Metla Project 3395

Criteria for sustainable use and consolidation of land uses in Pallas-Ylläs national park - pilot study

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Duration: 2004-2006   Keywords: adaptive management, biodiversity, dendrochronology, disturbance dynamics, eco-tourism, landscape ecological forest management, multiple-use, national park, nature-based tourism, reindeer herding, sustainable use, timberline research
Research project group: Distinct projects - Social impact of forests

Objectives

The mean goal of the presented project is to study the multiple use and biodiversity issues in the Pallas-Yllästunturi nature park and the areas nearby it. The project studies the keystones and objectives that the whole park idea is built on: the needs for nature-based tourism, nature protection, recreational use, and reindeer herding. The significance of the study is to determine the links between different tasks set on the land use and to create the criteria for the sustainable land use. The natural processes, like forest fires have also a cultural dimension. The study focuses also on the neighbouring areas and their land uses, which have a great impact on the natural park itself.

Results

The ecological sustainability of Pallas-Ylläs national park was studied using the local animal and plant fauna as study objects. The villages surrounding the national park represents the most urbanised areas as measured by the existence of urbanised and wilderness species. There is the clear urban gradient in species existence from villages via tourist destinations to the intact forest areas within the park. There exist even big raptors such like bears, wolverines, wolves, and eagles in the Pallas-Ylläs national park. The managing of the park can be considered ecologically sustainable. The national park provides resource to nature-biased tourism and hence to tourists' wilderness experiences. The existence of various wilderness species is the natural value that could be used in marketing of the national park especially for foreign people.

In the analysis of social and cultural sustainability, focus of the studies was set on local opinions of sustainability of forest use. Simo Sarkki studied the social sustainability of land use in Western Lapland according reindeer herders. Social sustainability consists of three elements: 1) herders ability to take part in land use planning processes, 2) fair distribution of costs and benefits and 3) conditions that support herders possibility to maintain their lifestyle and cultural heritage.

Herders can participate to land use planning in several processes. The largest problem they see is that processes seem to be carried out on other stakeholders’ terms. Major decisions and definitions are already made when the participatory planning process starts.

Allocating costs and benefits reindeer herders feel to be in a position where they meet mainly costs but fewer benefits. Fair distribution of costs and benefits should be taken into account more carefully. In the sense of cultural sustainability it is important that changes and regulations in land-use management support herders’ willingness and capability to adapt them. Management should be more holistic where continuity of reindeer herding culture would be guaranteed.

Salla Sippola and Mikko Jokinen studied social sustainability in local villages of Ylläs and Levi tourist destinations. Local people seem to be quite satisfied with the tourism centres. Though, the satisfaction applies only this moment, many villagers being afraid of the future. They are also afraid of too extensive growth and they want to slow down the growth of tourism and consider the quality of services and the protection of nature and local culture. There are some differences in the attitudes towards tourism between the three villages. Opportunities to take part in tourism development are also very different. It may be a very important thing that affects the attitudes and satisfaction.

Ylläs and Levi are very different tourism centres and also in future they should be developed in different ways for different tourists. There are also differences in the ways how locals would like to participate. Though, there is some willingness to participate in every village. Opportunities to take part in tourism planning and development should be much better than they are now, at least in Sirkka and Äkäslompolo. The satisfaction of the locals has a great impact on how tourists experience their trips. It is also entrepreneurs benefit to support socially sustainability in tourism business because it helps them to operate in the area.

Project leader: Huhta, Esa
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovanniemi Office, PL 16, FI-96301 ROVANIEMI, FINLAND
Phone: +358 29 532 3510
E-mail: esa.huhta@metla.fi

Other researchers: Haaparanta, Ahti (2004), Hänninen, Noora (2004), Jokinen, Mikko, KO (2004-06), Juntunen, Vesa (2004-05), Kauhanen, Heikki, KO (2004-06), Laasonen, Hanne (2004), Putkonen, Mikko (2004), Sarkki, Simo (2005), Timonen, Mauri, RO (2004-05)


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Updated 12.06.2012
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