Helsinki plans to build homes in Natura nature conservation area

Parts of the southwest of the neighbouring municipality of Sipoo and a small part of Vantaa were linked with the City of Helsinki as of the beginning of 2009. Because the plan was opposed by Sipoo, the change in the municipal borders required a government decision.
      The shift included an area of 30 square kilometres in the Östersundom area of Sipoo.
     
Helsinki’s City Planning Department would now like to build homes in one of the four areas in Östersundom recognised by the Natura programme of the European Union. The area in question is Kapellviken.
      ”After the reedbeds have been removed entirely or partly - the construction on the shore could begin”, outlines Matti Visanti, the head of the Östersundom project at the City Planning Department.
      The other three bay areas in Östersundom would be left alone. The aim of the Natura nature conservation network is to protect the biodiversity and the natural habitats of various species.
     
At present, Helsinki and Vantaa are working together on the development of Östersundom and the neighbouring areas. Since Helsinki plans to start building homes in Östersundom, related political decisions are to be expected late in the spring.
      The plan is to place most of the 30,000 new residents in the area between Porvoonväylä and Uusi Porvoontie.
     
In addition, the City Planning Department has a vision that Helsinki would also have to start developing either the southern edge of Sipoonkorpi or the Natura areas on the southern coast. The City Planning Department regards the Sipoonkorpi area as more valuable.
      ”We regard Sipoonkorpi as very valuable, trying to keep it as whole as possible”, says Head of Department Tuomas Rajajärvi.
      ”Östersundom will either become a coastal district or not. If the coastal area cannot be used, we will build a string of suburbs at the edge of the forest”, Visanti concurs.
     
There is no plan to apply to the European Commission in order that the Natura status for Kapellviken should be cancelled. Instead, the City Planning Department’s idea is that the national interpretation of the Natura concept could be mitigated.
      ”Elsewhere in Europe it is possible to build even cities in the Natura areas”, Visanti reports. Moreover, some of the Natura regulations have been eased for example in connection with large motor way and harbour projects.
      According to Visanti, the purpose of Natura is not to preserve a certain area, but certain species in their natural habitat.
     
As far as is known, this is the first time in Finland when plans have been made to build homes in a Natura area.
      ”An exemption procedure could be used, but it is subject to fairly strict conditions”, says Senior Adviser Heikki Korpelainen from the Ministry of the Environment.
      The construction of homes can also be authorised by the government if the plan can be regarded as imperative and there is no other solution available. In this case, the European Commission should also be asked for a statement.
      In addition, Helsinki should compensate for the disadvantage caused to spotted crakes and other waterbirds, for example by expanding one of the other Natura areas in Östersundom.
     
However, bird experts strongly oppose the plans to develop the Natura area in question, saying that the development of the Natura area would destroy the nesting places of endangered birds.
      Birds will have to move elsewhere if dwellings are built in the area, says bird specialist Hannu Ekblom from the World Wildlife Fund Finland, adding that contrary to other claims, birds generally nest in the same places in the same territories.
     
Helsinki’s further projects also include the expansion of its eastbound Metro line into the annexed area.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki looks further east beyond Sipoo (16.1.2008)
  Helsinki gets go-ahead to annex southwest Sipoo (15.1.2008)
  Helsinki wants to expand to western parts of Sipoo (20.6.2006)

See also:
  Sipoo demands 10 to 40 times more than Helsinki ready to pay for annexation (23.9.2008)

Links:
  Natura 2000