National Forest Programme 2010 – Multiple Use of Forests.

The National Forest Programme 2010 is a strategic action plan approved by the Council of State. The programme aims to develop the management, use and protection of forests as one entity, as an extensive forest sector. The National Forest Programme is carried out through the measures of the regional forest programmes. The regional forest councils monitor the realisation of the aims and direct the activities. The significance of the programmes is measured through the practical work. In North Ostrobothnia, a clear link has been established between the forest programme and rural development. METSO is the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland that complements the National Forest Programme. METSO is looking for new solutions for ensuring biodiversity in addition to traditional conservation. There are about 15,000 forest estates in Kainuu out of which only about 1,200 still practice also agriculture or farming. When agriculture or farming ends other substituting sources of income must usually be found. More extensive utilisation of forestry and other secondary sources of income provide an opportunity for the estate to remain habited and in active use.
The National Forest Programme has the following focuses: Growth possibilities for the forest industry Profitable forestry that provides employment Good silviculture Securing of ecological sustainability Recreation and organic products out of the forests Strengthening of forest-related know-how Finland is active in international forest policy. In the future, work productivity must be raised by improving the work and planning methods. The Finnish Forest Research Institute has been given the task to study what is the share of ditched areas where the water economy remains balanced by mere fellings and which areas would require both ditch cleaning and fellings. This will require precise inventory of the ditched areas and creation of inventory criteria for the practical operators.
The role of current, comprehensive and accurate forest management planning data is crucially important when making decisions about the management and use of forests. The availability of current data improves the effect of advisory services, the quality of silviculture and cost-efficiency.
The operating environment of the forest sector has undergone many changes since 1999. The imports of roundwood into Finland have grown considerably and the roundwood markets and forest industry have become increasingly international. Issues such as climate change and biodiversity are becoming more and more important together with the social significance of forests and their impact on regional development. The EU as well as international treaties and negotiations concerning forests have an increasing effect also on the Finnish forest sector.