“The good state of Finnish forests can be explained by long-term and systematic forest management and sustainable use, a favourable age structure, and the reduction of partially wooded forests . Climate change, i.e. the rise of the average temperature globally, has also speeded up forest growth,” says Niina Riissanen from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Safeguarding the availability of forest assets and biodiversity are an essential part of the sustainable management and use of forests. “Sustainable forestry has economic, ecological, social and cultural sustainability dimensions,” Riissanen goes on to say.
Economic sustainability means preserving the vitality and productivity of forests. Ecological sustainability is safeguarded by maintaining the biodiversity of the forests. Social sustainability includes securing the benefit from forests for citizens and different operators . Cultural sustainability is upheld by taking the culturally significant sites in our forests into consideration.
“New data collection methods and the more efficient utilisation of data help us to take all four pillars of sustainability into account,” says Riissanen.
Forest certification communicates sustainable use of forests
A forest certificate is a sign that wood raw material has been procured from sustainably and legally managed forests. A total of 85 per cent of Finnish commercial forests are certified.
Certification serves to ensure biodiversity and the preservation of habitats and biotopes typical of forests. Certification also safeguards the rights of people working in forests and ensures that forests can continue to be used for recreational purposes.
“When wood used by Metsä Group arrives at the mill gates, we can say with 100 per cent certainty where the wood is from. The wood we use is always traceable and from certified or controlled forests,” says
Janne Soimasuo, Environmental Manager at Metsä Group.