A new study carried out in Oulanka National Park by Stuart Cottrell, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University,
Mylène van der Donk, PAN Parks Foundation and Pirkko Siikamäki, University of Oulu/Thule Institute/Oulanka Research Station has been published.  The goal of this study was to examine the socio-cultural benefits of PAN Park status for communities and tourism development in the Oulanka PAN Park region.  The central question was Does PAN Parks benefit socio-cultural development in the ONP PAN Park location?

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“Where are you going?”  “What are you going to do there?” “You will be bored!”

When I was going from one of the best-developed cities in the Netherlands to Oulanka National Park in northern Finland, people were asking me these questions. It shows that many people have difficulties imagining what the region up there looks like. What to expect more then pine trees, lakes, reindeer, few people and lots of peace. In many ways the people are right, it is like that, but they were wrong to think that that is boring. I have had 8 fantastic months. I had the opportunity to experience the different seasons and met some of the most special people in my life and above all I had the opportunity to do and learn a lot.

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Metsähallitus, Natural Heritage Services, Ostrobothnia and Oulu University of Applied Sciences will organise a training course for nature guides in the framework of the Interreg Project Oulanka-Paanajärvi – wilderness, experiences and well-being (part of the Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme). The course will take place between May and October of 2007 and will consist of lectures, field trips and independent work by participants. The participants are nature guides working in companies that have a cooperation agreement with Oulanka National Park. The content of the course covers a wide range of topics, such as history and cultural heritage of the National Park, biological and geological diversity, means of nature interpretation, sustainable nature-oriented tourism and park management.

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Oulanka celebrated its 50th birthday last week in international style. It played host to the major European Wilderness Days conference of PAN Parks. Over 100 participants from across the PAN Parks network along with travel journalists, members of the Finnish Parliament, government officials gathered in Ruka close to the park to share experiences and knowledge.

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Oulanka National Park local PAN Park Group is celebrating the successful verification of two new members - Boreal Tours and North Trek. They received their certificates at a ceremony last week in Kuusamo. The two new local partners give the local group even greater capacity to build high quality packages that cater to all visitors.

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