FORESTS IN FINLAND,    FORESTS IN EUROPE

The number of plant and tree species in Finnish forests is small compared to the boreal zone in North America, or the temperate zone in Central Europe. This is because of the high European mountain ranges running east-west, which prevented the return of plants to the north after the last Ice Age about 10 000 years ago.
There are only four coniferous tree species native to Finland, and fewer than 30 deciduous trees and arborescent shrubs. The majority of forests in Finland are predominantly coniferous, with broadleaves often growing in mixed stands. Mixed forest stands and predominance of broadleaves are common in fresh mineral soil sites and upland forests with grass-herb vegetation. The most common species growing in mixed stands is downy birch.
Scots pine predominates on 66 % of forestland, spruce on 24 % and broadleaves on 9 %. Broadleaves, which are important to forest biodiversity and the soil and grow mostly in mixed stands, account for 20 % of the total volume of growing stock, which is clearly more than the total area of predominantly deciduous stands.

 Finnish birch forest (Metla/Erkki Oksanen)

Moose (Alces alces) (Metla/Erkki Oksanen)

Several carnivores can be found in Finland’s forest: the brown bear, the wolf, lynx and wolverine.  According to the latest evaluations there are about 1000 brown bears and at least 150 wolves in Finland. Game and reindeer management in Finland is practiced within the limits permitted by the sustainable use of natural resources. The most common game animals are elk, hare, grouse and waterfowl. The authorities and local game management associations in Finland safeguard the conditions for game in Finland by directing the diversified use and management of the natural resources on which they are based.