwest and Northwest, marshy
and marsh-podzol soils dominate in the Park. In general, a mosaic of soils – from primitive on rocks to
deep peat deposits is observed. (fig. 4).
3.4. Lakes and Rivers.
Almost the whole territory belongs to the watershed of the River Venehjoki– tributary of Lake Ylä-
Kuittijärvi In addition, small basins of other reservoirs are located there: basins of the River Martinjoki,
Lake Ylä Karttimo, Lake Iso-Öllöri, Lake Ala-Karttimo whose catchment areas are mostly located in
Finland. Small northern tributaries of the Rivers Kurzhma and Tollojoki are inside the NP.
The hydrological network, which includes about 250 rivers and 437 lakes of the total area at 9 000 ha
covers evenly the territory of the NP. The rivers go under the category of small rivers; only 15 of them
have the length of 10 km or more. The density of the river web amounts to 0,5 km per square km, and
this corresponds roughly to the average rate throughout Karelia (0,48 km per square km). About 100
lakes only have the area of over 0,1 square km. The lake rate in the region equals to 11%, what is a little
less than the average Karelian rate, excluding Lake Ladoga and Lake Onego (13%).
The main rivers in the region are: the River Venehjoki (64 km long) up to its fall into Lake Ylä-Kuittijärvi
(30 km to Lake Venehjärvi), the River Pirta (Kaba, Landa) – 36 km and the River Vuokinjoki – 30 km. The
largest lakes are Lake Keynäsjärvi (the area of the surface mirror is 3,5 sq. km), Levi (3,82), Marjaselkä
(8,60), Ala-Lapukka (12,0), and Venehjärvi (13,6). The total area of the latter is 18,1 sq. km. Thus, the
island factor amounts to 25%, and this is likely the biggest rate in Karelia. According to digital map of the
scale 1:200 000, there are 48 islands (520 ha) in the Park.
The area of the NP is situated within the Northern Hill Area. Consequently, the rivers, in particular the
main rivers – Venehjoki, Landa, Kaba, Pirta, Vuokinjoki – are fast, impassable and have many rapids and
remind of foothill rivers. Of special beauty is the three-sleeve Keynäs Waterfall with the drop of 2,5
meters, which is located in the riverhead of the basic river flowing from Lake Keynäsjärvi.
The area presents an integral natural lake-river system, which, are near their natural intact state. River
areas, not typical of other protected areas in North Karelia, are rather widely presented there.
3.5. Mires and Paludified Lands
The territory of the Kalevala NP has, due to geomorphological and hydrological factors, rather a high
paludification rate – from 20-30% in the eastern part to 40-60% in the western part (including forest
growing on peatland). According to forest inventory, the total area of open and sparsely wooded mires is
18 400 ha (the woodstand stock is less than 40 m3 per ha or the density is less than 0,3 on soil).
The glacier retreated from this region about 10 000 years ago. After this, numerous after-glacial
reservoirs revived, while mineral deposits and organic sapropel were accumulating. Warming of the
climate, shallowing and drainage of many lakelets initiated paludification processes. While peat was piling
and some mire massifs extending, merging of mires into mire systems took place.
Currently, most mires in this region have transformed into mire systems. The area of individual mires
varies from 1-5 to 50 hectares, while the area of mire systems reaches several hundreds of hectares.
Most of mire systems have a composite and rugged form. They include numerous mineral islets, residual
lakes and brooks, and sections of paludified forests with a thin peat layer (20-30 cm). Parts of the
systems are located at different levels, and due to the gradient so-called hanging bogs) can be met, the
formation of which is conditioned by impact from ground pressure water (springs). The depth of peat
10deposits on investigated mires varies from 1-2 to 6 meters. Since many mires have a lake origin, sapropel
layers in the deepest parts reach 3 meters in width. The depth of peat deposits is up to 5,5 meters.
Depression-transient and transient herbaceous deposits prevail in centre parts of mires and wood-
herbaceous transient deposits dominant in peripheral parts of mires.
Heterogeneity of the landscape structure in the Kalevala NP impacts, on the one hand, differentiation in
paludification rate throughout the area, and, on the other hand, the life span of dry-valley forests. The
western part of the NP features small-ridge terrain. Over there, forests grow on low islands in the middle
of mires, and the paludification rate reaches 80% (including open mires and paludified forests). Under
these conditions forests growing on mineralised land are doomed to gradual paludification in 1 000-2 000
years. This will happen as a result of an on-going active linear growth of peat deposits (at speed of 20
m/1 000 years). Due to a more distinguished hill-and-ridge relief, paludification of forests in the
remaining area of the NP does not look that threatening.
