Target: Sari Multala, Minister of the Environment for Finland
Goal: Enhance conservation efforts for at-risk peatlands, wetlands, and old-growth forests.
An ambitious plan to repopulate Finland’s extinct wild reindeer population is under way. Over time, conservationists hope that the nation’s reindeer will number at least 300 strong. Efforts are also being made to educate surrounding communities about the deep cultural importance these animals once enjoyed in local heritage.
This labor of love is made possible by the restoration of 9,000 acres of peatlands that the reindeer would call home. The rise of forestry plantations took a major toll on these habitats, as well as old-growth forests. In the process, countless avian and other wildlife species suffered the consequences.
Sign the petition below to urge Finland’s leaders to make more investments in preserving these vital ecosystems before they are lost forever.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Multala,
Old-growth forests – and the birds that populate them – are on a serious decline. A scant 20 percent of peatlands and wetlands remain intact. Again, wildlife bear the brunt of these corrosive shifts. Forestry plantations cannot and should not take the place of vibrant natural wonders that are a centerpiece of Finland’s heritage and its identity.
The joint venture of the University of Cambridge and non-profit Snowchange – with peatland restoration and reindeer rewilding as centerpieces – demonstrates a path forward does exist. Please build on these successes by investing in their expansion and in the development of new, broad conservation measures. Protect this nation’s irreplaceable biodiversity and beauty.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Uusijani
.jpg){kind=link}