Flying squirrel LIFE – Networks and co-operation – Layman’s report

The Flying Squirrel LIFE project improved the conservation of flying squirrels in Europe through co-operation. A strictly protected species, the flying squirrel usually inhabits mature mixed forests, which have high monetary value. Thus, conflicts of interest are inevitable. Most of the flying squirrels live outside conservation areas, especially in Finland. The solutions in forest management impact directly on the future of the species.

Both in Finland and Estonia, the need for combining the conservation of the flying squirrel and other goals was big. The Flying Squirrel LIFE project was constructed to gather different operators together, to mitigate different views and to make practical decisions easier.

The project did not aim at making changes in conservation legislation. Instead, the goal was to develop new good practices and share instructions in everyday land use with help of project examples. Our most important achievements are the availability and reliability of knowledge, as well as forming networks between different operators. A good understanding about flying squirrel habitats and moving connections helps in land use decision-making, even though the species itself is quite known.

Liito-orava-LIFE