Helsinki’s nature reserves

The City of Helsinki establishes several new nature reserves each year. As the primary purpose of these areas is to protect biodiversity, their use is restricted under protection orders. Many nature reserves also serve as popular recreational areas.
Ihminen kiikaroi lintutornista ruovikkoiselle lahdelle
Photo: Mira Lainiola

The City of Helsinki has established nature reserves based on the ecological value of birdlife and forests in particular. Almost half of Helsinki’s nature reserves are located on islands. The most important bird protection areas include Viikki-Vanhankaupunginlahti and the Östersundom bird wetlands. Haltialanmetsä is the largest forest nature reserve in Helsinki. There are also nature reserves on lands owned by the City of Helsinki in other municipalities: Sipoo, Espoo, Hanko and Ingå.

Most of the City of Helsinki’s nature reserves are private nature reserves established at the initiative of the landowner (in most cases, the City of Helsinki). In the protection proposal submitted by the landowner, the landowner can propose restrictions on the use of the area. After a decision is made to place the site in question under a protection order, the private owner or municipality retains ownership of the area.

The process of establishing a nature reserve usually takes two to three years. The City of Helsinki primarily establishes new nature reserves in line with its current Nature Conservation Programme.

Phases of establishing a nature reserve

  1. The nature data on the planned nature reserve is complemented by nature studies carried out as needed. 

  2. The Environmental Services of the City of Helsinki prepare the protection proposal and a plan for the management and use of the nature reserve in cooperation with other experts and stakeholders. This process usually also includes an event for residents. Residents may submit written comments on the draft management plans. 

  3. The establishment proposal and management plan are then submitted to the City of Helsinki Urban Environment Committee’s Environment and Permits Sub-committee for consideration.

  4. Next, the Helsinki City Board considers the establishment proposal and management plan.  

  5. Finally, the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) makes the decision to establish a nature reserve and confirms the management plan.

            

 

Nature reserves in Helsinki by type

Open the accordion menus and read more about Helsinki’s nature reserves. You can view the locations of the areas by clicking the links in the table. To find more information about the areas and the decisions pertaining to them (protection decisions, management plans), filter the map layers.

The areas of the nature reserves are shown in the tables to one decimal place. The type classification of the areas is indicative, and no single nature reserve necessarily represents only one class. The tables were updated in March 2023.

Nature reserve                         Area (ha) Location on the map Recreational area and services
Arboretum Saario 6,3 Arboretum Saario, location on the map  
Haltialan aarnialue 23,0 Haltialan aarnialue, location on the map Haltiala green area
Haltialanmetsä 136,9 Haltialanmetsä, location on the map Haltiala green area
Itäniitynlaakso 7,2 Itäniitynlaakso, location on the map  
Kivinokan vanha metsä 12,5 Kivinokan vanha metsä, location on the map Kivinokka outdoor recreation area
Läntisen Pihlajasaaren lehto 0,5 Läntisen Pihlajasaaren lehto, location on the map Pihlajasaari
Mustavuoren lehto 60,6 Mustavuoren lehto, location on the map Mustavuori
Mölylän metsä 12,6 Mölylän metsä, location on the map Viikki green area
Niskalan arboretum 2,3 Niskalan arboretum, location on the map Haltiala green area
Pitkäkosken rinnelehdot 4,7 Pitkäkosken rinnelehdot, location on the map Haltiala green area
Pornaistenniemen tervaleppälehto 8,0 Pornaistenniemen tervaleppälehto, location on the map Pornaistenniemi and Lammassaari
Ramsinniemen lehto 7,2 Ramsinniemen lehto, location on the map  
Ruutinkosken lehto 8,6 Ruutinkosken lehto, location on the map Haltiala green area
Sipoonkorven kansallispuisto (Helsingin alue)  76,0 Sipoonkorven kansallispuisto, location on the map Sipoonkorpi National Park
Stansvikin lehto- ja kaivosalue 5,5 Stansvikin lehto- ja kaivosalue, location on the map  
Uutelan metsän luonnonsuojelualue 25,1 Uutelan metsä, location on the map Uutela outdoor recreation area
Vallisaaren luonnonsuojelualue 80,5 Vallisaaren luonnonsuojelualue, location on the map Vallisaari
Vantaanjoentörmä 3,0

Vantaanjoentörmä, location on the map

,

 Haltiala green area
Vikkulla-Kasaberget 14,4 Vikkulla-Kasaberget, location on the map  

Nature reserve Area (ha) Location on the map Recreational area and services
Harakan eteläkärki ja Vanha-Räntty sekä niiden välinen vesialue 3,9 Harakan eteläkärki ja Vanha-Räntty sekä niiden välinen vesialue, location on the map Harakka Island
Kallioluoto 0,5 Kallioluoto, location on the map  
Kalliosaarenluoto 0,3 Kalliosaarenluoto, location on the map  
Kapellvikenin luonnonsuojelualue 59,1 Kapellvikenin , location on the map Talosaari outdoor recreation area
Kivisaaren luodot ja luotoja ympäröivä vesialue 2,8

Kivisaaren luodot, location on the map 

 

  
Koirapaasi 3,3 Koirapaasi, location on the map  
Korkeasaarenluoto 0,6 Korkeasaarenluoto, location on the map Mustikkamaa
Kuutti 0,5

