Law professor: Nesting boxes for flying squirrel on future building sites are illegal

"Those fitting up boxes not motivated by environmental concerns"

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"Hanging nesting boxes for the flying squirrel in areas planned for new developments is nothing less than a form of sabotage", argues Prof. Vesa Majamaa, who teaches environmental law at the University of Helsinki.
      In the city of Valkeakoski, an anonymous "animal activist" mounted without permission several nesting boxes for the flying squirrel in a lakeside forest area owned by the UPM-Kymmene Group. The boxes appeared after a plan had been drawn up for 80 detached houses in the area.
      One of the boxes was soon inhabited by the protected Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans), after which a complaint was filed against the planned housing development.
      The EU legislation considers the flying squirrel an endangered animal, whose living and breeding areas must not be destroyed.
     
Professor Majamaa believes that whoever fitted up the boxes was more interested in hampering the building project than in protecting the squirrel.
      "This is nothing short of malicious mischief, which may eventually turn against the flying squirrel."
      First of all, the landowner's permission is always required for setting up nesting boxes. Secondly, Finnish law forbids the misuse of justice. Unlawful mounting of nesting boxes for an ulterior motive is a violation against this clause.
     
Estimates of the number of flying squirrels in Finland vary from 14,000 to 54,000. This vague calculation is currently being updated.
      The flying squirrel has caused some changes to urban planning. However, it has not prevented any major projects, as they can always be implemented through exceptional dispensations.
      This was the case, for example, with the Helsinki-Turku motorway. Still, alterations to the routeing of the motorway brought by the presence of the aeronautic rodent cost an estimated nearly EUR ten million in additional expenses.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Score one for the Siberian flying squirrel (12.5.2004)
  Environmentalists dismayed by Minister's suggestion to remove flying squirrel from protected species list (17.12.2002)
  By his droppings shall ye know him (or her) (23.1.2001)

Helsingin Sanomat