Biodiversity in Vantaa

Vantaa is located in the hemiboreal vegetation zone, or oak zone. It is the most southern and accommodating of Finland’s climate zones. Typical to the “oak zone”, Vantaa has a lot of lush pine forests and glades. Roughly a third of the Vantaa city area is woods. The largest continuous forest areas can be found on the city limits to the east and west. 

More information on forestry in Vantaa (in Finnish).

The capital area is a region that is naturally rather dry. The amount of marshland has shrunk even further in Vantaa due to developments in land use and drainage. The majority of Vantaa’s surviving marshes are small bogs formed in rock depressions and valley-bottom barrens. 

The largest continuous and highest natural value marshes are found in nature reserves. Isosuo, Smedsmossen, and Hyppjaskärret in Keimola are located on Natura sites. Other significant marsh areas in Vantaa include the Äijäsuo and Myyraksensuo bogs and the Pikkujärvi swamps. 

Vantaa’s most significant waters are the Vantaa and Kerava rivers and their forks. Smaller streams, brooks, and trickles are also an important part of Vantaa’s biodiversity. Vantaa’s urban waters are home to trout and other fish. Riversides are an important piece of the green network extending into the city structure. 

There are few lakes and ponds in Vantaa. The largest body of water is the Silvola artificial lake, followed by Lammaslampi in the west and Kuusijärvi and Bisajärvi in the east. 

Vantaa natural water observation report 2020-2023 (in Finnish).

Vantaa is split up by wide traffic lanes, and densely constructed urban areas divide natural regions. Roads are particularly serious impediments to the movement and spread of ground-dwelling animals. 

Wide roads may separate members of the same species into small, discrete populations. This can be prevented through the use of ecological connections between nature areas. Ecological connections are green pathways through which fauna can move from one place to another. Core ecological connections are marked in the Vantaa city plan. 

A city’s human activity poses a threat to the survival of many species, but also opens up new possibilities for others. For example, many introduced species of plant thrive in developed areas and landfills. 

Rapidly changing conditions and constant working of earth creates growth spots for species that can endure frequent disturbance. Among these is small toadflax, a species in the plantain family. 

The Natura 2000 site for the Vestra bogs, groves, and old forests consists of 6 distinct areas. Five of them are located in Vantaa and one on the Espoo side of the border. 

On the Vantaa side, this Natura site includes the scenic Isosuo in Keimola, the Herukkapuro grove and surrounding old forest, old forest locations elsewhere in the Vestra-Petikko region and the Pyymosa hillside grove. 

Learn more about the Vestra bogs, groves, and old forests Natura 2000 site on the Ympäristö.fi site (in Finnish)

The forest regions of eastern Vantaa are part of a larger mosaic of woods, bogs, and farmland that extend out into Sipoo and Helsinki. Sipoonkorpi stands out as particularly thick forest, with significantly fewer roads than in the surrounding area. One can walk for miles in Sipoonkorpi without encountering any roads or buildings. 

The Sipoonkorpi Natura site is a central part of the Sipoonkorpi national park. 

Learn more about the Sipoonkorpi Natura site on the Ympäristö.fi site (in Finnish)

A small part of the Mustavuori Natura site extends into Vantaa along Itäväylä. The area on the Vantaa side is small but contains the largest rust spring on the Natura site. The orange-brown spring, tinted by high iron content, is located beside a scenic alder grove. 

Fumewort grows in the hillside grove beside Itäväylä. The species tends to grows in verdant groves and is quite rare in Vantaa.

Learn more about the Mustavuori grove and Östersundom bird waters on the Ympäristö.fi site (in Finnish).

The Vantaa river Natura site consists of 46 km of the Vantaa river main body, the entirety of the river’s length within Vantaa. 

The Vantaa river is home to two species strictly protected by the European Union: the river otter and the thick shelled river mussel. Otters are annually sighted in Vantaa-side stretches of the river on a regular basis. Thick shelled river mussels can be found in standing waters downstream from the Vantaankoski and Pitkäkoski rapids. 

Learn more about the Vantaa river Natura site on the Ympäristö.fi site (in Finnish).

• Kongontie pines (8 trees), protected since 1965
• Pine on Isomännyntie, protected in 1967, protection rescinded in 1983
• Birch in Furamo, protected in 1971, protection rescinded in 1982
• Kisatie erratics, protected since 1972
• Oak on Isontammentie, protected since 1975
• Two-pronged pine on Ratsumiehenpolku, protected since 1976
• Junipers on Koulutie, protected since 1980
• Oak on Vapaalantie, protected since 1980
• Erratic on Ottelukuja, protected since 1981
• Spruces on Vanha Myllypolku, protected in 1983, protection rescinded in 2009
• Rocky shore of Ancylusjärvi, protected since 1988
• Spruce in Purola, protected 1988, protection rescinded in 2001
• Small-leaved lindens on Laurintie, protected since 1990
• Rocky shore in Pöllökallio, protected since 1990
• Erratic on Valinkauhantie, protected since 1990
• Small-leaved lindens on Viisaritie, protected since 1990
• Giant’s cauldrons on Kotatie, protected since 1991
• Prime pine on Lamminsuontie, protected since 1991
• Juniper thickets on Kakolanmäki (5 sites), protected since 1992
• Lindens on Kaunisharju, protected since 1992
• Pines on Kaunisharju, protected in 1992, protection rescinded in 2020
• Piippilakki, protected since 1992
• Spruce on Talvikkirinne, protected since 1992
• Small-leaved linden on Eilantie, protected since 1993
• Springs on Leikkitie (2 springs), protected since 1993
• ‘Virgata’ Norway spruces on Ratsumestarintie, protected since 1995
• Stors pine, protected since 1995
• Pine on Kuussillantie, protected since 1997
• Hardwood tree group on Sotungintie (13 trees), protected since 1997
• Nyby pine, protected since 1997
• Solatie boulders, protected since 1997
• Norway spruce on Katriinantie, protected since 1998
• Burly birch on Santakuopantie, protected since 2000
• Oak on laurintie, protected since 2000
• Pine on Kaskelanpolku, protected since 2001
• Pine on Sahamäenkuja, protected since 2002
• Pines on Koivurinne (2 trees), protected since 2021