Finland’s wetlands offer lucrative opportunity for collectors of carnivorous plants

In Finland, some wetlands are home to a delicate carnivorous plant that can be a lucrative source of income for collectors. Tuuli Rääpysjärvi from Iisalmi exemplifies this, having gathered these plants for over 30 years and estimating her earnings to be at least 100,000 euros from the collection alone. During the best summers, her income from the plants has exceeded 10,000 euros.

Rääpysjärvi sells the plants to the Oulu 4H Association, which has been operating in this niche since the 1970s. This year, collectors can earn 49 euros per kilogram for high-quality specimens. The collected plants are sold to Central Europe, where they serve as raw materials for the medicine and cosmetics industries. A notable buyer is the Swiss herbal manufacturer Vogel, which utilizes the plant in cough syrup production.

There is strong demand for the plants, with Miia Konttinen, a coordinator at the 4H Association, noting that buyers are eager for more. This year, they have already received orders for over a thousand kilograms but have collected only about 300 kilograms so far, leaving plenty of opportunities for collectors.

Rääpysjärvi, who began collecting the plants at the age of nine, expresses her love for the activity. However, it requires physical readiness and proper equipment due to the plant’s lightweight nature—making a one-kilogram haul a significant achievement.

The round-leaved sundew, growing in wet areas and standing 5-20 cm tall, is harvested in July and August, and gathering it requires the landowner’s permission. Quality is essential, and collectors should familiarize themselves with picking guidelines, available through instructional videos on the association’s website.