Features of the NP mires are typical of the extended area of north-taiga sub-zone of East Fennoscanida
from the both sides of the White Sea-Baltic Watershed. However, the local mires have been preserved in
a natural state, while from the Finnish side they have been drained. Together with this, in the adjacent to
the NP Kainuu aapa-mire area, 26,324 ha of mires of various types are under protection (Aapala et al.,
1995). They form 43 quite small protected areas. In Karelia, there are no protected areas in this region
other than the Kostomuksha Zapovednik (Strict Nature Reserve). Diversity of mires in West Karelia is not
comprehensive in the Zapovednik.
3.6. Forests
Forests cover about 71% of the Kalevala National Park and constitute a basic biotic component of land
ecosystems (Picture 5). The forest covering has a key environmental and biotope-forming importance
and regulates the status of faunal and floristic complexes. Mainly open mires – about 19%, and water –
9,5%, represent the other land categories. The share of outer kand categories does not exceed 0,5%.
3.6.1. Forest Structure and Dynamics
Pines dominate about 85% of stands in the NP. Large areas of pine forests are gradually under the
process of being invaded by spruce. Spruce forests spread over approximately 10% of woodland and are
basically localised to the hydrological network, humid inter-ridge and inter-hill depressions. Birch forests
growing on former hayfields and burnt-over areas. Aspen forests are rare – they grow on abandoned
farming land.
The range of forest types encompasses practically all the types of north-taiga forest communities
(biogeocenosis range) encountered in Karelia. On the whole, the region exposes the most typical of East
Fennoscandia ecological line of forest phytocenoses. Here, starting from hill tops and ridges with
outcrops and further to centre parts of large mire areas all types of the forest types take turns in
different variations. Rock pine forests are rare and they grow on bare ledges of the Baltic crystalline
shield, further on slopes they change into Vaccinium myrtillus pine forests growing on loamy sand
podzols. On wetter lower parts of slopes Vaccinium myrtillus spruce forests are typical to grow side by
side with ravine spruce forests growing along brook valleys. Forest communities growing on mineralised
land change into shrub-sphagnum pine forests on peat land, which contour open mires on flat terrain.
Forest communities are rather typical of north-taiga sub-zone of East Fennoscandia. They are
characterised by the typical dominance of coniferous species with common ground vegetation. Under the
shelter of nearly half of Vaccinium myrtillus rock and fresh pine forests (dominant type of pine forests)
extensive undergrowth (or the second spruce layer) has formed. Pine regeneration is practically absent.
Therefore, spruce gradually displaces pine. Under natural conditions, sustainable dynamic balance
between pine and spruce was maintained by a specific fire situation. The fire situation created conditions
for successful natural recovery of light-requiring pine on open burnt-over areas and wood stands thinned
by fire and, at the same time, burnt shadow-tolerant spruce undergrowth growing under the canopy of
pine forest.
The age of forests of the proposed Kalevala NP is characterised by average 120-160 years on most part
of mineral land (Annex 3). Yet, even-aged Vaccinium myrtillus spruce forests and pine forests ageing
over 200-220 years in average (Figure 3) and rock and Vaccinium vitis-idaea uneven-aged pine forests
11with the age of the oldest generation over 300 years have been registered. The recorded maximum age
of individual trees is 450 years. Accurate age definition of old trees is, however, complicated because of
rotten trunks.
The age structure of wood stands varies considerably in different types of localities. In rock pine forests
2-3 and more generations of trees with the age amplitude of 80 to 300 and more years (with various
shares in wood stock) are common. Vaccinium myrtillus pine forests are usually even-aged – 120-140
years – with individual trees aged 300 years. Ravine spruce stands are noted for both wide age range of
individual trees and relatively smooth distribution of trees by age groups (with the recorded maximum
age of spruce at 270 years). Trees aging 160-200 years prevail.
