Environmental responsibility

Metsähallitus’ role as the manager, user and steward of state-owned land and water areas makes environmental responsibility a central part of our mission. Our aim is to strike a balance between the environment, society and economy, enabling us to carry out the tasks assigned to us optimally and following the principles of sustainable development, and to improve the status of the environment and natural resources on state-owned land.

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. As part of our Climate Programme, we increase carbon sinks, carbon storage and renewable energy production as well as reduce our emissions. We also promote adaptation to climate change by fostering biodiversity and preparing for changing conditions in our own work.

A certified environmental management system

The management of environmental issues at Metsähallitus is underpinned by our ISO 14001 certified environmental system. In environmental issues, Metsähallitus’ business is guided by social obligations imposed on Metsähallitus by legislation. Our operations in multiple-use forests are additionally guided by forest certification and an environmental guide for forestry. The management of protected areas is directed by not only legislation and decrees but also the principles of managing and using protected areas.

We foster biodiversity and mitigate biodiversity loss

At the heart of our biodiversity work is reconciling multiple objectives better. In our work, we examine biodiversity in terms of the large entity consisting of state-owned lands and waters, where nature reserves together with the most important nature sites in multiple-use forests make up an ecological network covering the entire country. In terms of species and landscapes, the sites of the network are vital for the preservation of biodiversity in Finland.

We safeguard biodiversity comprehensively by:

• Managing the most threatened habitats
• Protecting valuable nature sites in multiple-use forests and increasing the amount of decaying wood
• Improving the status of marine and freshwater environments
• Protecting the most vulnerable species
• Restoring fisheries and game habitats
• Developing the network of protected areas

We promote the achievement of climate objectives

Our work helps Finland achieve the goal of being carbon neutral by 2025. Climate change mitigation and adaptation is one of our strategic focus areas.

Metsähallitus’ Climate Programme 2025–2030 sets our targets and defines a wide range of measures by which we promote positive climate impacts, reduce negative impacts and promote adaptation to climate change.

Our goal is to:

• Increase the carbon sinks in state-owned multiple-use forests by 10% by 2035 and the carbon storage in trees on all state-owned lands by 10% by 2030 compared to 2018.
• Promote the possibilities of producing renewable energy in state-owned areas through wind power project development and by leasing areas for renewable energy projects.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 compared to 2024. The measures by which we aim to achieve these goals include developing our procurement process, choosing low-emission travel options and favouring low-emission machinery in procurements of timber harvesting and transport services.
• Promote nature’s adaptation to changing conditions, for example by means of active nature management and restoration measures, species conservation and fight against invasive alien species.
• Prepare for a changing climate in our work by developing our activities and anticipating the impacts of climate change in such areas as the management of protected areas, forestry operations and land use planning.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The particular goals we can influence through our activities in the priority area of environmental responsibility are 13: Climate Action, 14: Life Under Water and 15: Life On Land.