Forests and climate change 

Climate change is expected to change Finland’s forests. Climate change is projected to raise temperatures and increase precipitation and the frequency of extreme weather events. This means that in the future changes will be needed in the forest management practices.

Climate change increases forest growth and uncertainties

Climate warming and immigrant species coming to our country may increase the risks related to forest health. A contingency plan has been drawn up to prepare for possible forest damages. Forest health and changes in it are monitored nationally.

Carbon sequestered in forests and wood products.

Forests sequester and store carbon, and they are a significant carbon sink. The capacity of forests to serve as a carbon reservoir and sink can be improved through forest regeneration and timely forest management measures.

Climate change and harmful environmental impacts can be prevented by replacing non-renewable raw materials with renewable ones, such as by using wood in construction and various kinds of products. Wood-based materials can be used as substitutes for e.g. plastics.

To fight against climate change, it is important to improve the efficiency of energy use and move the focus in energy production from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. In Finland wood-based energy, i.e. wood-based fuels, are produced from side streams of forest industry processes and from logging residue, branches, stumps and small-diameter wood. 
 

Links

Role of forests in climate change mitigation - infographics (in Finnish)
Finland’s National Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2022T
 

Related topics

How can a forest owner prepare for climate change? (Minister of Agriculture and Forestry’s blog 5 September 2022, in Finnish)
Forest fire preparedness to be intensified (Press release by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of the Interior 27.3.2019)
Climate change adaptation
Wood construction
Wood-based energy

Related links

Climate changes - how does this impact on natural resources and economic activities? (LUKE infocard, in Finnish)
IPCC Assessment Reports
Anticipate, prepare, adapt - communication campaign on how to cope with climate change (Tapio, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, in Finnish)
Climate website of the Ministry of the Environment
Energy and climate strategies