In August 2013, the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation acquired a piece of old spruce forest close to the Lannevesi region in Saarijärvi.

A large section of the Mörkökorpi forest is about over a hundred years old virgin-like forest with old, tall deciduous trees growing all over the place, mostly birches. Part of the forest has old pine trees growing among the spruces. There is plenty of decayed wood appearing in the form of both standing and fallen trees of different ages.

The entire Mörkökorpi area is diversified by the swampy western fringe. The area also includes meadows that are about to become forested with the edge of the forest having a tree stand dominated by deciduous trees.

A great part of the Mörkökorpi forest is standing in an unusually natural state. The area covers about seven hectares.

Mörkökorpi is the 40th conservation area of the foundation and the third one in Central Finland.

Photo: Anneli Jussila.