Forest environment

Responsible forest management balances biodiversity and sustainable wood production.

Managing the forest environment secures valuable forest habitats and forest biodiversity. It also ensures adequate forest growth and maintains sustainable multi-purpose forestry values.

Forest certification promotes responsible forestry

The Finnish Forest Industries Federation supports the adoption of impartial and broadly recognised international certification systems. Forest certification can help safeguard the foundations of sustainable forest utilisation and supports international comparability.

New action plan for implementation of the EU’s Birds and Habitats Directives

At the end of 2016, the European Commission published an evaluation of the functionality and efficiency of its Birds and Habitats Directives. According to this evaluation, the directives continue to serve their purpose in terms of protecting species and habitats and in terms of sustainability. The implementation of the directives, however, should be made more efficient so that set targets can be met. To this end, the Commission published “An Action Plan for nature, people and the economy” in April 2017

Nature management in commercial forests promotes forest biodiversity

Forest biodiversity is secured through a combination of conservation and natural management in commercial forests.

Voluntary measures introduced in biodiversity protection

The Finnish Forest Industries Federation is in favour of using the voluntary measures developed under the METSO programme for the safeguarding of forest biodiversity. The voluntary measures are ecologically feasible and economically affordable.

Decaying wood offers a home for many endangered species

Wood in various stages of decomposition is the lifeblood of many forest-dwelling species. New forestry guidelines have lead to an increase in the amount of decaying wood.

A model country for forest protection

The conservation rate of Finnish forests is one of the highest in all Europe. More than 2 million hectares, i.e. 9% of forests have been strictly protected in Finland.

Retention trees cushion changes to the landscape

Retention trees add to the structural diversity of forest stands and conserve original species. The purpose of retention trees is to ensure the continued presence of decaying wood over the turnover time of a forest stand and therefore uphold biodiversity.

The Finnish forest industry knows the origin of the timber it uses

Finnish forest industry companies use only legally sourced wood in their production. The companies know the origin of both the domestic and imported wood they use. Knowing the origin of wood is a basic requirement of sustainable forest utilisation