"The aim of sustainable forest management is to reconcile the economic use of forests with conservation. In view of the extent and comprehensiveness of conservation in Forest Lapland, there is no conservation biological justification for additional protection. The protection of biodiversity should be focused globally and nationally so that conservation achieves the best possible ecological impact," emphasised Juha Korkeaoja, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry at a discussion event to which researchers were invited in response to open letter concerning forest conservation. There were just under 100 researchers present.
The ecological impact of protection would be much greater if the available appropriations were focused on conservation measures like the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland (METSO). At this time, 500,000 hectares of forest are protected in Forest Lapland, which represents 51% of the forested area. In many municipalities, the conservation areas cover 40% of the forests and their quality is diverse and representative. The conservation figure for Southern Finland is 2-3%.
Lapland needs all its profitable livelihoods. The forest industry employs as many people as tourism and maintains the essential infrastructure. The researchers' address does not take sufficient note of the significant social and economic impacts of additional protection, because substitute wood will only be available from Lapland's growing young forests in 20-30 years.
"I believe that Finland can best meet its international obligations by developing conservation in Southern Finland. We are currently revising the National Forest Programme, and in conjunction with this a proposal for the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland will be prepared by the end of 2007. Among other things, preparation regarding the future of the programme has involved significant research programmes on biodiversity, the results of which were published last year. Comprehensive research data on the economic, ecological and social impacts is also needed in Forest Lapland before there is any justification for changing the present policy," said Minister Korkeaoja.
More information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest: State Secretary Jouni Lind, tel. +358 9 53323, +358 50 521 3305