Success of METSO Programme boosts transition to next programme period
The Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO has established its position as part of nature conservation in Finland. The programme has developed a high-quality network of protected areas that already covers almost 100,000 hectares. The closing seminar of the programme period 2008–2025 presented some of the success stories of the widely appreciated METSO Programme.
The seminar reflected on both the early stages of the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO and its current activities. The METSO Programme was launched in the early 2000s, with the aim to respond to the challenges of that time. The process was based on the disputes related to the establishment of the Natura 2000 network, which in the public discussion led to both concerns about the biodiversity of forest nature and reservations concerning actions by the authorities.
The METSO Programme changed the whole setting as the initiator’s role in nature conservation was given to the landowners. The programme was based on voluntary action and the power to make decisions rested with the landowners, which created trust among the stakeholders.
“The METSO Programme has been widely accepted in society, which has been the key factor for its success. Nature conservation became a common goal for us all, and the awareness of biodiversity has also grown,” Minister of the Climate and the Environment Sari Multala said in her opening speech.
The METSO Programme has been a success, but alone it will not save forest nature from biodiversity loss. Multala stressed that private financing will be needed to complement public financing. As one example of this, the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry are leading a process to develop a market for ecosystem services. The ecosystem services market offers a promising way to attract private investments to measures that promote biodiversity.
“Besides the current measures, we need new means to halt biodiversity loss, and the whole society to contribute to the work for nature. The social acceptability built through the collaboration and voluntary action under the METSO Programme offers a solid basis to succeed with new methods as well,” Multala said.
Interaction and equality as strengths of METSO Programme
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah also stressed the important role of the METSO Programme in getting various stakeholders from the forest sector to nature conservation organisations to work for a common goal in an interactive and equitable way.
“Through the METSO Programme the forest owners’ demands related to conservation have been steered smoothly across organisational and administrative boundaries and on a voluntary basis to what is best suited for each landowner,” Minister Essayah said.
Preparations are now under way for the next period of the METSO Programme, and the aim is to get the work under it started without interruptions in 2026.
“It has also been a great pleasure to speak about the experiences gained from the METSO Programme to my international colleagues. Forest protection can truly be promoted on a voluntary basis in a way that takes into account the objectives of landowners and property rights,” Minister Essayah said.
The presentations by the implementers, scientists and other experts at the closing seminar of the programme period discussed the METSO Programme from many different perspectives.
Inquiries:
Lyydia Ylönen
Special Adviser to Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala
Ministry of the Environment
tel. +358 50 476 1341
[email protected]
Tapio Luoma-aho
Special Adviser to Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah
tel. +358 50 472 7040
[email protected]
Esa Pynnönen
Senior Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of the Environment
[email protected]
tel. +358 295 250 386
Ville Schildt
Senior Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
[email protected]
tel. +358 295 162 190