Non-intervention management and marine environment in Archipelago NP, Finland

Non-intervention management is an innovative and challenging approach in terrestrial ecosystems but almost unknown for a marine protected area. The very first marine protected area Archipelago NP with a non-intervention wilderness zone of 10 000 ha was certified as a PAN Park in 2007.

The Archipelago area is subdivided into a puzzle of units belonging to thousands of private owners and state authorities (Metsähallitus and Ministry of Defence). The national park was established in 1982 and includes only state-owned land that is managed by Metsähallitus (50 400 ha). The entire area of some 300 000 ha, comprised of private land and sea water, is called a “Co-habitation Area”.

A wilderness restricted zone of 10 600 ha with non-intervention management was established in the co-habitation area to protect breeding birds and the threatened Baltic Ringed Seal resting sites. The wilderness restricted zone is located on the southern limits of the park at the wind-exposed Storskär islands and neighbouring skerries. Access by boat was always difficult and is no longer allowed.

In order to offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Archipelago wilderness it is suggested that a new area is added to the wilderness zone, for example in the Brunskär-Bunssö area. This would present examples of middle Archipelago habitats and provide public access to ‘wilderness areas’, without extractive use such as sport fishing. Assessing opportunities and acting pro-actively can support this process to extend the Archipelago NP wilderness zones to sensitive habitats and species, in areas notably related to the Natura 2000 sites that are currently privately owned.