Summary

Image: Puumala municipality / Juha Markkanen

Saimaa Geopark is located in the eastern part of Southern Finland. It comprises 65 geological sites and 53 cultural attractions. The total area of the Saimaa Geopark is just over 6,000 square kilometres. The park has a wide range of geological, natural and cultural sites. The area is dominated by the Suur-Saimaa lake area.

Geoparks are sustainably operated nature tourism destinations that provide possibilities for promoting vitality through an innovative tourism concept. Saimaa Geopark has applied for membership in the international UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. One of the prerequisites for membership is the existence of a management plan for geological sites. The four main objectives of the plan were to clarify the following: what services are in the area and how they can be developed; how to control the number of visitors so as to prevent harm to nature, flora, fauna, and geological phenomena; how geological, cultural and natural heritage can be linked; and how climate change is taken into account in the development of the area. The plan describes the objectives for the management and use of the area and proposes measures and development suggestions for reaching these objectives.

An important part of the plan is a survey of the current state of the sites, which was conducted by visiting all geological sites during summer 2019. The site surveys were conducted taking into account users, maintenance, administration and management, and development. The information gained through this survey provided us with an understanding of the current state of the sites as well as their development requirements. The visitor numbers in the area are likely to increase in the future, and therefore measures are needed to ensure the preservation of natural values and the cultivation of the sites as tourist attractions. Critical issues include reachability and signposting along routes. In the development of the sites, it is crucial to understand that the sites should be viewed as a whole where any one factor can impact several others. The development of the sites and ensuring the preservation of environmental values can, for the most part, be achieved through the efforts of local operators. The management plan has been drawn up based on the resources and needs of Saimaa Geopark. The hope is that the plan will also bring out further development needs in the surrounding areas, for example in terms of public transport or services provided by local businesses.

Image: Puumala municipality