In their new programme for sustainable forestry Finnish private forest owners emphasize the importance of forestry for the viability of rural areas. They also underscore the importance of profitable forestry for maintaining biodiversity in nature.
The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, MTK, that is also the interest group of Finnish private forest owners, has published a programme for sustainable family forestry. This program is an update of the previous programme for forest biodiversity from the year 2000. The new program supplements the previous one by emphasizing that forestry must also be socially and financially sustainable.

Mr Pekka Hintikka, who is a member of MTK's forestry board and chairman of the working group preparing the programme says that in the future family forest owners want to emphasize sustainable forestry instead of only one aspect of it, namely natural biodiversity. In his view this new aspect must be taken into account also for the reason that taking care of biodiversity is not possible without other aspects of sustainability, such as profitable forestry.
Recommendations to forest owners
MTK's programme for sustainable forestry contains guidelines for forest owners how to achieve sustainability in their forest management. The programme does not contain any detailed instructions for forest management, but rather guidelines for promoting sustainability in family forestry.
The purpose is to provide forest owners with opportunities for forest management and exploitation that are in conformity with their own values and aspirations, however within the framework of existing legislation and principles for sustainable forestry. Forest owners' personal aims determine how they will ensure sustainable forestry in practice and what alternatives they opt for in their own operations.
Recommendations to society
Family forest owners ensure sustainable forest management and they provide a large number of products and services to society. In return forest owners expect respect for their right of decision making concerning their own forests and that current prices shall be paid for their products and services. Only financially profitable forestry can enable forest owners to take care of the conservation measures and the investments necessary for sustainable forestry.
The programme contains a compilation of initiatives how other parts of society can support sustainable forestry, as well as secure all the other benefits that forestry provides to society at large. One such new initiative is trade in recreational values that will be implemented in the same manner as trade in natural values.
For more information: Forestry Specialist Ms Lea Jylhä, MTK This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.