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.