Nationally valuable moraine formations

Pressures on the economic exploitation of moraine formations are increasing as ridge gravel resources decrease. However, Moreeni formations have not only economic significance, but also, among other things, nature and landscape conservation. According to the nationally valuable moraine formations, there are more than 600 moraine formations of national value for nature conservation and landscape in mainland Finland, of which 23 are also of international value. The study will be of benefit to applicants for permission to take soils, who, when applying for soil permits, have to submit studies on the environmental impact of the project. It also helps municipalities which, when issuing permits, must ensure that the project does not have harmful effects on the environment as defined by law (Mäkinen et al. 2007). The survey has been carried out by the Geological Research Centre (GTK) and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment. Of the 2 500 sites selected for the survey, 1369 formations were checked in the terrain, of which 607 were judged to be of national value. The total area of sites of national value is approximately 57,300 hectares, which represents about 1.2 % of Finland’s total area of moraine formations. Moraine formations have been valued in this study on the basis of their geological, landscape and biological properties. The raffle has been drawn from the whole country, with the exception of Åland Islands and nature reserves. The survey primarily serves the planning of permits under the Land Materials Act and planning of the use of areas. Moraine formations are therefore valued in the study on the basis of the environmental criteria of the Land Materials Act, which take into account in particular geological, biological and landscape values. The study is not a conservation programme and has no direct legal effects. The material is part of SYKE’s open data (CC BY 4.0). Purpose: The survey primarily serves the planning of permits under the Land Materials Act and planning of the use of areas. For more information: http://www.ymparisto.fi/fi-FI/Luonto/Geologiset_muodostumat/Moreenimuodostumat http://www.ymparisto.fi/download.asp?contentid=68353&lan=fi Of the 2500 sites selected for the survey, 1369 formations were checked in the terrain. The sites have been valued throughout the country, with the exception of Åland Islands and nature reserves. The study is not a conservation programme and has no direct legal effects. Processing history: Geometry of the material created 1.3.2008. The names of high-value moron formations were added to the material on 12 May 2015. Description documents for moraine formations added on 13.3.2018.