Wood stands ageing over 120 years cover more than 80% of the forestland (about 55 000 ha). However,
the whole natural mosaic of forest communities – from young vegetative groups in burnt-over areas to
climax spruce stands in ravine localities almost invulnerable for fires– is present. The major part of the
region is remarkable for relative uniformity of forest-growing conditions, which are quite favourable for
the growth of both pine and spruce. In the view of good shadow-tolerability of spruce, forest composition
is shifting towards spruce due to the undergrowth – the second spruce layer penetrating into the upper
pine canopy. The only exclusion are extreme forest-growing localities of the rock, sedge-sphagnum, etc.
types. But the modern territorial configuration of pine and spruce stands is mainly conditioned by fire
regime (situation), which has taken shape over the recent millennium.
3.6.2. Natural Fire Situation and Its Impact in Forest Dynamics
Fires under natural conditions resulted from lightning, in the recent centuries they were caused by
development of farming and man’s activity. One may say that the forest composition consists of different
stages of regeneration of burnt-over areas of natural or anthropogenic origin. The extent of the pyrogene
genesis of forest communities is related to their locality type and specifics of the territorial combination
with other types of forest, mire and water ecosystems.
The maximum frequency rate of fires was recorded in rock pine stand localities – 4 fires over the last 170
years. In a rock Vaccinium vitis-idaea pine stand specimens of a dead-wood pine with 6(!) fire scars were
found out. In spruce stands of the by-stream, ravine, herbaceous-, horse-tail – sphagnum types signs of
fire were found only in the peripheral areas. Fire scars on trees growing in compartment 141 of the
Vuokkiniemi forest division in Vaccinium vitis-idaea rock and fresh pine forests date from 220, 150, 100
and 60 years ago. The age of the oldest recorded fire in this region are not less than 3 000 years
according to stratigraphic analysis of peat deposits. Over the last millenium, fires would have occurred
and pervaded upon the main part of mineral land approximately once in 100 years. Increase in fire
frequency rate has been recorded over the last centuries, and this is likely related to man’s activity.
Thus, the structure and dynamics of forest communities were regulated by fires in, at least, the last
millenniums. Epidemic fires burnt extensive forest areas and even-aged pine stands regenerated on open
burnt-over areas. Rapid lower fires destroyed only underbrush and individual trees, and the formed
“windows” gave way to multiple pine regeneration. This regime created uneven-aged wood stands.
Between these two extreme points, much space was left for wide amplitude of “fire impact” and,
consequently, a large range of structurally various forest communities.
Spruce stands growing on mineral soil were destroyed by fires almost entirely because spruce is very
vulnerable to thermic impact in comparison with aspen (thin bark, crown dropping low, surface root
system). Fluent fires eliminated spruce regularly from pine-spruce stands.
Modern forests are represented by different phases of pyrogene successions – from pioneer plant
communities on open burnt-over areas to relatively sustainable 300-year-old phytocenoses, which
survived several fires (with 2-3 and more generations of trees). However, even-aged pine forests, which
emerged on completely burnt-over areas, dominate.
3.6.3. Current Forest Situation
According to forest inventory figures of 1990-1991, the woodland of the Park is 68 243 ha (see Table 1).
All forests are presently classified as group III – industrial forests. The exclusion is a 500-meter water
conservation area along Venehjärvi ( area of 13,6 km2) designated pursuant to Decree of the
12Government of the Republic of Karelia #456 of September 30, 1999. However, the share of group I
forests does not exceed 2-3% of the total woodland in the National Park.
The forested area makes up to 68 004 ha. Over the last decade cuttings have been done within the
National Park and the reserved area on the area of 652 ha, therefore these and following indices
changed, but insignificantly.
The National Park includes 119 kvartals (compartments) of the total area at 95 886 ha, of
which 3 compartments are included partially. Compartment 71 does not formally belong to the “Decree…
on Reservation” though it is included in the special frontier strip.
The age structure of forests in the Kalevala NP is noted for absolute predominance of mature and over-
mature forest stands. The overall stock of timber in the region in question makes up to 10 311 590 cubic
meters. The stock of timber in mature and over mature forests is estimated to be 7 489 650 cubic meters
(over 70% of the overall stock).
Table 2
Brief description of mature and over-mature forest
Forest range Area of mature and over- Total stock, m3 Stock of mature and over-
mature forest, ha mature forest, m3
Territory of the Kostomuksha Municipality (91,3% of the total area of the Park)
Vuokkiniemi 49 922 9 498 680 6 893 670
Latvajärvi 229 57 110 38 110
Total 50 151/91,5* 9 555 790/92,5* 6 931 780/92,5*
Territory of the Kalevala National District (8,7% of the total area of the Park)
Vuonninen 4 479/8,5* 755 800/7,5* 557 870/7,5*
Total in the Park 54 630 10 311 590 7 489 650
* - per cent of the total of the Park
In most kvartals the ratio of forests aged over 120 years exceeds 70% (see Figure 8). Kvartal-wise
qualitative description of the stock is presented in a special annex not included in this publication.
