Metsähallitus is a unique group of activities, run by an organisation that uses and manages one third of Finland's land and water areas.
Metsähallitus takes an ecosystem and bioeconomy based approach to promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, to nature conservation and to providing wellbeing for present and future generations. Reconciliation of ecological, financial, social and cultural sustainability lies at the core of Metsähallitus’ duties.
Having been in charge of the management and use of state-owned land and water areas since 1859, Metsähallitus has a strong reputation as a socially responsible organisation. Our stakeholders rated Metsähallitus the best organisation in terms of corporate social responsibility out of a hundred listed companies.
Metsähallitus implements environmental policy in various ways.
Metsähallitus engages in business operations within the framework of its statutory social obligations and manages public administration duties.
Social obligations include preserving biodiversity, promoting the recreational use of nature and employment, securing the preconditions for practising traditional Saami culture, and complying with the obligations laid down in the Reindeer Husbandry Act. Metsähallitus operations accommodate the needs of research and education, and the land use requirements of the Defence Forces and the Border Guard.
In its operations, Metsähallitus complies with legislation and the international conventions ratified by Finland. In forestry, it applies the forest certification standard of the Finnish PEFC system, while employing an environmental and quality control system based on the ISO 14001 standard.
Our shared environmental goals are confirmed annually. Based on these goals, we set out the environmental targets for the operating and financial plans followed by our business units and subsidiaries. In the case of our subsidiaries, the board of each subsidiary decides on the implementation of the certified environmental system. Fin Forelia Oy was ISO 14001 certified in 2014. The environmental system's performance and efficiency are monitored through external and internal auditing.