Kuutti, location on the map 

 

  
Loppikari 0,2

Loppikari, location on the map 

 

  
Madeluoto 0,1

Madeluoto, location on the map 

 

  
Matalahara 5,1

Matalahara, location on the map 

 

  
Morsianluoto 1,0 Morsianluoto, location on the map  
Mustavuori-Porvarinlahti 36,5 Mustavuori-Porvarinlahti, location on the map Mustavuori
Neitsytsaarten lintuluodot 0,2 Neitsytsaarten lintuluodot, location on the map  
Norppa 0,9

Norppa, location on the map 

 

  
Nuottakari 2,5

Nuottakari, location on the map

 

  
Pihlajaluodonkupu 1,8 Pihlajaluodonkupu, location on the map Pihlajaluoto
Pitkäouri 7,6 Pitkäouri, location on the map  
Pormestarinluodot 2,2 Pormestarinluodot, location on the map  
Porvarinlahti 4,5 Porvarinlahti, location on the map Mustavuori
Prinsessa 0,8 Prinsessa, location on the map  
Puolimatkasaari ja Pormestarinhepo 4,1 Puolimatkasaari ja Pormestarinhepo, location on the map  
Rajakupu 0,7 Rajakupu, location on the map  
Seurasaaren eteläpuoliset luodot 1,0 Seurasaaren eteläpuoliset luodot, location on the map Seurasaari
Tiirakari 4,6 Tiirakari, location on the map  
Tiiraluoto 2,2 Tiiraluoto, location on the map Lauttasaari
Topeliusviken 3,4 Topeliusviken, location on the map  
Ulko-Hattu 2,5 Ulko-Hattu, location on the map Lauttasaari
Variskari 1,5 Variskari, location on the map  
Viikki-Vanhankaupunginlahti 305,7 Viikki-Vanhankaupunginlahti, location on the map Vanhankaupunginlahti
Vuorilahdenpaadet 1,8 Vuorilahdenpaadet, location on the map  
Välikarit 2,4 Välikarit, location on the map  
Östersundomin lintuvedet 91,6 Östersundomin lintuvedet, location on the map  

Nature reserve Area (ha) Location on the map     Recreational area and services
Harakan lounaisosan merenrantaniitty 0,1 Harakan lounaisosan merenrantaniitty, location on the map Harakka Island
Harakan pohjoisosan keto ja niittyalue 0,4 Harakan pohjoisosan keto ja niittyalue, location on the map Harakka Island
Harakan Taidetalon etelänpuoleinen valli 0,3 Harakan Taidetalon etelänpuoleinen valli, location on the map Harakka Island
Kallahden rantaniitty 5,4 Kallahden rantaniitty, location on the map Kallahti outdoor recreation area
Pikku Niinisaaren rantaniitty ja vesialue 2,3 Pikku Niinisaaren rantaniitty ja vesialue, location on the map
Roosinmäki 4,5 Roosinmäki, location on the map
Uutelan Särkkäniemi 15,5 Uutelan Särkkäniemi, location on the map Uutela outdoor recreation area

Nature reserve Area (ha) Location on the map Recreational area and services
Jollaksen räme 3,8 Jollaksen räme, location on the map
Kruunuvuorenlammen luonnonsuojelualue 3,0 Kruunuvuorenlammen luonnonsuojelualue, location on the map
Maununneva 1,4 Maununneva, location on the map
Rastilan neva 0,8 Rastilan neva, location on the map
Rudträskin luonnonsuojelualue 11,1 Rudträsk, location on the map Uutela outdoor recreation area
Slåttmossenin kohosuo 7,5 Slåttmossenin kohosuo, location on the map

Nature reserve Area (ha) Location on the map Recreational area and services
Jakomäen muinaisrantakivikko 1,0 Jakomäen muinaisrantakivikko, location on the map  
Kallahden matalikko 228,3 Kallahden matalikko, location on the map Kallahti outdoor recreation area
Kallahdenharju 3,7 Kallahdenharju, location on the map Kallahti outdoor recreation area
Kasaberget-Kasakallio 6,7 Kasaberget-Kasakallio, location on the map  
Tahvonlahden harjun luonnonsuojelualue 4,0 Tahvonlahden harjun luonnonsuojelualue, location on the map  

Helsinki’s nature reserves on a map

To read more about the nature reserves, click the areas on the map to display their name and further information (in Finnish only).

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Helsinki’s nature reserves on a map - Open larger map

Recognise a nature reserve

Boundary marker of a nature reserve on a pole Photo: Raisa Ranta
Boundary marker of a nature reserve on a pole Photo: Raisa Ranta
Painted boundary marker of a nature reserve on a tree Photo: Mira Lainiola
Painted boundary marker of a nature reserve on a tree Photo: Mira Lainiola
Nature reserve protection order sign Photo: Mira Lainiola
Nature reserve protection order sign Photo: Mira Lainiola
A sign about sensitive nature urges hikers to stay on the trail. In addition to nature reserves, you can also see these signs in other sensitive natural areas. Photo: Mira Lainiola
A sign about sensitive nature urges hikers to stay on the trail. In addition to nature reserves, you can also see these signs in other sensitive natural areas. Photo: Mira Lainiola