Be kind and rewild Baltic Circle’s nature restoration site at Ähtäri! The aim of this trip is to complete the rewilding work on the bog.
A trip to the bog in September offers a concrete opportunity to participate in the fight against the effects of climate change, get to know the creatures of the bog and help build safe havens for them. The aim of the festival is to restore the natural values of land and water areas damaged by land use in Siltaneva and Rasinneva, bog areas connected to Oravasuo.
On this bog trip, we construct dams and repair environmental damage caused by forest machines. We are accompanied by environmental experts from Europe and Alaska; biologist Cindy Schwenck (FI/DE) talks about the Wild Forest Reindeer (metsäpeura) in Ähtäri, Soini and peatlands, while scientist Brie van Dam and journalist Stefan Milkowski give us a glimpse into the work being done in Alaska with Caribou – the North American cousin of the Wild Forest Reindeer.
The bog is being rewilded under the leadership of the Snowchange Cooperative. The restoration work began in September 2022 with a similar rewilding trip. This year, the plan is to work with the area for the last time and bring the several years of rewilding work to a close.
There is a bus transport from Helsinki to the event, and during the trip you will stay in shared rooms. Pack a wool base layer, rainproof outdoor clothing, gloves, flashlight or headlamp, sleeping bag, as well as personal sauna and sleeping accessories. A bog is a wet and difficult terrain; be prepared with sturdy, waterproof, and high-top shoes, such as hiking or wellington boots. In addition to the bog, the setting for the event is provided by its neighbouring estate, Vanha Väätänen, inhabited since 1565, so you don’t have to prepare to carry your gear for long distances.
The water and nature restoration experts of the non-profit Snowchange Cooperative will act as our restoration guides. Snowchange Cooperative is led by docent Tero Mustonen, recipient of the Goldman Prize and one of the main authors of the sixth IPCC report, and Kaisu Mustonen, who specialises in women’s knowledge on issues of biodiversity and has a special ability to see the great importance of the smallest things in nature.
The event is part of Baltic Circle’s multi-year project, Wild Trippers, which focuses on introducing progressive environmental information and strengthening the social community in the fight against climate change. It encourages everyday environmental activism by inviting individuals and communities to low-threshold activities and sharing observations.
This year’s Be kind, rewild event is supported by the Finnish Nature Conservation Foundation’s Baltic Sea Fund and Wärtsilä Oyj Abp as well as the Uniarts Theatre Academy.