Forests in southern Finland are being given a ‘nature value’ as part of a government and forestry sector programme to improve woodland biodiversity in the area.
The Metso initiative was prompted by the fact that Finland’s protected forests to date have been concentrated largely in the north.
The preservation of habitats and natural biodiversity in the south has been complicated by the fragmentation of forest ownership. The Metso programme aims to tackle this by undertaking an audit of the “nature values” of woodland areas, with individual owners subsidised accordingly to preserve and restore their properties. Land of particular natural significance will also be acquired by the Metsähallitus organisation (formerly Finland’s Forest and Park Service), with owners either paid for their forest properties, or given other Metsähallitus land in exchange.
The process of establishing a woodland area’s nature value has started with a regional pilot project and this will be rolled out over the next few years. The initiative is also looking at new biodiversity-friendly methods of forest management and timber exploitation.
The programme has involved the participation of the Finnish ministries of the environment and agriculture and forestry. It has also entailed widespread consultation with 25 stakeholder groups, including the forest owners, contractors, conservationists and representatives of recreational forest users.
The Metso committee says the initiative is likely to cost €62m from 2003 to 2007.
