Imatra ends self-service firewood collection in city forests

The city of Imatra has ended its long-standing practice of allowing residents to collect fallen trees for firewood in municipal forests, citing safety concerns and legal responsibilities, Yle reports.

Imatra was among the last Finnish cities to permit residents to fell dead trees or gather storm-damaged wood from city-owned forests for personal use. The practice, once common nationwide, had already been phased out in most municipalities—including Lahti in 2015—after workplace safety authorities intervened in the early 2000s.

City officials now argue that Imatra’s continued allowance of self-service firewood collection had become an outdated exception. Under current regulations, the municipality would be legally liable for accidents involving wood gatherers, said Erik Forstén, Imatra’s land use director. The city would also be required to provide safety training, enforce protective gear, and obtain permits for each collection event—measures deemed impractical and costly.

Environmental protections further restrict the practice. Forest certification standards now mandate leaving deadwood in place as critical habitat for species, while proposed amendments to the Forest Act would criminalise disturbances—including wood collection—during the bird nesting season (15 April–15 July). Felling hollow trees used by nesting birds could also violate nature conservation laws.

From autumn 2025, Imatra’s forest management will be outsourced to Careliaforest Consulting, with professional loggers handling all tree felling and maintenance.