Paper short abstract:

In earlier Millenniums humans adapted slowly to the changes in the nature along the Eurajoki river valley. In the 18th century humans started to steer the nature processes, instead of adapting to them. Today the recovering river with its new uses has regained its position as a cultural resource

Paper long abstract:

Eurajoki river runs from lake Pyhäjärvi to the Bothnian Sea. The landscape in the river valley is significantly affected by the land uplift process. In earlier Millenniums humans adapted slowly to the changes in the nature.

In the 18th century humans started to steer the nature processes, instead of adapting to them. First attempts to clear the rapids and dregde the riverbed in order to control spring floods emerged. In the 19th century the first clearings were actualized. The first major changes to the watercourse by humans were done during the first decades of the 20th century. This steering process launched a shift in local environmental culture and resource thinking. The river turned slowly from a source of life and culture into a resource of industry.

A turning point in this process was experienced in 2012, when local community started an environmental movement aiming for tighter restrictions for industry operating in the upstream, and polluting the river. This movement resulted as a joint protection fund of the municipalities, industry and local community for the river, a renewed environmental permits, which at some points are tightest ever seen in Finland, and a recovering river. The process has been evaluated as an environmental movement, but it is actually a cultural movement. It is rooted in the local cultural traditions intertwined with the river. These traditions are now re-inventing themselves as new recreational uses of the river. With these uses the river is now a cultural resource, creating future heritage.