Pictures about the revitalisation process

Building the Vuokkiniemi school Preserving the oral tradition Building the Vuokkiniemi church Electrification of Venehjärvi Protection of the Vienansalo forests Revitalisation of the folklore festivals

Memorial to rune singers Research trips New generation of artists in Viena Rescue of the Paanajärvi village Recording of the folklore

Viena culture has always existed in harmony with nature. Therefore, it is no wonder that the folklore villages are surrounded by Western Europe's largest area of old growth forest. The Revitalising Project of the Viena Folklore Villages has received wide support for its initiative to protect this area. Here the Finnish chairman of the Finnish and Russian environmental protection team, Professor Rauno Ruuhijärvi, contemplates the fate of the forests on a dead tree in Vienansalo. The tree conveys salutations from hundreds - possibly even one thousand - of years ago. Besides authorities and some nature organizations also forest industry companies have participated in the Vienansalo protection process. Showing a model Enso (Storaenso) declared a "moratorio" and rejected to buy wood from the areas which were planned to take under protection. Gradually also other international wood purchasers agreeded with the moratorio - thanks partly to the campaigns of nature organizations.