Metsähallitus’s climate programme promotes Finland’s carbon neutrality target

Climate change mitigation and adaptation are one of Metsähallitus’s strategic focuses. Metsähallitus’s climate programme 2025–2030 sets the targets and defines a wide range of measures to promote positive climate impacts, reduce negative impacts and promote adaptation to climate change.

We will increase the carbon sink of forests and promote renewable energy production

Metsähallitus’s strategic objective is to increase the carbon sinks of state-owned multiple-use forests by 10 per cent by 2035 and the carbon storages of all trees in state-owned lands by 10 per cent by 2030 compared to the reference year 2018.

The carbon sinks and storages in state-owned forests will be increased with an extensive set of measures, including timely silviculture that suits the habitat, forest fertilisation, utilisation of selectively bred seed and sapling material and taking the carbon sink target into account in felling plans.

Metsähallitus will also increase its positive climate impacts by promoting the production of renewable energy in state-owned land and water areas. Wind power project development will continue both on land and at sea, and state-owned areas will be leased for renewable energy projects.

We will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent

Metsähallitus aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 compared to 2024. Staff will be trained to take climate considerations into account in all activities, and lower-emission modes of transport will be favoured when travelling.

Cooperation throughout the value chain is needed to mitigate climate change and adapt to it. Our suppliers and partners are required to act in a way that mitigates climate change and promotes adaptation to climate change.

Most of Metsähallitus’s carbon footprint consists of timber harvesting and transport. Low-emission machinery will be favoured in the procurement of timber harvesting and transport services, and the aim is also to increase the use of renewable fuels. Metsähallitus will also pilot electric machinery during this climate programme period.

The carbon footprint will also be reduced by developing the procurement process. A shared responsibility criteria bank will be created for procurements in the entire organisation to promote the climate sustainability of procurements. We also intend to close any properties that are unnecessary for our core operations, pay attention to emissions from the use of premises and use more recycled furniture.

We will promote the adaptation of nature to climate change

There is a link between climate change and biodiversity. As the steward of state-owned land and water assets, Metsähallitus plays a key role in implementing measures that promote the adaptation of nature to a changing climate.

Metsähallitus will continue active restoration and nature management measures that promote biodiversity in both protected areas and multiple-use forests as well as develop the ecological network of state-owned lands. We will also ensure species protection and combat invasive alien species. When planning zoning sites, we will consider the adaptation of local nature to the changing conditions and also draw attention to addressing biodiversity in wind power projects.

We will also identify new opportunities for increasing biodiversity. For example, piloting will improve our capabilities to utilise the natural values market in the future.

We will prepare for the impacts of climate change through our own activities

The climate programme is an extensive package that Metsähallitus will also use to anticipate and prepare for a changing climate and its impacts through its own activities.

We will develop our operations and anticipate the impacts of climate change on, for example, the management of protected areas, forestry and land use planning in state-owned areas.

Metsähallitus’s stakeholders play an important role in preparing for a changing climate on state-owned land. For instance, natural resource planning will identify the local impacts of a changing climate and the needed measures together with stakeholders.

We will keep pace with and utilise the latest research data

The climate programme also identifies essential phenomena related to climate change and the risks and opportunities introduced by climate change.

Metsähallitus will keep pace with and utilise the latest research data and, if necessary, update its guidelines and goals. The progress of the climate programme will be monitored as part of annual reporting.