Due attention to the biological diversity of forests is an integral element of the planning and implementation of all forestry measures. In this respect forestry has changed radically over the past couple of decades.

The role of the habitats of special importance defined in the Forest Act is founded on the properties and range of plant and animal species which differ from the rest of the forest environment. These habitats are usually in their virgin state or slightly modified and they are small in size. For example springs and other small-scale waterways in forests, herb rich forests and nutrient rich swamps are classified as habitats of special importance. The majority of the threatened forest species live in heathland forests and they depend on decaying wood of different degrees. Efforts are made to increase the amount of decaying wood in commercial forests by leaving green tree retention and decaying wood on the stand after harvesting. The diversity of commercial forests can also be increased by favouring deciduous trees especially aspen. A special feature of natural boreal forest is occurrence of fire and the organisms living in burned wood. Use of prescribed burning should be increased to revive these species in commercial forest.

The management of forest nature has improved considerably during the past decade. The measures taken are monitored annually both on state, company and private forests. Monitoring provides information of the level of nature management and knowledge on the preservation of valuable nature sites in harvesting. Monitoring gives detailed information on quality and amount of retention trees that have been left on harvesting sites. It also tells what kind of water protection measures and soil preparation methods have been taken, and how is the landscape management aspects been taken into account. The monitoring also provides data on costs of nature management.

Preservation of valuable habitats in fellings
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