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The Finnish Forest Centre has announced a significant decrease in reported cases of illegal logging in recent years. The state-funded organization introduced the use of satellite images in 2019 to detect unauthorized logging activities that do not comply with the Forest Act. Special attention has been given to logging near bodies of water.

In 2020, the Forest Centre identified almost 300 instances of suspected violations of forest laws. However, by 2021, this number had decreased to 183. Last year, there were 130 detected cases, with 48 undergoing police investigation and 17 resulting in fines. This decline in reported infringements is attributed to effective monitoring, improved systems and practices by forest operators, and better compliance with legal obligations.

Proactive monitoring has also helped protect areas of special importance under the Forest Act, including habitats of endangered species and archaeological sites. The Forest Centre informs landowners, logging right-holders, and relevant authorities about these areas prior to any logging activity. Each year, 125,000 notifications of forest use activity are submitted to authorities, and last year, over 20,000 notifications received proactive monitoring-related guidance.

Additionally, pre-felling field inspections are conducted as part of proactive monitoring. These inspections provide advice to forest owners and operators on sustainable land management practices. In 2020, 570 such inspections were carried out.

A recent study has highlighted a concerning trend in Finland where declining forest growth has reduced the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide. Forests play a crucial role in helping Finland achieve its climate goals by acting as a carbon sink for unavoidable emissions.

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