Siili Solutions Plants 30,000 Saplings in Punkalaidun

Siili Solutions, in collaboration with the Finnish 4H Federation's Seedling Action program, has successfully planted nearly 30,000 spruce and pine saplings in Punkalaidun. The newly established forest area, named SiiliForest, covers over 15 hectares on Vapo Oy's former peatland at Isosuo, with the goal of mitigating climate change and offsetting employee carbon footprints.

The planting was primarily carried out by 25 young people who had recently completed their compulsory education. This initiative provided summer employment opportunities for youth, particularly during a period when many traditional summer jobs were unavailable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The young planters were compensated based on the number of saplings planted, allowing them to influence their earnings.

Initial checks indicate that the saplings have established well despite challenging summer conditions, including heat and drought. Riikka Heikkilä, Field Manager for Seedling Action, noted that the saplings are growing steadily and are not being overgrown by grass. A follow-up assessment will be conducted after the winter.

Hanna-Mari Vuorisalo, Executive Manager of the local 4H Association in Punkalaidun, highlighted the project's success in providing meaningful work for young people. The collaboration ensured that all saplings were planted and are now growing, contributing to both environmental goals and local youth employment.