Protection of species and habitat types

The protection of species and habitat types is in a key position for preserving biodiversity. According to the latest assessment of threatened species, the Red List, every ninth species in Finland is already threatened. Of the habitat types, one in two is threatened.

In Finland, the decline of biodiversity is primarily caused by changes in forest habitats, such as the regeneration and management of forests and the loss of old-growth forests, large trees and decaying wood. The second most important cause for the endangerment of species are eutrophication and the overgrowth of open habitats. Climate change has a particularly strong impact on the endangerment of fell species and poses a major threat for the future.

Protection of species

The aim of the protection of species is to preserve viable populations of indigenous and established species in their natural ranges.
Of the about 48,000 species in Finland, a little more than 22,000 are known well enough to assess their threat status. One out of nine of the Finnish species covered by the assessment are threatened. The threat status assessment carried out in Finland (Red List for Finnish species) is among the most comprehensive ones in the world.

Provisions on the protection of species are laid down in the Nature Conservation Act. A species may be protected under the Act or it may be designated as threatened or as a species subject to special conservation measures by decree.

The provisions of the European Union concerning the protection of species require that species and their habitats are protected and hunting and other exploitation are regulated. The deterioration of the breeding sites or resting places of the most strictly protected species is prohibited.

Where necessary, environmental administration will take action for a species to reach a favourable conservation status. The conservation status is favourable when the species maintains itself on a long-term basis in its natural habitat and the natural range of the species is not being reduced. In addition, there must be enough habitats to ensure the preservation of the population in the long term.

The Finnish Environment Institute collects and evaluates data on changes in species, together with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Metsähallitus, universities and other research institutions, and environmental organisations.

Protection of habitat types

Habitats are land or water areas with certain environmental conditions and a characteristic flora and fauna. The protection of habitat types safeguards biodiversity and preserves the habitats of different species. Habitat types are protected by legislation and international agreements, both in national parks and strict nature reserves.

According to the assessment of threatened habitat types in Finland, the Red List of Habitats (2018), about half of Finland’s habitat types (48%) are threatened. The Red List presents an assessment of almost 400 habitat types that represent the eight main groups of the Finnish habitat types: The Baltic Sea, the Baltic Sea coast, inland waters and shores, mires, forests, rock outcrops and scree, semi-natural grasslands and wooded pastures, and fell habitats.

Finland’s habitat types

In Finland there are 13 habitat types that are conserved under the Nature Conservation Act. The occurrence of a conserved habitat type that is in its natural state or in a state comparable to a natural state may not be destroyed or caused to deteriorate. The prohibition enters into force once the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment has made the decision on the boundaries of the occurrence of the habitat type and the owners and occupants of the site have been notified of the decision. Most of the conserved habitat types under the Nature Conservation Act are forest stands with deciduous (hardwood) trees. The other habitat types conserved under the Nature Conservation Act are sand beaches, hazel (Corylus avellana) scrubs, black alder (Alnus glutinosa) forests, seashore meadows, pollard meadows, dry meadows, coastal wooded dunes, inland flooded forests, sunlit slopes of esker forests, benthic habitats characterised by Zostera marina, sheltered benthic habitats characterised by Charales, and calcareous rock outcrops.

In addition, the Nature Conservation Act designates two habitat types, coastal open dunes and serpentine and rock outcrops and scree land surface, as strictly protected. Strictly protected habitat types may not be destroyed or caused to deteriorate, and the prohibition of deterioration is in force by virtue of the Nature Conservation Act without a separate decision.

Annex I to the Habitats Directive of the European Union includes 69 valuable habitat types occurring in Finland, of which 22 are priority habitats. Natura 2000 areas have been designated to protect these habitat types.

The Forest Act specifies seven habitats of particular importance and the Water Act four types of small water bodies where measures that endanger their natural state are prohibited.

Besides the protected areas, habitat types can be preserved by using natural resources sustainably and by taking habitat types into account in land use planning. The state of habitat types that have already been altered can be improved through nature management and restoration.

The Ministry of the Environment has adopted an action plan for improving the state of threatened habitat types in Finland.

Habitat types are also improved under the Helmi Habitats Programme launched by the Ministry of the Environment. The measures included in the programme concern the protection and rehabilitation of mires, restoration of bird waters and wetlands, management of semi-natural grasslands and wooded habitats, and rehabilitation of shore and aquatic environments.

Action plan for improving the state of threatened habitat types

The action plan for improving the state of threatened habitat types in Finland was adopted in 2008. The plan was drawn up by the Finnish Environment Institute, commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment.

The objective of the action plan is to prevent any deterioration in the threat status of habitat types by 2020 and to use effective measures to improve the status of threatened habitats.

The measures to reach the objectives include:

  • improving the quality of information on habitat types and the information systems concerning these
  • supplementing the range of means for preserving, managing and restoring habitats
  • developing financial incentives and steering instruments for the use of land areas and natural resources
  • monitoring the status of habitat types and assessing the effectiveness of the measures.

Further information

Esko Hyvärinen, Senior Ministerial Adviser 
Ministry of the Environment, Department of the Natural Environment, Biodiversity Telephone:0295250094   Email Address: