Finland’s state forest agency sells off national park properties to cut costs

Finland’s state-owned forest and park agency Metsähallitus is selling off visitor centers and other properties in national parks, including sites in Nuuksio, Syöte, and Pyhä-Luosto, as part of a €15 million cost-cutting drive by 2027, Yle reports.

The first major sale was Hossa National Park’s visitor center, purchased by local entrepreneur Timo Korhonen, whose company Experience KL Oy has operated in the area for 13 years. Korhonen’s firm took over the center’s operations late last year, including unpaid visitor guidance services he considers essential.

“People still come asking where to go and what to do,” Korhonen said. “We can’t just tell them to look it up online. It’s our job to help.”

Over 30 additional properties remain on the market, among them the visitor centers at Syöte and Pyhä-Luosto. The municipality of Liminka has already acquired the Liminganlahti visitor center, while negotiations for Kilpisjärvi’s center are underway with Enontekiö municipality. In the Helsinki region, the Högbacka buildings in Nuuksio National Park are also listed, pending a legislative change to exclude them from park protections.

Metsähallitus, which manages roughly 2,400 buildings nationwide, is reviewing 15% of its portfolio to reduce ownership costs. The agency’s nature services director, Tiina Hakkarainen, confirmed the sales are critical to meeting savings targets.

“There’s no other way to reach €15 million in cuts,” Hakkarainen stated.

Sales inquiries for Syöte’s visitor center have been received, according to property sales specialist Jukka-Pekka Friman. The agency began intensified divestment efforts in late 2024 with productivity funding from the Ministry of Finance.