Metsähallitus’ International Activities
International co-operation has an important role in Metsähallitus’ operations. By taking an active part in the operations of international organisations, Metsähallitus can influence the development of the sector in Europe as well as obtain valuable information on future developments.
Natural Heritage Services’ international activities
International co-operation carried out by the Natural Heritage Services unit of Metsähallitus mainly constitutes a part of the international operations of the Finnish environmental administration. The focus of these activities is the conservation of the boreal nature of Fennoscandia, since this also supports the conservation of nature in Finland. We closely co-operate with Russia in particular, but also with Estonia, Norway and Sweden. Furthermore, Metsähallitus actively represents the Finnish environmental administration in co-operation between governmental and international organisations.
Co-operation for nature conservation in neighbouring areas
- Transboundary co-operation between national parks on the Finnish-Russian border
- Membership in the Finnish-Russian working group for nature conservation
- Membership in the Estonian-Finnish working group for nature conservation
- Development projects for the management of and services at Estonian conservation areas
- Co-operation projects with Sweden and Norway to protect threatened species in particular
Participation in international organisations
- Member of the IUCN National Committee of Finland for the World Conservation Union IUCN
- Activities in various IUCN commissions, such as the World Commission of Protected Areas (WCPA)
- Arctic Council activities for Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
- Activities in the Nordic Council of Ministers
- Activities in the International Contact Forum on Habitat Conservation in the Barents region for nature conservation in northwest Russia
- Co-operation between Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia for nature conservation in arctic areas
- Activities in the EUROPARC Federation for Europe’s protected areas and its Nordic-Baltic Section
- Activities in the International Ranger Federation
- Activities in the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM)
Forestry’s international activities
The Forestry business unit of Metsähallitus co-operates with a number of European organisations responsible for forestry administration in their respective countries, mainly in the form of an exchange of expertise. Metsähallitus has also actively participated in the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).
Metsähallitus co-operates in matters of forestry with the state forestry organisations of the following countries/areas:
- Sweden
- Norway
- Estonia
- Ireland
- France
- Austria
- Scotland
- some federal states of Germany