Finland excludes contentious boreal old-growth forests from restoration plan

Finland has left boreal old-growth forests out of its draft restoration plan due to unresolved disagreements, state broadcaster Yle reports.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry proposed reducing the area of forests to be restored by 65%, which would have excluded about 78,000 hectares from protection. The Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Environment Institute opposed the change, arguing it would weaken biodiversity.

Boreal old-growth forests are a priority habitat under EU restoration rules, and Finland holds special responsibility for their protection. The country will continue negotiations with the European Commission on their inclusion.

A public consultation on the plan runs until 27 August, though the original deadline to submit the proposal to the Commission by 1 September will not be met.