In the NP, wood stands of this kind are pyrogene primary, i. e. they originated in a natural way on burnt-
over areas at different times (in this case this age usually coincides with the age at which wood stands
have to be subjected to cuttings). However, not less than half of such communities have been under
selection cuttings of different intensity and partly several times. The intensity of selection varied from
some to 30-40% of the whole stock. In particular, this was common for areas adjacent to roads,
settlements, khutors (homesteads) and farmland.
Nonetheless, the major part of forest communities can be considered as primary or near primary. In the
latter case selection cuttings did not damage the natural character of forest ecosystems, which, under
spontaneous development, regenerate up to the state practically identical to the initial state.
It should be borne in mind that a large part of mature and over mature (according to economic standards) of
pine forests consist of 2-3 generations created by periodic fires. Moreover, the oldest part constitute about up
to one third of the stock. Pine stands older than 240 years are rare - less than 1% of the forestland.
Thus, forests in the NP consist mainly of primary and conditionally primary forest communities. Over half
of the wooded area was once under selection felling of low intensity. Results of studies let us conclude
that the best-preserved north-taiga pine forests of Fennoscandia can be found here.
This is the largest in Fennoscandia and the outmost west in Eurasia relatively well-preserved
area of primary pine taiga with a distinguished pyrogene genesis. Forest communities in this
region are the commonest for north-taiga sub-zone of East Fennoscandia.
133.7. Flora
3.7.1. Vascular Plants.
Altogether, 429 species (including microspecies) of vascular plants from 180 genera and 72 families have
been registered in the NP. The aboriginal flora includes 333 species (83%). Adventive (alien) species
make up to 17%. The flora is the most common for conditions of north-taiga landscapes of the East
Fennoscandia found in the natural state.
From species included in Russia’s Red Data Book (1988), aquatic plants – Braun’s quillwort Isoetes
echinospora Dur., quillwort I. lacustris L. and water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna (all of them are common),
livid sedge Carex livida (Wahlenb.) Willd, narrow-leaved marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineri (Saut.)
Soo s. l. - have been so far found (Figure 7).
In addition to the species listed above, the Red Data Book of Karelia (1995) contains: triangle
moonwort Botrychium lanceolatum (S.G.Gmel) Angstr., slender-flower sedge Carex tenuiflora Wahlenb
(the first finding in Karelia in the last 50 years), northern starwort Stellaria calycantha (Ledeb.),
Hornemann’s willowherb Epilobium hornemannii Reichenb.
In four sites of the National Park, early marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza cruenta (O.F.Muel) very rare and long
not found in Karelia has been recorded.
The full list of species is included in an annex not included in this publication.
3.7.2 Bryophyta
According to M.A.Boitchuk, the flora of leafed-stalk mosses in the NP includes 160 species (68 genera, 26
families, 3 sub-classes), which is 36% of the Karelian bryoflora. It is evident that as the territory is
explored this list will grow significantly. Ecological synoptic studies allowed to break down moss species
upon the main types of vegetation communities: forest (78 species), bog (72), littoral and aquatic (105),
meadow (24), rupicolous (54), in disturbed localities – 28. For the first time in Karelia, Oligotrichum
hercynicum and Dicranella rufescens were found here. Of rare and protected species, Sphagnum
denticulatum, Dicranells rufescens, Discelium nudum, Warnstorfia pseudostraminea, Pseudotaxiphyllum
elegans enlisted in Karelia’s Red Data Book (1995) and the Red Data Book of East Fennoscandia (1998)
have been recorded in the Park.
The list of species is given in an Annex not included in this publication.
3.8. Lichens
Altogether, about 1 000 species and sub-species of lichens (lichen fungi) have been found in Karelia.
According to M. A. Fadeeva, 167 species have been recorded in the NP, a quarter of which inhabit mainly
in intact (primary) forests. It is obvious that this is not the full list and it will be extended as more studies
are carried out in the area of the Park.
