Protecting and restoring mires

The protection and restoration of mires strengthens the biodiversity of mire areas, helps to curb climate change and improves the status of our waters.

The Helmi programme aims to protect some 60,000 hectares of mire by the end of 2030. Protection is voluntary, and landowners receive compensation for it. The employees at the Economic Development Centres negotiate on the protection of land with the landowners. The negotiations will begin with sites of particular value for biodiversity that have already been identified.

The programme aims to restore 30,000 hectares of ditched mires located in protected areas by the end of 2030. At the same time, the programme will restore the ditched areas that surround protected areas, in cooperation with landowners, either by blocking the ditches or by returning the waters to unditched mires.

Inquiries

Esa Pynnönen, Senior Ministerial Adviser 
Ministry of the Environment, Department of Aquatic and Natural Environment, Nature Conservation and Recreational Use of Nature Telephone:0295250386   Email Address:

Inka Keränen, Senior Specialist 
Ministry of the Environment, Department of Aquatic and Natural Environment, Nature Conservation and Recreational Use of Nature Telephone:0295250403   Email Address: