Biodiversity is fostered by, for example, leaving groups of retention trees untouched and by creating high biodiversity stumps during thinning and in regeneration fellings. Biodiversity is also enhanced by protecting important habitats from harvesting, increasing the share of mixed forests and by the buffer zones of water bodies, which also prevent the run-off of soil and nutrients.
Forest certifications define precise criteria for conserving biodiversity, such as for groups of retention trees. Retention trees diversify the age structure of forests and generate decaying wood, which is vital for many species including birds, insects and fungi. Metsä Board also requires that any non-certified wood it purchases has a sustainable origin.
Programmes to advance sustainable forestry and biodiversity
With regenerative forestry we aim to improve the state of nature and comprehensively manage ecosystem services, that is, the benefits provided by the natural environment. Metsä Group's ecological sustainability programme aims to ensure that forests continue to act as a carbon sink, biodiversity is safeguarded and that protection of water bodies is being developed. Beyond commercial forests, biodiversity is promoted through Metsä Group's nature programme, which places special emphasis on improving the state of water bodies in Finland.
