• The inventory required by the criteria is carried out as field work during three field seasons (2024–2026).
• In 2024, approximately 36 external experts were recruited for the inventory in addition to Metsähallitus’ own experts participating in the project. In 2024, a total of approximately 45 people worked on inventories. During the 2025 field season, a total of 60 people are performing the same work.
• The last inventories will be carried out during the 2026 field season in the Sámi Homeland Area.
• In addition to public sources of information and Metsähallitus’ own sources, information received from various stakeholders and voluntary nature surveyors will be used in identifying the inventory sites. The map coordinates are obtained using this data.
• The inventory work is based on measuring and evaluating the different structural features of forests. Key criteria will include, among others, the age of trees and the amount of decaying wood. Inventory experts carry out measurements and reviews in accordance with the field guidelines for inventories (see PDF below on this page).
• The results will be published after the inventory has been completed.
• The work was evaluated by an external party and the evaluation was carried out during the first field season.
• 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).
• Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd. will bear the costs of the inventory from its own income financing.
• The inventories also provide valuable data to supplement the spatial data of state-owned forests, which is used in forest management and use planning.

Field guidelines for Metsähallitus inventories

• Vanhojen ja luonnontilaisten metsien inventointiohje (Inventory guidelines for primary and old-growth forests) (PDF 0.8 MB) (in Finnish)
• Luonnonvarakeskuksen (Luke) arvio Metsähallituksen inventointiohjeesta (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) appraisal of the Metsähallitus inventory guidelines)  (PDF 0.14 MB) (in Finnish)