Undertaken by the market research company Taloustukimus Oy on behalf of the Finnish Forest Association, the survey also found that young people in Finland aspire to work in the forestry and timber sector. It also concluded that increasingly it is schools, rather than parents, which shape children’s attitudes on trees, timber and forests.
Around 69% of children polled thought that Finnish forests were in good condition, although 76% also said that they would favour more areas being conserved. Around 18% said they had a hobby or leisure pursuit that involved the forest.
One gap in children’s knowledge was how forest ownership is divided. Most thought that the majority of Finland’s forestry was state-owned, whereas, in fact it is mostly owned by families and individuals.
The Finnish Forest Association said it would use the findings of the survey to help shape its PR programme and liaison with schools.