Indicators of old-growth forests are Lobaria pulmonaria, some nephromes: Nephroma bellum,
N. resupinatum, N. parile, peltigers: Peltigera aphthosa, P. canina, P. leucophlebia, Leptogium
saturninum, Ramalina dilacerata, which are found in most biotopes where old deciduous trees are
present (aspen, goat’s willow). In typical habitats only – in wet by-stream spruce forests such rare lichens
as Arthonia incarnata, Hypogymnia vittata have been found on a willow, and Cliostomium leprosum,
Lopadium disciforme, Evernia divaricata – on a spruce. In total, 22 indicator species have ben
encountered in the Park.
Five species from the Read Data Book of Karelia – Bryoria fremontii, Evernia divaricata, Lobaria
pulmonaria, Nephroma bellum, Ramalina dilacerata – grow in the NP, and the state of their populations
at the moment is not a question of concern.
Bearded lichens with hanging bushy thallum such as witch’s hair Alectoria sarmentosa, some Broria (black
tree lichen Bryoria fremontii, horsehair B. capillaris), azaleas (Usnea sufloridana, Usnea filipendula) are
14considered the indicators of the environment (first of all, indicators of air purity). They are abundant in
the Park and met on stems of conifers.
The list of species is given in an Annex but not included in this publication.
3.9. Aphylophorous fungi and fungal diseases
According to the preliminary data from V. I. Kutuzov, V.M.Lositskaja and M.Lindgren, 108 species of
aphylophorous fungi, belonging to 19 families and 55 genera have been exposed. From the total number
of collected species, 27 species have the status of rare and vulnerable species, 36 are considered
indicative of intactness of forest ecosystems.
Phytosanitation of wood stands in the region studied is found satisfactory. No continuously acting sites of
massive expansion of fungous diseases and noxious insects have been registered. No apparent signs of
wood stands degradation have been marked. Forest communities are found in various phases of natural
successions with natural complexes of wood-destroying fungi. The NP is not foreseen to pose any threat
to the surrounding production forests and no sanitation activities are required.
The list of species found so far, including indicators of primary forest, is given in an Annex not included in
this publication.
3.10. Fauna
3.10.1. Mammals
The mammal species found in the part of Karelia neighbouring with Finland include 50 species. Of them,
37 have been recorded in the NP: 7 representatives from the insect-eating order, 1 from Bats
(Cheiroptera), 1 from Hares (Lepuidae) order, 15 from Rodents (Rodentia), 13 from Predators
(Carnivora), and 2 from the Artiodacktyla order have been recorded. The fauna of game animals in the
Kalevala NP has distinct north-taiga nature. The most common animals for this sub-zone are squirrel,
marten, wolverine, brown bear, and forest reindeer, all with quite large populations. This results from,
undamaged biotopes preferred by these species, which are primary pine and spruce forests and, on the
other hand, limited hunting in the Park area.
At the same time, some usual species are scarce in this region. For instance, elk is met mainly along the
periphery of the NP substantially transformed by man and inside the Park, near lakes and rivers. High
population rate of alpine hare is marked in the same biotopes and abandoned farmland. The population
rates of other animals do not differ much from those in neighbouring areas. For example, lynx is not
frequent for north-taiga sub-zone of Karelia and in the Kalevala NP it has not been seen lately.
In the last few years, no cases of the region being permanently inhabited by wolf have been registered.
Only casual occurrences at the Venehjärvi area are known. Firstly, this is related with distribution and
number of the main prey of wolf, i. e. elk. It was already mentioned that elk inhabits preferably the
periphery of the Park – in places where forests were once cut. The population rate for fox is also quite
low. Distinct localisation to anthropogenic landscape can be observed in its distribution. Here, the density
of prey – mouse-like rodents, alpine hare and some ground-nesting birds is much higher than in dense
primary forests. Brown bear is distributed evenly, though relative population rate of the animal fluctuates
in some areas from 0,3 to 0,5 specimens per 1 000 ha.
The number of part aquatic animals was assessed on the base of material collected from model reservoirs
partly located beyond the Park. According to this data, the relative population rate of American mink
varies from 2 to 5 specimens, and of otter – from 0,1 to 0,4 specimens per 10 km of coastline. Fifteen
years ago Canadian beaver appeared in this region. Over the last time Canadian beaver settled widely
and occupies the suitable habitats. But the scarce forage base impedes large sustainable settlements.
