Forest legislation is the most powerful means of forest policy for ensuring sustainable forestry. The Forest Act lays down provisions on the restrictions and preconditions for the use of commercial forests. The Act on the Financing of Sustainable Forestry promotes forest improvement and environmental management in private forests and the use of wood for energy. There is also legislation on the prevention of forest damage, trade in forest reproductive material, timber measurement, jointly owned forests and organisations in the forestry sector. Provisions for protected forests are stipulated in the Nature Conservation Act.

Management and use of forests

• Forest Act
• Forest Decree
• Decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the Application of the Forest Act
• Wilderness Act
• Act on Trade in Forest Reproductive Material
• Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on Trade in Forest Reproductive Material
• Act on the Prevention of Insect and Fungi Damages in Forests

Finance

• Act on the Financing of Sustainable Forestry
• Decree on the Financing of Sustainable Forestry

Compensating for moose damages

• Game Animal Damages Act
  
• Government Decree on Game Animal Damages
  

Organisations

• Act on Metsähallitus
• Government Decree on Metsähallitus
• Act on the Finnish Forest Research Institute
• Act on the Finnish Forestry Centre
• Government Decree on the operations of the Finnish Forestry Centre
  
• Forest Management Association Act
• Forest Management Association Decree
• Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the Grounds for Forest Management Fee of 2012

• Act on Jointly Owned Forests

Timber measurement

• Timber Measurement Act

Nature conservation

• Nature Conservation Act

Further information:
Mr Vilppu Talvitie, Counsellor, Legal Affairs
Tel. +358 295 16 2417,
Email: forename.surname(at)mmm.fi [vilppu.talvitie]

Updated 5.3.2013