%0 Research Notes
%T Estimation of the coservation value and necessity of rich fens using an inventory in Kainuu as an example
%A Kaakinen, Eero
%A Kukko-oja, Kari
%D 1981
%J Suo - Mires and peat
%V 32
%N 2
%U http://suo.fi/article/9519
%X The protection of peatland complexes has been the starting point of peatland conservation planning. This level of consideration has been completed by investigating the different characteristics of mires (vegetation types, flora, fauna etc.) as well as their ecological and regional variation. The present condition of the most threatened peatland types and flora has been surveyed in the last few years. A particular inventory has been undertaken e.g. in Kainuu, northern Finland, where the drainage has decreased the are of natural rich fens approximately to one tenth.
The inventory of rich fens in Kainuu was started by examining the literature, flora register and bedrock maps with explanations. The natural state of the areas was judged by using aerial photographs, and many sites were excluded from further studies as they were already drained.
In the field work main attention was paid to each mire complex, mire types, meso-eutrophic and eutrophic flora, landscape and natural state. The ranking of rich fens was performed on the basis of the following criteria: quantity and variety of types and subtypes, number of meso-eutrophic and eutrophic plant species, species under threat, natural state of peatland complexes, stage of drainage and importance of regional situation of rich fens.
At the moment only two of the rich fens in Kainuu are under protection, but in the basic peatland conservation programme there are seven new sites included. A supplementary plan of the basic programme contains 20 further rich fens, which are very remarkable according to this ranking system (Table 1). Therefore, the rich fen inventory in Kainuu has proved to be necessary.