The Finnish "social wilderness"

Abstract

The cultural roots and images of the Finnish wilderness lie in its use as a source of livelihood practiced in southern and central Finland during the Middle Ages. There are statutory wilderness areas in Finland, but Finnish people consider many other areas as wilderness. It is important for management of the areas, statutory wilderness areas and the other wilderness-like areas to determine what are the features that make an area wilderness, how these areas are used and appreciated by Finnish people. Questionnaires and landscape rankings were used to determine that. Old virgin forests and open bogs are the most important features of Finnish wilderness as revealed by the mental images of Finnish people. In addition, wilderness areas have to be vast, roadless, remote, peaceful, silent and at least near their natural condition. Ponds, streams, wooden trails across bogs and old cabins for common use are consistent with the idea of Finnish wilderness. Finnish people appreciate and use our wilderness areas mostly for picking berries or mushrooms, hunting, fishing and hiking. The experience of peace and silence is the most important motive to visit wilderness.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 2: Wilderness within the context of larger systems; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Hallikainen, Ville. 2000. The Finnish "social wilderness". In: McCool, Stephen F.; Cole, David N.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 2: Wilderness within the context of larger systems; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 205-217