Introducing Europe's Protected Natural Areas

In this section we give you a more in depth look at our members and how they manage Europe's natural heritage. Each month we will upload information about a different EUROPARC member. This month (March 2012) we take a closer look at Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park. Information on protected areas who have previously been featured on this page can be downloaded below.

This month we present to you one of our transboundary protected areas. Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park and its surrounding wilderness is located on the north-western edge of the taiga, in the area where Norway, Finland and Russia converge. A continuous stretch of land crossing three national borders is protected - five protected areas comprise the Trilateral Park (one area in Finland, three areas in Norway and one area in Russia).

Environmental authorities and relevant stakeholders in the three countries have cooperated since early 1990s in the areas of nature protection and management, environmental monitoring and research activities. The Trilateral Park is a unique example of long-term and constructive cooperation over three nation’s borders.

A common landscape
The lush valley of the Pasvik River stretches from Lake Inari towards the Barents Sea, appearing as a nerve of life in the wide, forested, marsh and small lake mosaic landscape. The Lake Inari area and the Pasvik River valley are known for its great nature and cultural values. The region comprises a unique nature system where the European, Asian and Arctic species meet. Some of the species reach here their ultimate limits of their distribution. The area is also an important nesting and resting place for a large number of migratory birds.

Shared nature, culture and history
The Pasvik–Inari region is a meeting point for different cultures. Different Sámi groups live in the area: the Northern, Inari and Skolt Sámi. Since the Early Middle Ages, Finns, Norwegians and Russians also have settled in the region. Although different cultures coexist in the area and have learned a lot from each other, they have each retained their distinctive traditions.

In earlier times the river was also an important channel from inland to the Barents Sea along which trades were transported. During the great loggings of the 1920’s, logs were floated to sawmills located by the outlet of the Pasvik River. Later, the battle for nickel in Pechenga brought changes to the area, as the rapids of the Pasvik River were used to produce energy for mining and smelting.

Despite the changes the Lake Inari area and the Pasvik River valley has preserved its natural values and species diversity. The specific features of the area make it an attractive nature and culture destination.

Management
The Office of the Finnmark County Governor manages the area of Pasvik Nature reserve. The Office of the County Governor is the state representative in the County and is responsible for implementing the policies and decisions of the Parliament and the Government. The County Governor Office performs administrative tasks and is the appellate and supervising authority with missions of several Ministries and Directorates’. A local appointed political management board manages the protected areas of Øvre Pasvik National Park and Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protected Area.

Facts and figures

Pasvik Nature Reserve
Location: Municipality of Sør-Varanger, County of Finnmark Norway
Area: 19, 1 km²
Established in 1993, Ramsar-status in 1996. IUCN cat. Ib
Aims: to protect a wetland area that is very important as a nesting and resting area for numerous water bird species; protect parts of river Pasvik where the original river bed is intact; protect a locality with a rich natural and cultural history of great scientific and educational value


Øvre Pasvik National Park
Location: Municipality of Sør-Varanger, County of Finnmark Norway
Area: 119 km²
Established: 1970, extended in 2003. IUCN cat. II
Aims: to protect a large, continuous and untouched pine forest; conserve a forest ecosystem with a distinctive character and rich biological diversity; secure the variation of nature types in the region and to protect sites of cultural heritage.

Øvre Pasvik Landscape Protection Area
Location: Municipality of Sør-Varanger, County of Finnmark Norway
Area: 54 km²
Established in 2003. IUCN cat. V
Aims: to conserve a distinctive natural and cultural landscape with a rich biological diversity; secure the variation of nature types in the region; protect landscape formations and distinctive geological formations

Threats and solutions
The protection is strong and no immediate direct threats against the nature and protection values are seen at the moment. The nearby area is also very scarcely populated and almost without roads and other infrastructure. The communication and cooperation between local and regional stakeholders is good and also the cooperation over the national borders to Finland and Russia is good. Challenges in the area is transboundary pollution, issues and effects of water regulation and climate change that is more and more affecting arctic and sub arctic areas.  

More information

www.pasvik-inari.net (4 languages: en, fi, ru, no);
www.dirnat.no/nasjonalparker/ovre_pasvik/ (no),
www.pasvik51.ru/en (ru, en),
www.metsa.fi/sivustot/metsa/en/Sivut/Home.aspx