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A comprehensive package of information – A new environmental guide based on ecosystem services

Published 16.8.2011

Metsähallitus has produced an updated environmental guide for forestry. This book providing guidelines for the management and utilisation of Metsähallitus’ commercial forests looks at forest use from the perspective of ecosystem services. The guide was updated in cooperation with WWF Finland.

Ecosystem services cover all benefits derived from the forests, such as timber, berries, game and recreational values as well as binding carbon, circulation of nutrients, clean water and air and regulation of erosion and floods. The ecosystem approach is thus highly suitable as a guideline for the multiple use forestry practised by Metsähallitus.

The use of the currently most vital ecosystem service, timber, is diversifying and expanding as we move towards bioeconomy. In the future, wood will be used to make products of a completely new type for the needs of such as the pharmaceutical industry.
 
”The forest is the most important renewable and accruing natural resource in Finland. The new guidelines aim to make sure that our forests will produce not only timber but also other ecosystem services. Through our actions, we wish to ensure that all forest-based values can be exploited in a versatile manner", says Antti Otsamo, Environment Manager from Metsähallitus Forestry unit.

The previous environmental guide from Metsähallitus has been in use from 2004. Since this date, a number of changes have taken place in the operating environment of forestry, the increased use of bioenergy as one example. In the meantime, the EU’s Water Framework Directive has entered into force, and significant amounts of new scientific data on the status of species and habitats in Finland have been accumulated. The latest information on such subjects as water protection in forestry, habitat requirements of game and possibilities of diversifying forest management techniques has now been translated into practical guidelines. In addition to Metsähallitus’ in-house professionals, a large number of leading experts of the field have taken part in updating the guide. WWF Finland was a key partner in these efforts.

”This project is highly significant, as the decisions and actions of Metsähallitus have an impact on a major share of Finnish forests. The guidelines of the book are much more ambitious than those of the previous guide as regards biodiversity and water protection. It also contains more information than before about the monitoring and assessment of guideline implementation. The guide provides a clear description of the participation and interaction process, improving the transparency of Metsähallitus’ activities. A larger team of experts than before was involved in producing the guide”, says Anne Brax, Communications Director from WWF Finland, who took part in the press conference on the new guidebook.

The guide is primarily intended for Metsähallitus staff as well as contractors and their employees, but it also doubles as an environmental management handbook and study material for all those interested in forest management. An online version of the environmental guide in Finnish is available on Metsähallitus website.

For more information, please contact:
Environment Manager Antti Otsamo, Forestry, Metsähallitus, tel. 040 719 7734
Communications Director Anne Brax, WWF Finland, tel. 050 367 1888
Project Manager Jussi Päivinen, Metsähallitus, tel. 040 866 9346

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Source: http://www.metsa.fi