Over-logging and intensive forestry are the
biggest threats to biodiversity and carbon sinks
Shared concern about
climate and nature loss
Finnish forest policy and industry are at a turning point. The unprecedented climate and biodiversity crises of our time challenge the entire social system, from democracy to individuals, communities, companies and organizations.
It is estimated that 312 species have regionally disappeared from Finland (RE). As with species becoming endangered, many factors have often contributed to their disappearance. The most significant cause of disappearance (the primary cause for 68 species) is changes in forest habitats, especially the reduction of old forests, large trees and deadwood; this is one of the causes of disappearance for as many as 101 species. 1:the Red List of Finnish Species; 2019.
The message of the research data on the state of forests is clear: Finnish forests are disappearing and becoming more isolated at an alarming rate. Over 800 of our forest species are already threatened and 76% of our forest habitats are threatened. Only 6% of forest land is under permanent protection. The last natural forests are under constant threat of logging, and commercial forests resemble more closely to tree plantations in terms of how much diversity there is. In the early 2020s, Finland's land-use carbon sink collapsed due to record logging, so our net climate emissions are at the same level as 30 years ago.
The logging level that would be needed to restore the land-use carbon sinks would be tens of millions of cubic meters lower than the current logging level, but despite proposals, legislative tools to limit logging volumes have not been implemented.
Research has shown that forestry in its current form reduces the amount and quality of habitats for species, and reduces the carbon sink and carbon stock of forests, making it the most significant reason for the loss of biodiversity and the failure of climate goals in Finland. In recent years, forests have only been a significant carbon sink in Lapland, while in the rest of Finland, forests have already been an emission source since 2021. 2.
At the same time, the ecological crisis is escalating at an unprecedented rate around the world. The 1,5 degree limit* —set by the Paris Agreement, is a climate goal of limiting man-made global warming was breached as early as 2024. 3, more than ten years earlier than what was predicted a few years ago.
Artificial snags and retention trees are not enough to save the diversity of tree plantations.
The people want protection,
but industry is holding it back
The loss of habitat in commercial forests is a measured fact that forest industry actors are not prepared to admit publicly. There needs to be a change in attitude towards logging rates, a change in societal attitudes must concern the methods of forest management and the need to restore some of them. Restoration measures must focus on state lands, municipal forests and forests of large forestry companies, but private forest owners must also be offered subsidies and incentives to accelerate this work.
Due to accelerating nature loss, collapsed carbon sinks and insufficient deadwood, there is a pressing need to reduce pulp production, extend forest rotation periods and end the burning of wood from old-growth forests for energy.
Thanks Symposium!
