An old-growth pine forest in Finland Photo:Olli Manninen

There are 22,9 million hectares of forests (forest and scrublands) in Finland and they cover some 75% of the total land area. Strictly protected forests cover 5,1% of the forest land, and if the scrub lands are included, the total number was 8,9% in 2008. No silvicultural management is allowed in these areas. Most of the protected forests in Finland are situated in the northernmost parts of the country.

Forests are the most important ecosystem for endangered species in Finland. 564 species (37,5 %) of all endangered species live in forests. Forestry is also the most common reason why both species and habitats become endangered. It was estimated in 1995 that some 5 % of the Finnish forests were old-growth forests and only half of them were protected. Not much is known about other biologically valuable forest types, because they have never been systematically mapped.

Forest industry and forestry have been significant for the national economy throughout the whole 20th century. The forests have been in “intensive care”. For example 120 000 kilometres of forest roads have been constructed and some 5 million hectares of peatlands have been ditched for forestry purposes. Some 120 000 – 150 000 hectares of clear-cuts are carried out annually. Young forests (age less than 40 years) cover currently one third of the Finnish forests (37 %) while forests older than 120 years only cover 12 %.

There are more unprotected High Conservation Value Forests in Finland which will show up in later updates of the NordicForests.org Map. Download the NordicForests.org Map for Google Earth here .