The total population rate is estimated at 50-60 specimens. Muskrat is quite a common animal, and in
some rivers (the Venehjoki and Vuokinjoki Rivers) the population density of this rodent is pretty high – 7-
10 specimens per 1 ha.
15Forest reindeer is the most vulnerable of the mammals to human impacts. Excessive hunting, mostly
illegal, has led, over the last time, to formidable reduction of forest reindeer across Karelia, including the
Kalevala District and the region in question. Nevertheless, even on Lakes Venehjärvi and Marjaselkä a
flock of 17-20 animals is noted usually in the end of winter.
It is well known that for territorial groups of reindeer both summer habitats and fawning sites and
“winter habitats” are characteristic. Signs of such habitats are availability of lakes and open spaces. In
summer, they are areas rich in summer forage (large and short sedges, cotton-grass, bilberry,
cloudberry, buckbean) and with good protection from man’s impact and blood-sucking insects. In winter,
the animals move to areas close to winter forage opportunities (reindeer moss, bearded lichens). Winter
habitats are traditionally remote from summer ones, and seasonal movements are connected with this
fact. The western part of the Kalevala NP from the state border to the border fence is presented by
landscapes where dominance of spruce forests and true-moss pine forests with relatively high
paludification rate (30-40% of open marshland) is marked. The absence of winter forages in the explored
area (except for bearded lichens, which cannot compensate for the lack of reindeer moss) presupposes
availability of seasonal migration paths. In the west, a Finnish reindeer fence limits migration. In the east
by Russian frontier guards’ border fence.
Migration to winter habitats is possible in the southern and northern direction only. Studies of migration
directions with the help of radio marking and the following radio tracking should display belonging of
these reindeer to prior identified sub-populations and may be of international importance as an
independent project. This is true also because frontier guards divide the territory of the NP facilities
insurmountable for reindeer and, therefore, they form artificial barriers for the animal. Animals inhabiting
the eastern part of the NP have close ties with other flocks of reindeer in the Kalevala District, and those
dwelling in the western part turned out to be isolated by the border fence. During field investigations in
the western sector of the NP, 15 reindeer were visually spotted: 1 male, 8 does, and 6 fawns.
Presumably, surroundings of Lake Lapukka appear as fawning sites and summer habitats of the western
group of reindeer in the Kalevala NP.
One may expect that establishment of a special protected zone with extremely limited access and level of
disturbance on an area of 35-40 thousand ha, which would embrace Lake Venehjärvi, Marjaselkä,
Keynäsjärvi, will contribute to conservation of reindeer assemblage. After the Park establishment, illegal
hunting poses danger to large mammals, which has led, as it was mentioned above, to reduce number of
reindeer and elk. The border fences isolate populations from each other, ways of reducing this effect
should be sought.
The territory of the Kalevala NP is typical of the north-taiga sub-zone in terms of the mammal fauna of
intact forests. Among other protected areas in Karelia, the Park is quite close in this criterion to the
Kostomuksha Zapovednik. The Kalevala National Park, will become an important component in the
existing network of protected areas in not only north-taiga sub zone of Karelia but the whole
Fennoscandia as well. Allocation of a large and compact area of primary forests preserving basic features
of virgin taiga landscapes of the centre part of the White Sea-Baltic watershed, will allow conserving
species of land vertebrates and, in the first place, scarce taiga species.
The list of species is given in an Annex not included in this publication.
3.10.2. Birds
In the territory of the Park, 143 bird species have been found, of which 127 are nesting (112 are truly
nesting and for 15 species nesting is assumed or they used to nest). On the whole, 172 bird species have
been recorded throughout the basin of Lake Ylä-Kuittijärvi, of which 132 species are nesting.
The ornithofauna of the Park carries a marked north taiga image. Among nesting birds, the share of
northern species (46 species) that belong to the north taiga, hypo-Arctic and Arctic faunistic groups
makes up to 41,1%. The number of southern species – representatives of European broad-leaved forests
is two times less – 21 species (18,7%).
The bird fauna is dominated by forest dendrophilous birds – 59 species altogether. According to
occasional counts, the indices of summary density of bird populations in the NP are from 110 to 160
couples per square km. They can be estimated as satisfactory and low for conditions of the northern zoo-
16geographical region of Karelia. In the primary forests of the Park the maximally full range of indicator
birds for primeval wood stands and cenotic groups close to them is presented - in total 30 species of 35
which are met on these latitudes. The density rate for capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in the Park is much
higher than in the adjacent territories. The index of summer density rate for capercaillie amounts to 12,1
birds per 1000 ha (with fluctuations 6-19 birds over 1992-2000), hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) – 11,6
birds (8-16 birds), black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) – 9,5 birds (6-15 birds, estimation on adult birds).
