Conservation Agreements

Conservation under the METSO Programme is based on forest owners' voluntary competitive tendering. Authorities compare tenders and choose the most suitable sites and negotiate conservation agreements with the forest owner. The evaluation is based on ecological criteria and it is performed by an expert on each site.

If a site is approved as a METSO target, the forest owner will be compensated for the costs of nature management on the site and for loss of income.

Conservation agreements can be either permanent or they can be made for a specific time period, according to a forest owner's preference. The voluntary approach is valued by forest owners who also appreciate the independence in decision-making and the chance to retain their property rights in the available conservation schemes.