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Helsinki. The indiscriminate felling of approximately 400,000 trees for the construction of Google's Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center in Finland has sparked a major and serious controversy. Large-scale deforestation has been carried out in the Muhos and Otanmäki regions of the country for this project, with experts from the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation confirming the felling of approximately 250,000 trees in Muhos alone and 150,000 trees near Otanmäki.
Cease for Violation of Environmental Rules
The main reason for the controversy is that the company began felling trees without completing the required legal process of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Following the discovery of this serious irregularity, Finland's Licensing and Supervision Authority has issued a strict order temporarily halting ongoing work at both construction sites. However, company officials have apologized for the tree felling, clarifying that they acted based on their understanding of the law at the time.
A Massive Investment of 13 Billion Euros
This entire project involves a massive investment of approximately 13 billion euros, considered the largest of its kind in Finland's history. Finland's cool climate, vast land availability, and geopolitical stability make it a major investment destination for technology companies, and the country's Prime Minister had also expressed hopes of massive economic benefits. Despite this, the incident has sparked a deep debate between the economic benefits and the irreparable damage to the environment.
Environment and Wildlife Threat
Operating AI data centers requires vast land areas, massive power supplies, and advanced cooling systems. Running thousands of computer servers consumes significant electricity and water, posing a significant environmental challenge. The felling of trees has not only destroyed natural forest areas but also severely impacted the local ecosystem. According to locals, brown and dirty water flowing from the construction site is polluting streams, while the clearing of forests has allowed wildlife like wolves to move closer to residential areas. Furthermore, local residents are concerned about the noise generated by the construction work and the rising cost of household electricity.