Metsäntutkimuslaitos Skogsforskningsinstitutet Finnish Forest Research Institute www.metla.fi

Twenty-sixth Session of the European

Forestry Commission’s Working Party

on the Management of Mountain Watersheds.

Hotel LasarettiOulu 18. – 22.8.2008

National report - FinlandEero Kubin

Finnish Forest Research InstituteMuhos Research Unit

Proportion of total forest from total land area

(% at 1 km x 1 km resolution)

0-12-1011-2526-5051-7576-100No dataWaterNo data

Forest in Europe

78% of Finland’s total area is forestry land and 10% is covered by waterways.Using the national definition, i.e. the 10th National forest inventory (2004-2005), Finland has 20.2 million hectares of forest land, whileaccording to the FAO definition the figure is 22.5 million hectares. In other words, there are fourhectares per inhabitant. The European mean is 1.3 hectares. There are almost one million forest owners in Finland, which means that one in five citizensowns forest land.

The forests in Finland are dominated by coniferous trees. Of the total amount of timber resources, 50 percent is Scots pine and 30 percent is Norway spruce. Of the broadleaved trees, birch is predominant, representing 16 percent of the timberresources.

The most heavily forested country in Europe

Number of lakes larger than 1 ha is 56 000

The length of shoreline is140 000 km

Original peatland area was10 million hectares,

of which a half is drainaged

Content

1. Background concerning protection of watercourses and forests

2. National Forest programmes

3. River restoration

4. Summary

The first recommendationsto protect water ecosystemwas published by Metsätehoas a small booklet Forestry and protection of watercourses” in 1996

The booklet was the first step to give recent environmental information how to carry out practical work in the forests

excellent

good

satisfactory

passable

bad

The practicabilityof surface watersin 1980’s in Finland

- to maintain good water quality

The goals are

- to give due considerationto watercourses

- to preservethe biologicaldiversity of thewater ecosystems

”Forestry and protection of watercourses” (1996)

Map of the ecological and chemical status of surface waters

ExcellentGoodModer atePoorBadNo dataArtifical and heavilymodified water bodies

Source: Regional Environment Centres and Finnish Environment Institute

In 1980’s

River restoration and forestry - some example

River restoration: adding boulders to dredged rapids – closing forestry ditches

In boreal rivers forestry have been a major factor affecting alterationsto ecosystemsTimber transportation: 13 000 km of Finnish rivers have been used(and modified) for timber transportationTimber production: Over 5 milj. hectares of wetlands have beenchanged (dried) for productive forestry areas.Energy: Large rivers have been taken (and altered) for hydropowergeneration

River restoration in Finland,Esa Laajala & Timo YrjänäNorth Ostrobothnia Regonal Environment Centre, NOREC, Finland. October 2004

Poussunkoski rapids section (dredged for timber floating in 1950’s) before and after restoration measures (implemented 1995)

River restoration in Finland,Esa Laajala & Timo YrjänäNorth Ostrobothnia Regonal Environment Centre, NOREC, Finland. October 2004

Re-dredging of old forestry ditches is a threat for small streams

Old forest dich New forest ditch

River restoration in Finland,Esa Laajala & Timo YrjänäNorth Ostrobothnia Regonal Environment Centre, NOREC, Finland. October 2004

PROGRAMME PREPARATION SCOPE RECEIVER

MERA I, II 1963-1969 Silviculture, improvement Government

MERA III 1973-1975 Forest improvement World Bank

Forest 2000 1983-1985 Economy, multiple use Economic Council- follow-up 1986-1989 Economy, multiple use Min. Agr. For.- revision 1990-1992 Economy, forest health Min. Agr. For.

NFP 2010 1998-1999 Economic, ecological andsocial sustainability Government

NFP 2015 2007-2008 To increase welfare from Governmentdiverse forest

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL FORESTPROGRAMMES IN FINLAND SINCE 1960’S

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL FORESTPROGRAMMES IN FINLAND SINCE 1960’S

Metsäntutkimuslaitos Skogsforskningsinstitutet Finnish Forest Research Institute www.metla.fi

National Forest Programme 2015

3 Protecting the biological diversity and environmental benefits offorests

3.1 Biological diversity of forests

International treaties on the conservation of forest biodiversity require the signatories to implement national measures to attain the goals set in the treaties.

The national goals in Finland are laid down by the Government Resolution concerning the National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Finland 2006-2016.

National Forest Programme 2015

Necessary measures for biological diversity

Measures proposed in the METSO programme will be implemented (Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

In addition 6 other measures are mentioned

Target level for 2015The METSO programme has been carried through as set down in the Government Resolution.

National Forest Programme 2015

3.2 Water and Soil

In some cases, management results in increased loads of nutrients and suspended solids, especially in headwaters.

The goal of the EU Water Framework Directive, which in Finland is implemented under the Act on the Organisation of Water Management (1299/2004), is to achieve a good status of waters in the Member States by the year 2015.

National Forest Programme 2015

Necessary measures

Instructions and recommendations for water protection in forest management will be kept up to date using latest research and experiences.

Research on the environmental loads on water and soil caused by forestry will be conducted, in particular, from the perspective of climate change.

In addition 4 other measures are mentinoned

Target level for 2015The load to water caused by forestry and forest management decreases

SummaryFinnish forest policy - is applied in all economic forests

• an announcement of all forest cuttings obligatory

• the goals have been defined in forest programmes- keeps forests producing well- improves sustainable forestry

- safeguards and retains biodiversity- surveys threatened species and specifies valuable habitats

- prevents water pollution

• forest certification leads to sustainable forest management

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention