Kalevala Parks

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The goal of the project was to support the creation of Kalevala national parks in Suomussalmi in Finland and in Viena Karelia. The national park planned in Suomussalmi would consist of 22 individual areas and total 360 square kilometres. The national park planned in Russia would be 750 square kilometres in size and would be located near the Finnish border in the area between Martinselkonen and Raate. The new national parks would be reinforcement to the existing twin parks on the border between Finland and Russia. The earlier founded twin parks include the Oulanka-Paanajärvi parks located in the north of the Kalevala parks and the Friendship Park -Kostomuksha Nature Reserve located in the south. Simultaneous establishment of the two parks would provide a particularly good opportunity for efficient and goal-oriented park twinning cooperation where the resources can be profitably combined. The goal of the project was not only to support the quick establishment of the Kalevala national parks, but also to create a local model for park twinning cooperation and increase the knowledge and appreciation of the forest cultures and the nature affected by them in Viena Karelia and Kainuu. The goal was also to create an operational model and entrepreneurial network that supports sustainable ecological and cultural values between the Hossa Hiking Area and actors in Russia. In addition, a unique wilderness area was to be created in Kainuu and Viena Karelia and the associated lifestyle was to be made known to the public.

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