The Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation acquired its first conservation area in the Kainuu region in May, and it was about an approximately ten-hectare area called Pahapuro in Ristijärvi. The area includes almost a kilometre of a brook that flows in its natural state surrounded by trees.

Pahapuro is located less than 15 kilometres east or southeast of the town centre of Ristijärvi, south of Laulajanvaara. Winding partly through the stony ground, the brook flows out of Pahakorpi into Lake Ala-Laulaja.

More than half of the forest is about old spruces with plenty of birches of different ages. There are also small clearings turning into swamps as well as pine trees with bark turning into shieldbark, and all of this contributes to the diversity of the area.

Pahapuro is the 37th conservation area of the foundation.

Photo: Raimo Petäsnoro.