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.

The Helsinki City Strategy 2025—2029 provides that the City of Helsinki will establish eight new nature reserves in Helsinki per year. The City of Helsinki Nature Conservation Programme 2025–2038 guides the city’s nature conservation efforts and the establishment of nature reserves. 

Implementing the programme will double the current land area of nature reserves in Helsinki from the current 5.2 per cent to 10.9 per cent. The area of protected sea areas will increase tenfold from the current 1 per cent to 11.7 per cent. 

The nature reserve programme is one of the tools for conserving and enhancing natural values in the City. In addition to preserving the diversity of species and habitats, nature reserves also help secure recreational and camping opportunities for local residents. 

You can find the sites included in the Nature Reserve Programme on the map at the bottom of the page. 

The City of Helsinki Nature Conservation Programme 2025–2038 (pdf, in Finnish)

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. The Economic Development Centre in Uusimaa issues the protection decision for the nature reserve, and the Finnish Supervisory Agency approves the management and use plan.

            

 

The new nature reserve sites being prepared in 2026 are:

  • Bredbacka (Mellunkylä)
  • Haltialan metsäsaareke (Haltiala)
  • Ilmala (Central Park)
  • Kellarimäki (Haltiala)
  • Kivihaka (Central Park)
  • Laakso (Central Park)
  • Tankovainio (Vartioharju)

Participate in residents' and public events on future nature reserves. Information on upcoming events is provided here. Please note that advance registration is required for most events, and the events will be held only if at least five people register. Registered participants will receive additional information by email. The language of the events is Finnish.

Events organized in 2026 (updating list):

Establishment and management and use plans of the Ilmala and Kivihaka nature reserves – public meeting on 21 October 2026

Participate in nature reserve work by participating in residents’ events and commenting on management and use plans for nature reserves. Plans open for comments and related documents can be found here.

Management and use plan for the future Ilmala nature reserve 2027

Draft management and use plan (PDF in Finnish)

You may submit written comments on the plan until 16.00 on Thursday 29 October. Please send your comments to the City of Helsinki Register Office at helsinki.kirjaamo@hel.fi. Include the name and record number of the subject matter in the subject line of your message: Ilmalan luonnonsuojelualue HEL 2026-016403.

Register office contact details and opening hours

Upcoming

  • Kivinokka's old forest (first management and use plan for the area)
  • Upcoming Tankovainio nature reserve, management and use plan
  • Upcoming Kivihaka nature reserve, management and use 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 have been updated on 23.1.2026. At the time of the update, the number of established protected areas is 85.

Nature reserve Area (ha) Location on the map Recreational area and services
Arboretum Saario 6,3 Arboretum Saario, location on the map  
Fastholma  17,1 Fastholman luonnonsuojelualue, location on the map  Vanhankaupunginlahti
Furuvik 2,5 Furuvik, location on the map  
Hallainvuori  42,1 Hallainvuori, location on the map Myllypuro outdoor recreation area and Hallainvuori
Haltialan aarnialue 23,0 Haltialan aarnialue, location on the map Haltiala green area
Haltialanmetsä 136,9 Haltialanmetsä, location on the map Haltiala green area
Itäniityn laakso 7,2 Itäniityn laakso, 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
Meri-Rastila 34,8 Meri-Rastila, location on the map Meri-Rastila and Ramsinniemi
Mustavuoren eteläosa 28,7 Mustavuoren eteläosa, location on the map  
Mustavuoren lehto 60,6 Mustavuoren lehto, location on the map  
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
Oulunkylän jalopuulehto 0,9 Oulunkylän jalopuulehto, location on the map  
Pakilanmetsä 28,0 Pakilanmetsä, 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
Porvarinlahden eteläranta 49 Porvarinlahden eteläranta, location on the map  
Ramsinniemen lehto 10,3 Ramsinniemen lehto, location on the map Meri-Rastila and Ramsinniemi
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  
Tali 15,9  Tali, 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
Varjakanpuisto 4,6 Varjakanpuisto, location on the map  
Veräjämäen metsä 17,1 Veräjämäen metsä, location on the map  
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  
Pitkärivi 2,7 Pitkärivi, 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  
Topeliusviken 3,4 Topeliusviken, location on the map  
Ulko-Hattu 2,5 Ulko-Hattu, location on the map  
Variskari 1,5 Variskari, location on the map  
Varisluodonkari 1,1 Varisluodonkari, 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
Patterimäki 3,9 Patterinmäki, location on the map  
Pikku Niinisaaren rantaniitty ja vesialue 2,3 Pikku Niinisaaren rantaniitty ja vesialue, location on the map  
Roosinmäki 4,5 Roosinmäki, location on the map  
Uussillanpuiston niittyjen luonnonsuojelualue 2,6 Uussillanpuisto, 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  
Mellunmäenluhta 4,8 Mellunmäenluhta, 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
Huomenlahja 0,9 Huomenlahja, location on the map  
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  
Kivikon linnoituskalliot 10,7 Kivikon linnoituskalliot, location on the map  
Tahvonlahden harjun luonnonsuojelualue 4,0 Tahvonlahden harjun luonnonsuojelualue, location on the map  

Helsinki’s nature reserves and the 2025–2038 nature conservation programme sites on the map

To read more about the nature reserves (purple), click the areas on the map to display their name and further information (in Finnish only). The boundaries of the 2025–2038 conservation programme sites (blue) will be specified during the conservation process.

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Helsinki’s nature reserves and the 2025–2038 nature conservation programme sites on the map. - Open larger map

Recognise a nature reserve

Luonnonsuojelualueen symboli puisen tolpan yläosassa
Boundary marker of a nature reserve on a pole Photo: Raisa Ranta
Valkoinen puun leveydeltä tehty maalimerkki puussa
Painted boundary marker of a nature reserve on a tree Photo: Mira Lainiola
Puutolpan päässä oleva kyltti kertoo luonnonsuojelualueen rauhoitusmääräykset
Nature reserve protection order sign Photo: Mira Lainiola
Tolpan päässä oleva kyltti kehoittaa pysyttelemään polulla herkällä luontoalueella
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

You can also find this page at: hel.fi/naturereserves