New Life for Salmistonmäki Through Collaboration

A new chapter is beginning for Salmistonmäki in Forssa, as Häme University of Applied Sciences and the City of Forssa join forces in managing the area through the “Adopt a Monument” initiative. The site combines biodiversity, traditional rural biotopes, and an ancient monument, making it a nationally significant entity.
 
 Salmistonmäki is a familiar outdoor destination for many residents of Forssa. The birdwatching tower, originally built in 1989 and renovated between 2021 and 2022, remains a popular excursion spot.
 
 The Salmistonmäki–Loimalammi area has been under city management for decades and was designated a nature reserve in 2008.

Now Salmistonmäki is entering a new phase in its development, having been selected for inclusion in the Adopt a Monument program, which aims to safeguard cultural heritage sites through cooperation.

A Concrete Step Toward Learning
 
 The Salmistonmäki and Loimalammi area is already a familiar and important learning environment for Häme University of Applied Sciences in sustainability education.
 
“We have utilized the area, for example, in student projects related to biodiversity and have studied its impact on water systems. Over the years, a desire has emerged to do more to ensure the area remains a diverse environment for future generations,” explain HAMK lecturers Nina Nygren, Maria Lehtimäki, and Eija Raimovaara.

Through the adoption, students will also participate in the practical management of the area. The work will be carried out in accordance with guidelines from the Finnish Heritage Agency, including mowing, clearing, and trail maintenance.

According to the City’s Environmental Manager, Niina Salminen-Åberg, the basic principles will remain unchanged. One of the key challenges in the area is the lack of grazing. The preservation of traditional biotopes requires grazing animals, but no new grazers have been found for the past couple of years.
 
 “Continuing grazing would be important for the area,” Salminen-Åberg states.

Increasing Visibility for a Local Nature Site
 
 Although Salmistonmäki is primarily known as a local nature destination, both the City of Forssa and HAMK hope to increase its visibility more broadly.
 
 “We have applied for funding from the Finnish Heritage Agency to improve guidance, so that clear information boards about the area’s history, nature, and significance can be installed. In addition, we organize events, such as the ‘Discover Salmistonmäki’ day in spring, which introduces the area to children and young people of different ages,” the HAMK lecturers explain.

Salminen-Åberg also sees potential from a tourism perspective.
 
 “The area’s greatest significance is for local residents, but with the right kind of marketing, it may also attract visitors from further away,” she adds.

Salmistonmäki will remain an open recreational area, but movement will be guided to ensure that the most sensitive parts are preserved.