Forests provide various ecosystem services

Ecosystem services mean the various benefits and amenities that nature offers to humans. Many of these benefits are in fact vital for humans and other living organisms. Ecosystem services provided by forests include the production of wood as raw material for processing and manufacturing, production of berries and mushrooms, sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere to the growing stock, preventing soil erosion, and various forms of recreation. Biodiversity is the foundation of ecosystem services, allowing nature to renew and adapt.

Nature and the ecosystem services it offers must be utilised in a sustainable manner so that the future generations will also benefit from them. It is important to recognise the interdependencies between the various ecosystem services and to manage them in a sustainable way, taking advantage of all the available research.

Related links

Multiple use of forests (forest.fi)
National Nature Recreation Strategy 2030 (Publications of the Finnish Government 2022:13) (abstract available in English)

Further information

Katja Matveinen, Chief Specialist 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resources Department, Metsä- ja biotalousyksikkö Telephone:0295162287   Email Address:

Ville Schildt, Ministerial Adviser 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resources Department, Metsä- ja biotalousyksikkö Telephone:0295162190   Email Address: