HOW CAN WE PROTECT FINLAND'S NATURAL FORESTS?
In line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Finnish Government has committed to protect the remaining natural and old-growth forests in the country. National criteria for the forests to be protected are currently being formulated. What is needed now is advocacy and a broad understanding that forests are much more than just trees or timber. It is important to make the value of natural forests visible in different ways. Taking part in debate and contacting decision-makers, forestry operators and forest owners can broaden our views on forests.
We can also work together to make a difference. Here, you will find links to various organisations, groups, foundations, and other entities.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
Many environmental organisations and NGOs are dedicated to protecting natural forests. They seek to influence Finland’s national implementation of international and EU commitments, nature-related legislation and other decision-making, among other things.
They also organise direct action to protect forests.
The organisations’ websites also provide a wealth of information on forest nature.
Every organisation has its own approach.
BIRD LIFE FINLAND
Merenkurkun Lintutieteellinen Yhdistys r.y. (in Finnish)
Ostrobothnia Australis (in Swedish)
GREENPEACE
Metsävetoomus (Petition for the protection of forest; in Finnish)
https://www.greenpeace.org/static/planet4-finland-stateless/2023/02/d925e019-metsaaktivistin_opas_digi.pdf (Forest activist guide; in Finnish)
ELOKAPINA (EXTINCTION REBELLION FINLAND)
Act now | Extinction Rebellion
THE FINNISH NATURE ASSOCIATION (LUONTOLIITTO)
Metsäryhmä – Luontoliitto (Forest group; in Finnish)
Nature Association of Ostrobothnia Region (in Finnish)
MEIDÄN METSÄMME (OUR FORESTS)
MEIDÄN METSÄMME civil movement
NATUR O MILJÖ
https://www.naturochmiljo.fi (in Swedish)
FINNISH ASSOCIATION FOR NATURE CONSERVATION (SUOMEN LUONNONSUOJELULIITTO)
Forests – Finnish Association For Nature Conservation (in Finnish)
Vaasa Environmental Society -Vaasan ympäristöseura – Vasa miljöförening ( in Finnish /Swedish)
WWF
https://wwf.fi/alueet/suomen-metsat/#tietoa-metsista (in Finnish)
WWF – Forest Advocacy Guide (in Finnish)
LUONNONMETSÄTYÖRYHMÄ (NATURAL FORESTS WORKING GROUP)
The group is mapping unprotected forests on state-owned land with support from the Kone Foundation.
You can follow their work on Twitter:
Reports of the Natural Forest Working Group (in Finnish):
Part I
Part II
Part III
Valuable unprotected state-owned forests in Finland
https://koneensaatio.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/RistoSulkava_Luonnonmetsat_5.9.2023.pdf
Sign up as a forest advocate and join the movement to protect valuable state-owned forests:
How to protect state-owned natural forests – sign up as a ‘forest guardian’ – Greenpeace Finland (in Finnish)
MORE PROTECTED FORESTS
Donate money for forest conservation or offer your own forest for conservation.
Below are examples of organisations that buy forests for conservation with the help of donations:
Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation
Forest owners can voluntarily conserve their valuable forest and receive compensation through the state-managed METSO programme. At the same time, they can agree on the management and restoration of habitats that are important for biodiversity.
https://metsonpolku.fi/en/frontpage
You can also protect your own forest in other ways.
Perintömetsä – WWF Suomi (Legacy forests, in Finnish)
Nature conservation on private land – Ministry of the Environment
REWILDING AND RESTORATION
Restoration and rewilding are becoming increasingly important for restoring natural habitats. Read more on the subject on the following sites:
Hiilipörssi (Carbon exchange; in Finnish)
Snowchange Cooperative (in Finnish)
ALTERNATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT
Instead of periodic cover silviculture, or clear-cutting, trees can be harvested using other methods such as continuous cover forestry. In this method, the forest is not clear-cut all at once; instead, only a portion of the trees are felled, allowing the forest to remain covered. When implemented correctly, this approach is a better alternative to clear-cutting in terms of biodiversity, water protection, and carbon balance.
Many forestry sector operators also carry out selective logging, but often the forest owner must be aware of this alternative and request it specifically when they are planning to harvest their forest.
Valuable information on alternative forest management methods can be found here, for example:
https://www.jatkuvakasvatus.fi/silva-in-english (Continuous cover forestry)
WWF forest management guide (in Finnish)
MANAGEMENT WITHOUT CLEAR-CUTTING (in Finnish)