Environmental Guidelines in Finnish State Forests

The environmental guidelines of Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. describe the environmental requirements applicable to forest management in detail. It is a manual designed for the use of Metsähallitus’ personnel, contractors and their employees.

The requirements set out in the manual are based on legislation, the ISO 14001 standard and PEFC forest certification. However, the environmental guidelines contain much higher and detailed requirements than the legislation or standards, as biodiversity management is one of the key targets of state forest management.

For example, the manual provides detailed instructions concerning ecological corridors, valuable habitats and species protection. The guidelines were last updated in 2022. Under the new guidelines, deadwood is no longer harvested, more living retention trees are preserved, the number of game thickets is increased, and large-scale regeneration is not carried out in hiking areas.

Compliance with the environmental guidelines is regularly monitored by internal and external audits.

Metsähallitus is a state-owned enterprise founded in 1859. It is responsible for managing state-owned land and water areas, including Finland’s extensive network of national parks and wilderness areas. These protected areas contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature tourism.

Metsähallitus’ subsidiary, Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd, carries out sustainable forestry activities in state-owned forests. It collaborates with various stakeholders, including forest industry companies, local communities, and environmental organizations, to ensure that forestry activities are conducted responsibly while maintaining ecological balance, and preserving biodiversity.

Forestry Ltd’s Environmental Guide

One of the strategic goals of Metsähallitus is to halt the decline in biodiversity on state-owned lands. Conservation efforts are one way of preserving forest biodiversity on state-owned land but the key issue lies in the sustainable management of multiple-use forests. The objective of the Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd’s Environmental Guide is to ensure the multifaceted and ecologically sustainable management of state-owned multiple-use forests, as well as the continuous provision of ecosystem services, in an ever-changing operating environment.

The Environmental Guide can be found in its entirety in Finnish on Metsähallitus webpage. Below you will find a summary of the Guide in English: