Success and challenges of voluntary forest conservation in Finland

2018

The requirement for the development of voluntary conservation arose during the Natura 2000 process as private landowners were dissatisfied with traditional forest protection measures. In southern Finland most forests are privately owned and commercially used, thus the protected area (PA) network has remained scattered and disconnected. The most important investment to voluntary conservation in Finland is the Forest Biodiversity Program for Southern Finland 2008-2025 (METSO). The program aims to increase biodiversity in commercial forests and improve the PA network. METSO is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and implemented by local a…