Environment
We mitigate biodiversity loss in state-owned land and water areas by means of active measures aiming to maintain and increase biodiversity and to minimise negative impacts on the environment. Our Climate Programme promotes the transition to a carbon-neutral society by 2035 through increasing carbon sinks, carbon storage and clean energy production as well as by cutting our emissions. Programme also includes measures for preparing for changing conditions and adapting to climate change.
A certified environmental management system
ISO-standard
Metsähallitus has a certified environmental management system, ISO 14001, on the basis of which environmental goals are adopted annually.
The management of environmental issues at Metsähallitus is underpinned by an ISO 14001 certified environmental system.
The environmental team of Metsähallitus, which includes representatives from all business and Group units, together with the business units’ environmental teams prepare matters related to the environmental system for Metsähallitus’ Board of Directors, the Management Group and the business unit’s management groups. Metsähallitus’ environmental team is also responsible for managing, monitoring and developing the implementation of the environmental system. Metsähallitus Environmental Group is chaired by the Director of the Communications, Strategy and Responsibility Unit, who presents matters to the Management Group and the Board of Directors.
We safeguard biodiversity
We examine state-owned land areas as a whole in which nature reserves and the ecologically most important nature sites in multiple-use forests constitute a nationwide ecological network. In terms of species and landscape, the sites in the network are vital to the preservation of biodiversity in our country.
In 2020–2023, we will spend around EUR 46 million on active restoration and ecological management projects that increase biodiversity. In addition, Metsähallitus’ business units will invest more than EUR 50 million in biodiversity through the landscape ecological network and EUR 2 million in increasing the volume of decaying wood. Measures aimed at promoting biodiversity also have wider knock-on effects on society. For example, mitigating biodiversity loss has positive impacts on local economies as we also use outsourced services to carry out the measures.
Alongside our work for biodiversity, we implement Metsähallitus’ Climate Programme while making sustained efforts to mitigate both biodiversity loss and climate change.
We mitigate climate change and adapt to it
With our operations, we promote Finland’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2025. Mitigating and adapting to climate change is one of our strategic priorities.
Metsähallitus’ Climate Program 2025–2030 sets goals and defines a wide range of measures to strengthen positive climate impacts, reduce negative impacts and promote adaptation to climate change.
Our goal is:
- Increase the carbon sinks of state-owned multiple-use forests by 10 percent by 2035 and the carbon stocks of all state-owned land by 10 percent by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.
- Promote renewable energy production opportunities in state-owned areas by developing wind power projects and leasing areas for renewable energy projects.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030 from 2024 levels. This is achieved, among other things, by developing the procurement process, utilizing low-emission travel options, and favoring low-emission machinery in the procurement of logging and transportation service
- Promote the adaptation of nature to changing conditions, including through active nature management measures and restoration activities, species protection, and the control of invasive alien species.
- Prepare for a changing climate in our own operations by developing our operations and anticipating the impacts of climate change, including in the management of protected areas, forestry, and the zoning of state lands.
