Kemihaara (Vuotos) mires and forests (1363)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Kemihaaran suot ja metsät (Vuotos)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 67.0833, Longitude: 27.7000
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 150 to 150
Area of KBA (km2): 394.16644
Protected area coverage (%): 37.29
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A very large complex of aapa mires, riverside forests, herb-rich mires and forested hills and ridges on the upper course of the Kemi river. The heart of the area is the avifaunally rich Kokonaapa, a large, wet expanse of aapa mires, with numerous lakes and rivers. The site encompasses large areas of semi-natural and natural boreal forest.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: An important area for boreal avifauna, especially for waders. Breeding birds include 14 out of the 15 species in Europe that are restricted to the boreal biome (when breeding).</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 55 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A state-owned energy company, Kemijoki Ltd, plans to construct a reservoir above Kokonaapa and its surroundings. Over the last 10 years nature-conservation organizations and conservationists have campaigned against this initiative and for the preservation of the area in its natural state due to its importance for birds, whilst also questioning the long-term profitability of the project. The Finnish government did not propose the area as a Natura 2000 site for political and economical reasons, in spite of its ornithological importance.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership