Finland’s laws allow logging of even thousand-year-old forests

Private forest owners in Finland can legally clear-cut ancient forests, even when they host endangered species, as current protections are minimal and voluntary, Yle reports.

A dispute in Kärsämäki, northern Finland, highlights the conflict: a local parish has begun logging a 120-year-old forest on Latvakangas hill to fund a new mortuary, despite opposition from residents and environmental groups. While the forest is ecologically valuable—hosting rare species—its clearance is entirely legal under Finnish law.

Finnish regulations permit logging unless the forest falls under narrow exceptions, such as protected habitat types or active nests of certain species. Age alone, even if the forest is centuries old, does not grant automatic protection. The country has pledged to the EU to safeguard old-growth forests but sets such strict criteria for “ancient” or “natural” status that few areas qualify. For private lands, conservation depends solely on the owner’s willingness.

Financial incentives exist—such as the state-funded Metso programme, which offers tax-free compensation for voluntary protection—but uptake remains low. Some owners prefer long-term revenue from timber over one-time payments. Others oppose conservation on principle, viewing industrial forestry as superior management. Fear of forced protection also drives preemptive logging, as landowners clear valuable forests before potential restrictions.

The core challenge, analysts note, is making voluntary conservation more appealing than exploitation. Without stronger incentives or legal changes, Finland’s remaining old-growth forests—already dwindling—face continued decline.