Thousands of freshwater mussels perish at Stora Enso logging site in Suomussalmi, Finland

Thousands of freshwater mussels, known as “raakku,” perished at a Stora Enso logging site in Suomussalmi, Finland, after logging machinery drove over a protected river. The damage was revealed last week. The raakku species is critically endangered, and the devastation is considered exceptionally severe by Metsähallitus, Finland’s state-owned enterprise responsible for managing forests and other state assets.

The police are investigating the incident as an aggravated violation of nature conservation laws, a serious offense that typically results in imprisonment. Professor Matti Tolvanen, an expert in criminal and procedural law, highlighted the nature of the charges, stating that if individuals are found guilty, they could face significant financial penalties, potentially reaching millions of euros if the deaths of the mussels are deemed intentional.

According to regulations from the Ministry of the Environment, the individual value of a single raakku is set at approximately €589. Should the court establish intentional killing, damages could escalate considerably.

Responsibility for the incident could extend beyond the machine operator to include those who planned and authorized the logging activities, including Stora Enso itself. Tolvanen argued it would be unfair for the operator to bear full responsibility alone.

Stora Enso has stated it is cooperating with the International Union for Conservation of Nature to promote biodiversity and has participated in projects aimed at improving Finland’s freshwater ecosystems. When asked about potential compensation for the environmental damage, Stora Enso’s communications director, Ingrid Peura, emphasized the need for a complete understanding of the situation before any decisions could be made. The police investigation is still in its early stages, and details regarding suspects are not yet available.