Kontiolahti Biathlon

World Environment Day, June 5th 2023: Trees planted in Kontiolahti to offset carbon emissions

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World Cup volunteers, staff, and partners gathered to plant the trees.
Biathlete Tero Seppala was one of the volunteers. He graduated as a forest engineer in 2021. Photo: Jarno Artika.
Biathlete Tero Seppala was one of the volunteers. He graduated as a forest engineer in 2021. Photo: Jarno Artika.

Kontiolahti Sport Club, the organizer of biathlon World Cup events in Finland, organized an event to plant 3000 tree seedlings on World Environment Day on June 5th 2023.

“As a part of our application for the Biathlon World Championships last year, we committed ourselves to planting trees to offset the carbon emissions for example from the travels of our own organization”, says Kimmo Turunen, president of Kontiolahti Sport Club.

Goal: Mixed Forest Stands

The trees were planted in a land area owned by the municipality of Kontiolahti. The land is situated 2.5 kilometers from Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium.

The open land is approximately two hectares in size. The planted trees will speed up its forestation.

The following trees were planted in the area: Scots pines, Norway spruces, silver birches, Siberian larches, black alders, small-leaved limes, European white elms, and Wych elms.

”We favour mixed forest stands. In the changing climate, mixed stands diminish the risk of larger forest damage. Mixing tree species will temper the progress of damage that single tree species are possibly exposed to in the future”, says Antti Suontama, Environmental Administrator of the municipality of Kontiolahti.

“A concrete example of carbon offset”

A group of thirty volunteers planted the trees. The group included some Kontiolahti Sport Club volunteers, as well as staff members from the municipality of Kontiolahti and Stora Enso, that donated seedlings.

Biathlete Tero Seppala, who graduated as a forest engineer in 2021, and Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Interior, also took part in the planting.

“This planting is a concrete example of how open areas, potentially suitable for forestation, are owned by municipalities and other communities. This is a way to increase the surface of forests to offset carbon from the atmosphere”, says Minister Mikkonen.

Contacts

Antti SuontamaYmpäristöpäällikköKontiolahden kunta

Tel:050 4285123

Kimmo TurunenPuheenjohtaja, Kontiolahden Urheilijat ry

Tel:050 5633480

Images

Biathlete Tero Seppala was one of the volunteers. He graduated as a forest engineer in 2021. Photo: Jarno Artika.
Biathlete Tero Seppala was one of the volunteers. He graduated as a forest engineer in 2021. Photo: Jarno Artika.
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A group of some thirty volunteers planted the trees on World Environment Day on June 5th 2023. Photo: Jarno Artika.
A group of some thirty volunteers planted the trees on World Environment Day on June 5th 2023. Photo: Jarno Artika.
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The trees were planted in a land area owned by the municipality of Kontiolahti about 2.5 kilometers from Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium. We favour mixed forest stands in the changing climate, says Antti Suontama, Environmental Administrator of the municipality of Kontiolahti.
The trees were planted in a land area owned by the municipality of Kontiolahti about 2.5 kilometers from Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium. We favour mixed forest stands in the changing climate, says Antti Suontama, Environmental Administrator of the municipality of Kontiolahti.
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Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Interior, was one of the volunteers. Sami Leinonen (left), event manager of biathlon World Cup events in Kontiolahti, and Esa Kinnunen accompanied Minister Mikkonen on the steep slopes of an afforested noise barrier.
Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Interior, was one of the volunteers. Sami Leinonen (left), event manager of biathlon World Cup events in Kontiolahti, and Esa Kinnunen accompanied Minister Mikkonen on the steep slopes of an afforested noise barrier.
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About Kontiolahti Biathlon

Kontiolahti Biathlon
Napakympintie 24
81100 Kontiolahti

Kontiolahden Urheilijat on järjestänyt ampumahiihdon maailmancup-tapahtumia Pohjois-Karjalan Kontiolahdella vuodesta 1990. Seuraavan kerran Kontiolahti isännöi maailmancup-kauden avausta syksyllä 2024.  

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