Nature conservation

Nature reserves

Approximately 1.25% (2,544 ha) of Hämeenlinna’s total area consists of nature reserves. This estimate includes reserves located on private land (approx. 1,649 ha) and state-owned land (approx. 895 ha). About 1.1% (approx. 473 ha) of Hattula’s area is comprised of nature reserves. Additionally, the Hämeenlinna and Hattula areas include several sites belonging to nature conservation programmes and Natura 2000 sites.

The City of Hämeenlinna owns approximately 5,800 hectares of forest, of which about 600 hectares are defined as protected areas according to the forest classification used. Nature reserves established on the City’s land in recent years include the Sibelius Forest Nature Reserve in Aulanko, established in 2018, and the Annala Nature Reserve at the northern end of Lake Katumajärvi, established in 2019. No nature reserves have been established on land owned by the Municipality of Hattula in recent years.

Natural monuments

A natural monument is a natural formation protected for reasons such as its beauty, rarity, or landscape significance. Natural monuments preserve local natural heritage, enrich the landscape, and offer people the opportunity to explore valuable natural sites in their everyday environment. There are currently 53 natural monuments protected under the Nature Conservation Act in Hämeenlinna, most of which are individual trees. In Hämeenlinna, an erratic boulder and a ‘virgin stone’ (neitsytkivi) have also been protected as natural monuments. In Hattula, there are 30 natural monuments, which include trees as well as an erratic boulder and a sword-sharpening stone.

You can propose the protection or decommissioning of a natural monument by sending a proposal to environmental protection via email at kaupunkirakenne@hameenlinna.fi. Further information on the protection and decommissioning of natural monuments, along with application forms, can be found on the website of Metsähallitus.

Please note that natural monuments located in private yards may not be visited without the landowner’s permission, but otherwise, they can and should be admired freely. Damaging natural monuments is prohibited.

Endangered species

A wealth of noteworthy species is found in the Hämeenlinna area, including strictly protected species from Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive, such as the flying squirrel, lynx, otter, moor frog, bats, and pond damselflies, as well as the green hawker, which occurs only locally in Finland. For certain endangered species, such as the Eastern pasqueflower, hawkweed (Hieracium prenanthoides), the cucujus cinnaberinus beetle, and the European white elm, Hämeenlinna is a central area of distribution. In addition to endangered and protected species, many invasive alien species that threaten biodiversity are known in Hämeenlinna and Hattula.

Background and legislation

Protected habitat types and species are regulated under Chapters 7 and 8 of the Nature Conservation Act (9/2023).

Invasive alien species are regulated by the Act on Managing the Risks Caused by Alien Species (1709/2015) (the so-called Alien Species Act).

Further information

Contact Information