Surprise decision to protect 100,000 hectares of northern forest

Move by state enterprise ends long discussion with environmental groups

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The state forest management enterprise Metsähallitus said on Monday that it was taking 100,000 hectares of forest under its control in the provinces of Oulu and Finnish Lapland out of timber production.
      The decision brings to an end more than two years of discussions concerning involving Metsähallitus, the Finnish League for Nature Protection, and the WWF.
     
The move does not include forests in the northern part of Finnish Lapland, which have been the focus of a conservation dispute involving Greenpeace and local reindeer herders.
      Metsähallitus announced on Friday that the temporary restrictions on cutting trees in the 90,000 hectare area demanded by Greenpeace would be cancelled, and that felling would resume in August according to original plans.
     
Timo Tanninen, secretary-general of the Finnish section of the international conservation organisation WWF, said that the unilateral decision by Metsähallitus to protect the forests was a surprise in the ongoing debate.
      "As a process this has been unique. It has strengthened faith in the power of negotiations, even though we know that much time has passed. We hope that this is not the final word, and that we could return to the negotiating table", he says.
      Local wood users have sharply criticised the decision, saying that it could lead to a shortage of logs and put up to 200 jobs at risk either directly or indirectly.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  WWF claims Finnish forest service violates its own felling guidelines (16.2.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat