Russia Makes Historic Step Towards Ancient Forest Preservation

Greenpeace Calls on Federal Government to

Press release - 22 August, 2002

Greenpeace welcomes the decision to turn 74.4 thousand hectares of ancient forest in Russia into a national park. It is an important step towards ancient forest preservation. Prior to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, the Governor of the Russian Republic of Karelia signed off on the proposed Kalevala National Park. If finalized by federal authorities, the Kalevala National Park would be the third largest ancient forest protection in Karelia. Greenpeace has been campaigning for the Kalevala National Park since 1994.

"The decision to protect the Kalevala ancient forest is a big success for the Russian environmental movement," said Oliver Salge, Greenpeace Forest Co-ordinator for Europe. "Now the federal authorities need to act as swiftly as possible to sign this deal and make Kalevala National Park an example for ancient forest protection around the world."

The proposed national park is located on border of Russia and Finland and covers the most valuable ancient forests of that area. An important step towards protecting this area came in 1996 when following pressure from Greenpeace and other organizations, two of the largest Finish paper companies agreed not to buy timber logged in the area of the proposed park. However the governor refused to declare the area a national park and in July 2002 a local logging company tried to re-open the area for logging. Following demonstrations, protests and various activities from Greenpeace in Russia and other local organizations, the Governor finally agreed to the creation of the National Park.

"This unique and complex landscape has no equal in the whole of Northern Europe and local residents along with environmental groups have been calling for this national park for years," continued Salge. "The Governor has finally made the first true steps towards success. Now its up to the federal government to sign the deal and insure the protection of this beautiful region."

The Kalevala ancient forests is is a diverse landscape crucial to biodiversity. Animals like wolverines and lynxes, brown bear and reindeer are dependent on the survival of the ancient forests of Karelia.

VVPR info: Photos of the Kalevala area are available at Greenpeace Photo in Russial +49 40 30618 377 or +7(095)257-41-16/18/44.

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