Threatened species of fauna at Malmi Airport

Published by the Ministry for the Environment and the Finnish Environment Institute, the Red Book 2019 is the third threatened species assessment in Finland along the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The assessment, published in spring 2019, raises the conservation status of the burren green moth (Calamia tridens), living in Malmi airport’s meadows [1,2], to Endangered (EN) [3]. As a consequence, the burren green will also be included in the list of specifically protected species defined in the Nature Conservation Act and Decree.

The list of specifically protected species already includes the following species found at Malmi Airport:

• sneezewort drill moth (Dichrorampha sylvicolana), found in large areas of Malmi Airport’s meadows [2]
• white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) found in the woods around the airport [4]
• the critically endangered (CR) great snipe (Gallinago media) [5], to which the airport area is a resting place of national significance during migration.

The established activities of the airport preserve the natural values ​​of the area. Measures and events that degrade its natural values ​​must be prevented until the authorities have properly defined the areas where endangered and specifically protected species live, in order to initiate the protection measures required by law.

We urge the Uusimaa ELY Centre and City of Helsinki to take note of these facts and changes in processing the pending protection proposal, in implementing the assessments required by law, and in organizing events at the airport.

Attention:

Helsinki Police Department, for processing event notifications
Helsinki City Environment Centre, for adopting measures.

References (in Finnish)