Inventory of primary and old-growth forests 2024–2026

Person working with a tablet.
Photo: Katri Lehtola.

Background

Finland is committed to protecting old-growth and primary forests in the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Metsähallitus is responsible for the inventory of the forests in question on state-owned land.

Metsähallitus will carry out an inventory of state-owned forests that may meet the criteria. On state-owned land, this is done in a transparent manner on the basis of available information. Metsähallitus started its inventories  in summer 2024. The field inventories were based on a Government resolution, which defines national criteria for old-growth forests and outlines the definition of primary forests in Finland. Field inventory results are compared with confirmed criteria.

In the past, Metsähallitus has done several types of inventories of state-owned forests (e.g. the METSO programme and Natura sites). In addition, valuable habitats are identified in accordance with the Environmental Guidelines in Finnish State Forests as part of forest use planning. Habitats are excluded from use, for example, as part of an area-ecological network.

The Inventory of old-growth and primary forests project now being carried out is considerably larger than previous inventories, especially considering that it will only be carried out during three field seasons.

A forest specialist measuring dead wood in forest.
The data of the sites to be inventoried are measured and recorded in the field. Photo: Päivi Lazarov/Metsähallitus.

What is being done?

  • The purpose of the inventory is to identify and protect old-growth and natural forests in accordance with the EU Commission definition and national criteria.
  • The area of state-owned forests is approximately 350,000 hectares, approximately 87% of which are in Lapland. During the 2024 field season, the total area inventoried was approximately 40,000 hectares, of which an estimated 22% meet the criteria.
  • Valuable habitats identified during the inventory that meet the valuable habitat criteria specified in the Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. Environmental Guidelines in Finnish State Forests will also be excluded from use as part of the regional ecological network of multiple-use forests.
  • The inventory required by the criteria is carried out as field work during two field seasons (2024–2025). It is likely that the work will have to continue during the 2026 field season.
  • Read more about inventory work in practice (in Finnish).

Who does the inventories?

  • In addition to Metsähallitus’ own experts participating in the project, external experts have been recruited for the inventory. During the 2024 field season, a total of 45 people worked on the inventories. During the 2025 field season, a total of 60 people are performing the same work. This includes both Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. personnel and separately recruited personnel.
  • If necessary, the expertise of other Metsähallitus experts will also be utilised in the work.
  • Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. will bear the costs of the inventory from its own income financing.

What information will be used?

  • In addition to Metsähallitus’s own information sources, information provided by various stakeholders and voluntary nature surveyors will be used in the identification of inventory sites. The map coordinates are obtained using this data. 

Who decides on the establishment of protected areas?

  • Based on the results of the inventories, the Metsähallitus Board of Directors submits a proposal to the Government on areas that are to be strictly protected under the Nature Conservation Act (and their transfer to property used for nature conservation purposes, not subject to a profit requirement).

Project progress

  • 1–4/2024: Inventory planning
  • 2–4/2024: Recruitment of experts for inventory
  • 5–11/2024: 1st field season inventories and recording of results
  • 9/2024–3/2025: External evaluation of the first field season results
  • 12/2024–4/2025: Recording of results and planning and recruitment for the second field season
  • 5–11/2025: Second field season inventories
  • 12/2025–4/2026: Recording of results and planning and recruitment for the third field season
  • Processing of results
  • Inventory reporting
  • External evaluation
Spruce-dominated forest and some fallen dead wood on the ground in summer time.
Inventories measure, for example, the amount of decaying wood and the age of trees. Based on the criteria, the sites to be inventoried are scouted according to the base material. Photo: Laura Kammonen/Metsähallitus.

Press releases related to the project

Statements

More information on the inventory

Markus Korhonen
Tel. +358 40 193 2909
Forest Resources and Planning Manager
Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd.

Communications contact person:
Päivi Lazarov
tel. +358 40 821 8292
Communications Manager
Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd.

Last updated 27 May 2025

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