Finland has a total of about 10 million hectares of mires and peatland, which is about a third of the country's total land area. Of the mires about a half is in the forestry use, about 70,000 hectares have been cleared into arable land, and peat production takes place annually on about 60,000 hectares. Of the current area of mires about 13 per cent, 1.3 million hectares, is protected. In addition to this, about three million hectares are excluded from any use. The share of peat in the total energy consumption in Finland is 6 to 7 per cent.

The multiple needs and values relating to the use of peatlands are becoming increasingly important. The preparation of a Finnish National Strategy for Mires and Peatlands, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, was started in the beginning of 2009. The aim is to create a common and up-to-date understanding of the sustainable and diverse use of mires and mire nature. The strategy defines the objectives and needs relating to the use of mires and peatlands and, where necessary, the means to reconcile these in the next decades. The strategy should be completed in autumn 2010.

Further information:

Veikko Marttila
tel. +358-9-160 53334
forename.surname@mmm.fi
[veikko.marttila]