The waterfowl of the Park includes 24 species. Of rare and endangered species, the largest populations
include black-throated diver (Gavia arctica) – over 30 couples have been exposed, whooper swan
(Cygnus cygnus) – 40 couples, bean goose (Anser fabalis) – 20 couples, lesser black-backed gull (Larus
fuscus) – 30 couples, common tern (Sterna hirundo) – 30 couples (Figure 9). Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
is common – 12 couples; white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) bends for the shoreline of Lake Ylä-
Kuittijärvi (which is east of the Park border) – 5 couples, and black kite (Milvus korschun) – 7 couples.
Of ducks, the most common are goldeneye, teal, wigeon, red-breasted merganser (Bucephala clangula,
Anas crecca, A. penelope, Mergus serrator); mallard, pintail, goosander have mush lesser populations
and smew is found very rarely (Anas plathyrynchos, A. acuta, Mergus merganser, M. albellus). A steady
resting site on Lake Venehjärvi of Bewick’s swans, which migrate through the Park every year (up to 60
birds in May to June) presents a large interest.
The Park’s mires are inhabited by 12 typical mire species, which include crane, willow grouse, golden
plover, broad-billed sandpiper, yellow wagtail, meadow pipit (Grus grus, Lagopus lagopus, Pluvialis
apricaria, Limicola falcinellus, Motacilla flava, Anthus pratensis). The summer density of willow grouse
reaches in some years 19-22 birds per 1000 ha. Little bunting (Emberzia pusilla) is a new habitant of mires.
There are 17 bird species nest on farmland and in settlements located within the National Park. The
overwhelming majority of cultural birds have very low abundance rates. The exclusions are swallow and
hooded crow (Hirundo rustica, Corvus covnix), which are encountered practically in all areas developed
earlier by man. The most varied bird fauna of agricultural landscape is found in the Venehjärvi settlement
and also for areas situated in the periphery of the NP (Ponkalahti, Vuonninen, Vuokkiniemi). Other
farmlands are either used lightly or abandoned and overgrowing (Latvajärvi, Lapukka, Levi). In this
connection, the most specialised cultural birds and residents of agrolandscape lack here – magpie,
starling, lapwing, sky lark etc.(Pica pica, Sturnus vulgaris, Vanellus vanellus, Alauda arvensis).
Primeval taiga landscapes in the region have a high importance for reproduction of many species of
aborigine fauna such as grouses, ducks, birds of prey, owls, black-throated diver, crane, three-toed
woodpecker, etc. (Tetraonidae, Anatidae, Accipitridae and Strigidae, Gavia arctica, Grus grus, Picoides
tridactylus, Perisoreus infaustus, Parus cinctus). Wetlands located in the Park have a complex of criteria
of regional significance. In particular, the NP is an important reproduction site of black-throated diver
(Gavia arctica), whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) and bean goose (Anser fabalis).
The observed territory provides a habitat for a large number of rare and endangered bird species.
Currently, 23 species nesting here are enlisted in the Red Data Book of Russia, Karelia,
Finland, and East Fennoscandia (Figure 9):
Russia’s Red Data Book: white-tailed eagle, osprey, golden eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla, Pandion haliaetus,
Aquila chrysaetos);
Karelia’s Red Data Book: red-throated diver, whooper swan, bean goose, smew, lesser black-backed gull,
crane, great gray owl, eagle owl, black kite, kestrel, merlin, grey shrike, redstart, dipper (Gavia stellata,
Cygnus cygnus, Anser fabalis, Mergus albellus, Larus fuscus, Grus grus, Strix nebulosa, Bubo bubo, Milvus
korschun, Falco tinnunculus, Falco columbarius, Lanius excubitor, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Cinclus cinclus);
Finland’s Red Data Book: black-throated diver, hobby, lesser-spotted woodpecker (Gavia arctica, Falco
subbuteo, Dendrocopus minor);
East Fennoscandia Red Data Book: hen harrier, reeve, jack snipe, ortolan bunting (Circus cyaneus,
Philomachus pugnax, Lymnocryptes minima, Emberiza hortulana);
The list of species is given in an Annex not included in this publication.
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