City of Kemi is situated by the Gulf of Bothnia, and Metsä Group’s Kemi mill is surrounded by forest and the Baltic Sea. Between the centre of Kemi and the Metsä Group mill, by the sea, there is a recreation area with unique nature, Kiikeli, owned mainly by Metsä Group.
Kiikeli area consists of endangered ecosystems that are now under restoration in co-operation with the City of Kemi, Metsä Group, Vocational College Lappia, Villi Vyöhyke ry and the local branch of the bird awareness organisation BirdLife. Wood is cleared by the City of Kemi with the help of Helmi habitats programme. Environmental group Villi Vyöhyke ry is focusing on innovative solutions for promoting biodiversity by running experimental trials for plants, insects and birds. The local branch of the bird awareness organisation BirdLife helps to understand regional biodiversity needs: what kind of plants and insects are relevant to the local bird population.
During the last two summers, a beautiful herd of Lapland cows has grazed in Kiikeli. The Lapland cow is an endangered species, the population of which is being preserved in Vocational College Lappia’s agricultural unit. By grazing, the cows simultaneously restore the endangered ecosystem of Kiikeli. Experts from Lappia bear the main responsibility for the cows, but their daily welfare is monitored by “cowboys and -girls”, local inhabitants who have been trained for the job. Herding cows have made Kiikeli an even more popular recreation area, and maybe next summer there will also be sheep and horses?
Kemi’s industrial area is the first pilot for Metsä Group’s endeavour to restore habitats. If proven successful, it will be expanded to other Metsä Group’s sites across seven countries.
We, the co-operating operators, share the same idea: sustainability is embedded in our operations, rather than being a side initiative. And the goal is to strengthen biodiversity and ecosystems as well as preserve natural resources for future generations.
Author: Eija Kinnunen, Head of Sustainability, City of Kemi
