METSO Programme

The Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland (METSO) aims to halt the ongoing decline in forest species and habitats and establish favourable trends in forest biodiversity by 2016. The emphasis is on forests in Southern Finland. The programme was approved by the Finnish Government in March 2008 together with the new National Forest Programme for 2015.

The measures under the METSO Programme will largely be financed through the annual framework budgets allocated to the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Previous Government resolutions have already guaranteed funding for the programme amounting to 182 million euros up to 2012.

Safeguarding Valuable Forest Habitats

The programme has been designed to benefit biodiversity. This is to be achieved by improving Finland’s network of protected areas and by enhancing the forestry methods used in commercially managed forests. Additionally, the programme includes conservation schemes that are largely based on voluntary participation from landowners who are willing to safeguard biodiversity in their forests.

The conservation schemes and the management of forest habitats are widely realised through temporary or permanent agreements, depending on the nature of the conservation site in question. Some areas may also be purchased by the State for designation as permanently protected areas. Forest owners will be compensated according to the Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996) or the Act on the Financing of Sustainable Forestry in the Finnish legislation (1094/1996).

Measures to Conserve Biodiversity

The METSO Programme will speed up the expansion of existing protected areas to include a total of 10,000 hectares of State-owned commercially managed forest previously designated for conservation. Additionally, the State-owned forest enterprise Metsähallitus will draft land use plans to prioritise conservation in ecologically important areas with the aim of expanding and interlinking forest areas valuable for biodiversity.

The collaboration between forestry and environmental organisations will be further improved and official advisory services for forest owners will be developed. Forestry-related training and communications will be enhanced. Additionally, research and monitoring will be advanced to improve the knowledge base on forest biodiversity and to help in determining the best ways to preserve it.