Arrangements for the IMCG Field Symposium and General Assembly are progressing well. The excursion is booked full, and thus far there are about 70 registrations for the conference. We have received a number of abstracts, and expect to get the rest in the very near future. Altogether there will be about 40 presentations and 15 posters.
The excursion guidebook (titled “
Below you may find information about the excursion and the numerous Finnish mire experts guiding you. There are also links to websites of our accommodations. Unfortunately, most websites are in Finnish only, but we hope that you find the pictures informative nonetheless.
Updated field symposium schedule with tentative list of guides
Thursday 13th July
Opening of the field symposium in the evening in Nature Centre Kellokas in Äkäslompolo; mire exhibition.
Hosts: Eero Tikkanen, Natural Heritage Services (NHS) (state organization managing nature reserves as well as biodiversity issues in all state forests), Pekka Salminen, Nature conservation councellor, Ministry of the Environment (ME), Heikki Susiluoma, chairman of the Finnish Nature Conservation Association. (FNCA) and Eero Kaakinen, head of nature conservation, North Ostrobothnia Regional Environment Centre (NOREC)
Overnight stay in holiday resort Seita in Äkäslompolo (www.seitahotelli.fi)
Guides during the whole excursion: Raimo Heikkilä, Aulikki Laine, Tapio Lindholm and Tapani Sallantaus (Vegetation, flora, conservation, restoration, ecohydrology)
Friday 14th July
Kolari, Teuravuoma: large aapamire of the main aapamire zone. Long walk along path and wooden boardwalk. Mire ecotourism. Guides: Eino Lappalainen (emeritus leading state geologist), Yrjö Norokorpi (NHS, cultural heritage), Päivi Paalamo (NHS, flora), Pauliina Kulmala (NHS, restoration and management), Elisa Pääkkö (NHS, biotope inventories, management plans), Joel Erkkonen (NHS, ecotourism, visitor facilities), Tuomo Ollila (NHS, bird fauna, large predators), Heikki Susiluoma (FNCA, experiencing the mires), Eero Kaakinen (NOREC, conservation issues)
Bus tour along Tornionjoki river valley, cultural objects.
Overnight stay in Simo, Bothnian Bay coast, hotel Wanha Pappila (Old Vicarage www.wanhapappila.com).
Saturday 15th July
Tervola, Karhuaapa: calcareous rich fens, rich flora, conservation problems, restoration. Guides: Yrjö Norokorpi, Päivi Paalamo, Pauliina Kulmala, Hanna Kondelin (Joensuu University, rich fen vegetation), Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto (ME, Ramsar issues)
Karhuaapa spring
Simo, Martimoaapa: Ramsar site, large aapamire and eccentric bog, bird fauna. Guides: Yrjö Norokorpi, Päivi Paalamo, Pauliina Kulmala, Hanna Kondelin, Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto, Esa Härkönen (NHS, bird fauna), Ari Rajasärkkä (NHS, bird fauna)
Overnight stay in Wanha Pappila
Sunday 16th July
Kuivaniemi, Sahkari and Ihanalampi: Land uplift area on moraine soils, succession of young mires, rich fens, ecohydrology. Guides: Sakari Rehell (NHS, vegetation succession, ecohydrology), Hanna Kondelin, Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto
In the evening presentation about peat mining and conservation conflicts, Merja Ylönen (FNCA). Overnight in Wanha Pappila.
Monday 17th July
Ylikiiminki, Hirvisuo: Aapamire of sedge aapa zone, bird fauna, vegetation, ecohydrology. Guides: Jarmo Laitinen and Antti Huttunen (Oulu University, vegetation, morphology, ecohydrology), Sakari Rehell, Hanna Kondelin, Ari Rajasärkkä, Päivi Virnes (NHS, restoration), Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto
Pudasjärvi, Olvassuo: Ramsar site, Proposed UNESCO World Heritage site, aapamire, restoration, ground water pumping, reindeer herding. Guides: Jarmo Laitinen, Antti Huttunen, Sakari Rehell, Hanna Kondelin, Ari Rajasärkkä, Päivi Virnes, Markku Lehtelä (NHS, restoration), Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto
Overnight stay in hotel Rekihovi in Utajärvi (www.rekihovi.com, in Finnish only).
Tuesday 18th July
Liminka, Liminganlahti: Ramsar site, land uplift, paludification, shoreline vegetation, bird fauna, flora. Guides: Ari Rajasärkkä, Jorma Pessa (NOREC, bird fauna, conservation), Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto
Siikajoki and Raahe towns: Culture and history, old wooden town
Siikajoki, Hummastinvaara: Land uplift on poor sand soil, young mires, vegetation, flora, carbon balance. Guides: Sakari Rehell, Eero Kaakinen, Seppo Vuolanto, Kari Kukko-oja (Forest Research Institute, vegetation, carbon balance), Mirva Hietala (Forest Research Institute (Carbon balance)
Photostop in Revonneva mire, large eccentric bogs and aapamires, road through the mire
Evening reception given by NHS, NOREC, Council of Oulu Region and Ministry of the Environment. Presentation about regional land use planning by mr. Ismo Karhu, chief of environment issues, Council of Oulu Region. Illustrated history of IMCG symposia and excursions: Lebrecht Jeschke and Richard Lindsay.
Overnight stay in hotel Vihiluoto, Oulu (www.hotellivihiluoto.fi, in Finnish only)
Wednesday 19th July
Oulu town, culture and history, possibility for shopping.
Four hours drive to the south from Oulu through the very plain western Finnish lowland. Problems of forestry drainage along the route. Guides: Seppo Vuolanto, Pekka Salminen (ME, conservation questions)
Overnight stay in cottages in Lake Valkeinen camping in Lestijärvi (www.valkeisjarvenleirintaalue.fi, in Finnish only)
Thursday 20th July
Perho, Salamajärvi national park: Ramsar site, southern aapamires, locus classicus for aapamire definition, mire site type and complex classification, mosaic of forest and mire, wild forest reindeer, outdoor recreation. Long walk along wooden boardwalk. Guides: Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto, Anneli Suikki (NHS, conservation and restoration), Raimo Itkonen (NHS, conservation), Reijo Kuosmanen (NHS, wild forest reindeer)
Salamajarvi
Lapua, Alajoki: Mire cultivation, agricultural history, scenery, flood control.
Overnight stay in hostel Lapua Christian Institute (http://www.lapua.fi/matkailu/kohteet/?ryhma=4&kohdeid=44, in Finnish only)
Friday 21st July
Laihia, Levaneva: Ramsar site, large bogs and aapamires, water reservoir on mire, cultural history, hunting and poaching, vegetation, bird fauna. Long walk along wooden boardwalk. Guides: Heikki Susiluoma (FNCA, man in mires), Reijo Hokkanen (NHS, conservation, visitor facilities), Niina Pirttiniemi (Western Finland Regional Environment Centre, conservation, land use history), Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto
Isojoki, Lauhavuori national park: geomorphology, ecohydrology, eccentric bogs, springs, vegetation, flora, highest point in Western Finland. Guides: Pekka Vesterinen (NHS, conservation and restoration), Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto
Overnight stay in cottages at Nummijärvi Camping, Kauhajoki (http://www2.kauhajoki.fi/camping/, in Finnish only)
Saturday 22nd July
Kauhajoki, Kauhaneva national park: Ramsar site, Bogs and aapamires, vegetation, flora, bird fauna. Guides: Pekka Vesterinen, Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto
Parkano, Seitseminen national park: Restoration, history of forestry and agriculture. Guides: Pekka Vesterinen, Seppo Kallonen (NHS, fauna), Teemu Tahvanainen (NHS, restoration)
Overnight stay in Hotel Ellivuori, Karkku (www.ellivuori.fi)
Sunday 23rd July
Kokemäki, Puurijärvi national park: wetland site important for birds. Guides: Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto
Perniö, Punassuo: southern bog, structures, vegetation, flora. Guides: Kimmo Tolonen (professor emeritus, vegetation, development history), Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto
Tammisaari, Harpar Storträsk: hemiboreal vegetation, flora and succession. Guides: Kalevi Keynäs (FNCA, flora, conservation), Pekka Salminen, Seppo Vuolanto
Overnight stay in Eerikkilä Sports Institute (www.eerikkilasport.fi)
Conference schedule
Monday 24th July
Eerikkilä sports institute, oral presentations and posters. Banquet with cultural programme, Fennougrian ethnic music group Inehmo
Tuesday 25th July
Field excursion to nearby Liesjärvi and Torronsuo national parks: large bogs, spruce mires, mire restoration. Visit to Tammela Nature Centre with a mire exhibition. Guides: Annamari Ilola (NHS, conservation), Kaisu Aapala (Finnish Environment Institute (restoration of mires), Harri Tukia (Finnish Environment Institute, restoration of forests)
Torronsuo
Wednesday 26th July
Eerikkilä Sports Institute, oral presentations and posters
Thursday 27th July
Eerikkilä Sports Institute, IMCG General Assembly followed by press conference