Dissertation: Research offers tools for more effective protection of streams and springs (Saari)
Forest Act is the most important law in Finland protecting diverse areas, such as the immediate surroundings of streams and springs. The law was changed in 2014, and its interpretation recommendation was amended in 2018, but the impact of these changes on Forest Act sites was not known. This research shows that between 2018 and 2021, more than 5,600 hectares of riparian stream habitats lost their legal protection under the Finnish Forest Act. In many cases, the loss of protection was due to buffer zones that were too narrow or poorly designed, even though protection could have been maintained with minor adjustments.
- This finding confirms the need to develop conservation practices that protect the ecological values of stream environments. Even small steps can have significant benefits for environmental, says Doctoral Researcher Veera Saari from the University of Jyväskylä.
Unidentified springs and gaps in protected areas
It is estimated that only a fraction of Finland’s springs have been identified. Without systematic mapping, the most valuable sites may be lost during forestry operations. In her doctoral dissertation research, Veera Saari developed a field-based method to identify previously unmapped springs.
- The method revealed several near-natural springs that are not included in official maps or databases. At the same time, many legally protected springs were found to be heavily modified and no longer met the natural state criteria required by the Forest Act, clarifies Saari.
Forest management influence the springs
The study investigated the effects of forest management and ditching on spring water quality and vegetation.
- The results showed that narrow buffer zones and proximity to ditches increase nutrient loading and can lead to changes in plant communities, says Saari.
The practical solutions for improving the protection of small freshwater habitats
The research highlights the use of open spatial data, such as wetness indices (DTW), for more practical and effortless spring detection, the implementation of wider and site-specific buffer zones, and the protection of streams and springs as connected ecological networks rather than isolated sites.
- According to the study, proactive protection is both ecologically and economically more effective than later restoration, explains Saari.
FM Veera Saari defends her doctoral dissertation "Perspectives on the Protection of Headwater Streams and Springs in Finland” on Friday 16th of January at 12.00 at Ylistönrinne lecture hall YAA303. Opponent is senior lecturer Lenka Kuglerová (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and custos is senior lecturer Panu Halme (University of Jyväskylä). The language of the event is English.
The thesis” Perspectives on the Protection of Headwater Streams and Springs in Finland” is available in the JYX archive at: https://jyx.jyu.fi/jyx/Record/jyx_123456789_107731/Details?sid=233614047
