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Reported cases of illegal logging in Finland have significantly decreased in recent years, thanks to effective monitoring by the Finnish Forest Centre. The state-funded organization has been using satellite images since 2019 to detect unauthorized logging activity that is not compliant with the Forest Act. Special attention is given to logging near bodies of water.

In 2020, the Forest Centre identified nearly 300 instances of suspected forest law violations. However, by 2021, these violations had already decreased to 183. Last year, there were 130 detected cases, with 48 undergoing police investigation and 17 resulting in fines.

The decreasing number of reported infringements is attributed to effective monitoring, improvements in systems and practices by forest operators, and better adherence to legal obligations during the planning stage. The Forest Centre’s advice and proactive control have played a significant role in this improvement.

Proactive monitoring has also helped protect areas of special importance under the Forest Act, such as habitats of endangered species and archeological sites. The Forest Centre informs landowners, logging right-holders, and relevant authorities about these areas before any logging activity takes place. Around 125,000 notifications of forest use activity are submitted to authorities each year, with over 20,000 receiving proactive monitoring-related guidance from the Forest Centre in 2020.

In addition to monitoring, the Forest Centre conducts pre-felling field inspections, where forest owners and operators are advised on sustainable land management practices. In 2020, 570 such inspections were carried out.

It is important to note that Finland’s forests are facing challenges in carbon absorption due to declining forest growth. Forests play a crucial role in achieving the country’s climate goals by acting as a carbon sink for unavoidable emissions.

Efforts to reduce illegal logging and protect the integrity of Finland’s forests are essential for preserving their environmental and ecological value.

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