Metsähallitus (The Finnish Forest and Park Service) is planning to log forests on Hossa Hiking Area, which fulfill the criteria of old-growth Western taiga forests. These forests should be protected according to the Natura 2000 Habitats Directive.

Inari is located in northernmost Lapland and it is the biggest commune in Finland. The forests of Inari have had a shorter and much less intensive use history compared with other forests in Southern Finland. Vast areas in Inari are very low productive pine and subalpine birch forests with scrublands where there has never been much pressure from the commercial forestry.