Natural monuments

Natural monuments are protected natural objects and can include a spring, a special tree, a grove, a glacial erratic, a wolf pit, rare plants in a certain area, etc.

Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996):

§ 23 Natural Monuments:
A tree, grove, glacial erratic, or similar natural formation can be protected as a natural monument due to its beauty, rarity, significance in the landscape, scientific value, or other similar reasons.

According to § 26 of the Nature Conservation Act, the municipality decides on the protection of a natural monument on privately owned land upon the landowner's application or consent, as per § 23.

In the municipality of Vörå, the building and environment committee is responsible for making decisions on the protection or the revocation of it.

Instructions for applying for the protection of a natural monument

An application for the protection of a natural monument can be made with a freely formulated application, or with the forestry board's form, which you can find here.

The application should include the following:

Description of the object(s) (e.g. number of trees, height, thickness, pictures) and where they are located (if possible, apartment number, address, or a map marking the object(s))
Justification for the protection
Information about the owner(s) of the property, as well as written consent (if the applicant is not the owner)
If the object is near a boundary or road, the neighbor's or the road authority's approval/opinion should be attached

Applicant's contact information

Instructions for applying for the removal of a natural monument

If the reasons for protection no longer exist or if the protection hinders the implementation of a significant project or plan that is of public interest, an application for the removal of protection can be submitted either by the landowner or on the proposal of the NTM Centre. The protection can be lifted either completely or partially. The application for removal can be freely formulated, containing the same details as in protection (see list above), or using the agency's form, which you can find here.

The protection can be lifted either completely or partially. On land other than the state's, the decision to lift the protection of a natural monument is made by the municipality. The NTM Centre’s opinion must always be obtained regarding an application for removal. If the matter has been initiated on the proposal of the NTM Centre, the landowner must be given a chance to be heard. If the destruction of an object is deemed to have violated the prohibition against disturbing or destroying a protected object, a request for investigation is made to the police.

Examples of protected natural monuments in Vörå Municipality:

glacial erratic, "Tuckur boulder", Tuckur village
old pine, Keskis, near old sand pits
old pine, Kimo, at Härmä Food
old pine, Kimo, along Kuckusvägen
old pine, "Tegengren's pine" in Lågpelt
2 old Siberian pines at the Vörå Kulturhus, Vöråvägen 36

More information can be found on the Forest Administration's website.
See also nature conservation law (1096/1996) on www.finlex.fi

The Natura 2000 network includes areas such as rivers, mires, and regions that are part of national conservation programs. Most areas are protected under the EU Habitats Directive (SCI) and some under the Birds Directive (SPA).

In Vörå municipality, the following areas belong to the Natura 2000 network:

Norrskogens myrar FI0800022, total of 95 ha, (Vörå), SCI
Vassorfjärden FI0800056, total of 1537 ha (Vörå, Korsholm), SCI, SPA
Gamla kastet FI0800093, total of 39 ha (Vörå), SCI
Kvarkens skärgård FI0800130, total of 128,162 ha (Korsholm, Korsnäs, Malax, Nykarleby, Vasa, Vörå), SCI, SPA
Paljakanneva-Åkantmossen FI0800025, total of 1218 ha (Kauhava, Nykarleby, Vörå), SCI
Norrmossen FI0800023, total of 129 ha (Vörå), SCI
Viitaneva-Storholmanneva FI0800024, total of 347 ha (Kauhava, Vörå), SCI
Kalapää träsk FI0800066, total of 102 ha (Vörå), SPA
Lågpelt FI0800086, total of 21 ha (Vörå), SCI
Kalomskogen FI0800107, total of 66 ha (Vörå), SCI
Nörrträsk skog FI0800152, total of 20.9 ha (Vörå), SCI

More information about areas (in Finnish) belonging to the Natura 2000 network by municipality: www.miljo.fi

The Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Site celebrates 20 years

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Kvarken Archipelago's inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List, a recognition that highlights the area's unique natural features and great importance for future generations.

A World Heritage Site is an area considered to have universal value—something so unique and significant that it must not be lost. The Kvarken Archipelago was chosen because of its living geology: here, the land rises by almost 1 cm per year. This means that new islands slowly emerge from the sea, shorelines shift, and the landscape transforms. Together with the High Coast in Sweden, Kvarken forms a joint World Heritage Site where the effects of land uplift are more visible than almost anywhere else in the world.

In Vörå, Mickelsörarna is our local part of the World Heritage Site. The archipelago consists of nearly 300 islands where nature, cultural history, and land uplift meet. On Kummelskär you'll find the Mickelsörarna Nature Station, a former coast guard station that was decommissioned in 1993. Today, the guest harbor, lodging, and café are managed by the Solrutten Cooperative. There is also a nature trail about a kilometer long on the island, which tells the story of the area's nature and showcases old hut foundations.

Throughout 2026, the anniversary year will be celebrated with programs highlighting the nature and history of the archipelago. This summer, we will once again be organizing boat trips out to Mickelsörarna. More events and activities are coming—keep an eye out for updates from the municipality and in the Ostrobothnia events calendar.

Joint web portal for the High Coast and the Kvarken Archipelago

For more detailed information about Kvarken, sights, and places to visit, see here