Lake Sysmäjärvi. 02/02/04; Eastern Finland; 734 ha; 62°41'N 029°03'E. Natura 2000 SPA, WHCP. The most valuable of the North Karelian bird-lakes and among the ten most important wetlands in Finland. It is characterized by extensive growths of common reed and water horsetail, including about 690 ha of water and 22 small islands, as well as alluvial meadows and bush zones on shores, surrounded by a narrow forest zone and agricultural land. The high conservational value is due to the high diversity of breeding and migrating wetland bird species. The regulation of the water level disturbs the populations of breeding waterfowl and due to further overgrowing of the lake the breeding species declined by 40 percent in 1983-99. Other strong impacts are caused by heavy metals and increase of salt as well as discharges from sewage plants, mining industries and agricultural land. An ongoing EU Life project includes the restoration of meadows, removing aquatic plants and intensifying the removal of predatory mammals such as Raccoon Dog and American Mink. Ramsar site no. 1517. Most recent RIS information: 2005.