Finland’s nature is mostly intact, so biodiversity loss is not a major issue. Biodiversity loss is mainly a global issue, not a Finnish one. Finland has so much nature – especially forests- that it is assumed that biodiversity there is not under threat.
The Reality
Although 86% of Finland is covered by forests, biodiversity loss in the country is a significant concern, driven primarily by habitat deterioration from intensified forestry, land/water-use change, wetland drainage e.g. for forestry, agriculture and peat production, eutrophication, chemicalisation and climate change1,2. Approximately 12% of Finland’s species and nearly half of its habitat types are considered threatened1. Biodiversity loss has been found not only in forest ecosystems, but also in wetlands, peatlands, freshwater and marine ecosystems as well as in agricultural environment2,3,4. Nearly 400 habitat types have been identified in this Scandinavian country but nearly half of them are classified as threatened1,2. The most endangered habitat types are found in seminatural biotypes, in particular meadows, dry meadows and other traditional rural environments. In addition, spreading of invasive alien species is an increasing risk for biodiversity5.
Solutions require transformative education and comprehensive collaboration between the stakeholders, forest and peatland management, landowners, and policy makers, and more extensive protection of nature reserves and different habitats. Although nature conservation areas play a vital role in halting biodiversity loss, the current network of protected areas in Finland is unbalanced, with a concentration in the treeless and sparsely forested lands of the north. Less than 7% of forest land is protected, and this figure is even lower in Southern Finland, where urgent protection should be targeted to the old-growth forest ecosystems1,2.
References
Paulomäki, H., Boström, C., Häyrynen, S., Jokimäki, J., Kallio, K. P., Kulmala, L., Laine, I., Oksanen, E., Silfverberg, O., Sinkkonen, A., Sääksjärvi, I. ja Kotiaho, J. S. 2023. haitalliset vieraslajit ja niiden torjuminen Suomessa – Hallitustenvälisen luontopaneelin (IPBES) raportin mukautus Suomen olosuhteisiin. Suomen Luontopaneelin julkaisuja 2/2023. https://luontopaneeli.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/luontopaneelin-julkaisuja-2-2023-haitalliset-vieraslajit.pdf
Boström, C.; Aalto, J.; Hyytiäinen, K.; Häyrynen, S.; Jarva, J.; Koivula, M.; Kosenius, A-K.; Kotiaho, J.S.; Laine, I.; Mykrä, H.; Nieminen, T.M.; Paloniitty, T.; Pappila, M.; Paulomäki, H.; Silfverberg, O.; Sääksjärvi, I. and Sumelius, H. 2024. Marine Biodiversity Loss in Coastal Areas of Finland. The Nature Panel’s summary and recommendations to support nature and biodiversity policy planning and decision- making. Publications of the Finnish Nature Panel 1A/2024. https://luontopaneeli.fi/ajankohtaista/luontopaneelin-raportti-vedenalaisen-luonnon-koyhtyminen-suomen-rannikkoalueilla/
Lehikoinen, A., Aalto, J., Boström, C., Ekroos, J., Herzon, I., Hyytiäinen, K., Häyrynen, S., Jarva, J., Jokimäki, J., Kotiaho, J. S., Kuussaari, M., Kosenius, A.-K., Laine, I., Mykrä, H., Onkila, T., Paloniitty, T., Pappila, M., Silfverberg, O., Sääksjärvi, I.E., Wolff, L.-A. and Rytteri, S. 2024. Methods and benefits of promoting biodiversity in agricultural areas in Finland. Summary and recommendations of the Finnish Nature Panel to support the planning and decision-making of nature policy. Publications of the Finnish Nature Panel 2A/2024. https://luontopaneeli.fi/ajankohtaista/luontopaneelin-raportti-maatalousluonnon-monimuotoisuutta-edistavat-ja-heikentavat-tekijat-suomessa/
