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Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland (METSO) Voluntary forest protection by landowners is particularly important in Southern Finland where the network of national parks and other nature reserves is not as developed as in other parts ...

METSO Programme exceeded targets for permanent protection, good progress in environmental subsidies and nature management in 2025 6.3.2026 10.19 In 2025, about 6,600 hectares of forest habitats were protected under the Forest Biodiversity Programm...

Helmi Habitats Programme – safeguarding biodiversity through cooperation The Helmi Habitats Programme, run jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of the Environment, strengthens the biodiversity of Finnish nature and secu...

6.3.2026 | In 2025, about 6,600 hectares of forest habitats were protected under the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO. Last year Finnish forest owners protected permanently about 3,200 hectares of forest and concluded ten-year environmental forestry subsidy agreements concerning about 3,400 hectares. The area covered by nature management works was about 180 hectares.

12.11.2025 | The Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO has established its position as part of nature conservation in Finland. The programme has developed a high-quality network of protected areas that already covers almost 100,000 hectares. The closing seminar of the programme period 2008–2025 presented some of the success stories of the widely appreciated METSO Programme.

Strategies and programmes The National Forest Strategy contains the key outlines of Finland’s forest policy. It also serves as a statutory forest programme. “The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry prepares a National Forest Programme in cooperat...

Biodiversity and protection Ecological sustainability is strengthened by protecting biodiversity and the factors influencing the functioning of ecosystems. Diverse and healthy forests create the ecological foundation on which all management and us...

Biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the entire spectrum of life: genetic variation within species, the abundance of species and the diversity of their habitats. Halting the loss of biodiversity is a global target. Biodiversity in sustainable use a...

Other strategies and programmes Besides the National Forest Strategy , Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO , Climate Plan for the Land Use Sector and Finnish Bioeconomy Strategy , policies and measures related to the forest se...

Biodiversity in commercial forests The management of commercial forests plays a key role in fostering biodiversity, as some 90 per cent of Finland's forests are available for wood production. The ecological sustainability of commercial forests is ...

18.2.2026 | The Helmi Habitats Programme has enhanced the understanding of ways to improve the state of nature and created an important foundation for the preparation of the National Restoration Plan.

Forests Forests are a renewable natural resource as well as a source of economic and social welfare. Forests have a central role in Finland’s nature and its diversity. Sustainable use and management of forests define the principles of forestry in ...

Latest press releases RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Germany joins For Forest Group+ of forested EU countries as its eighth member Type: Press release Publication date: 1.4.2026 13.17 Minister Essayah to join Team Finland trade mission ...

Protection of forests in Finland In Finland, national parks and strict nature reserves constitute the basic framework of the nature conservation network. Other areas dedicated to biodiversity conservation include, inter alia, strictly protected zo...

5.2.2025 | The Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO (2008–2025) has had a positive impact on forest biodiversity. This is the conclusion of the independent final evaluation of the programme. A working group of the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is preparing the next period of the programme that will start in 2026.

27.5.2021 | On May 27th 2021 the Government adopted a resolution on the Helmi habitats programme that extends until 2030. The programme includes 40 actions for accelerating the restoration, management and protection of different habitats. The Helmi programme is a significant package of measures for halting biodiversity loss in Finland.

21.2.2019 | In its resolution today, the Government adopted the updated National Forest Strategy approved by the Forest Council in December. The vision and objectives of the Strategy, originally approved in 2015, remained primarily unchanged, but the project portfolio was updated to correspond to changes in the operating environment. The strategy now takes into account measures to safeguard climate sustainability and forest biodiversity more clearly than before.

6.6.2019 | NATIONAL FOREST STRATEGY OF FINLAND AIMS FOR GROWTH OF OVERALL WELFARE2025 NATIONAL FOREST STRATEGY 2025 2 UPDATED VERSION OF THE STRATEGY TAKES NEW EXPECTATIONS AND NEEDS INTO ACCOUNT The strategy aims for overall sustainability and takes into ac...

13.1.2016 | National Forest Programme 2010 – Multiple Use of Forests National Forest Programme 2010 – Multiple Use of Forests Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 2006 Publication: National Forest Programme 2010 – Multiple Use of Forests Publisher: Ministry o...

9.3.2017 | 1 Information on LULUCF actions FINLAND Progress Report December 2016 Progress report based on Article 10 of DECISION No 529/2013/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 May 2013 on accounting rules on greenhouse gas emissions and r...