Finnish Forest Owners Offer More Than 1,000 Hectares for Conservation Program

Finnish forest owners have offered more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of forestland for voluntary protection through the first application round organized by the Metsä Conservation Foundation, according to the organization.

The 85 proposed sites represent a range of forest types from across Finland. The foundation provides funding for the permanent protection of forest sites with high biodiversity value, while allowing the land to remain under the ownership of the forest owner.

“I’m very pleased with the number of applications. Information about Metsä Conservation Foundation has reached forest owners well. The interest shows there’s demand for voluntary forest conservation,” said Shaheena Turak, manager of the Metsä Conservation Foundation.

“It’s clear that, unfortunately, we’ll not be able to protect all valuable offered sites, which means that even some good sites will not receive funding,” Turak added. “Our goal is that in the coming years, the volume of conservation increases, and the foundation attracts more partners.”

Metsä Group’s parent company, Metsäliitto Cooperative, founded the Metsä Conservation Foundation in 2025 to support the protection of forests with significant ecological value in Finland. The foundation said it aims to complement existing conservation networks and encourage broader participation in forest conservation efforts.