Mykkänen to meet forestry sector leaders in Finland to discuss environmental practices

Environment and Climate Minister Kai Mykkänen will meet key players in the forestry sector tomorrow to discuss improving industry practices. Invited participants include representatives from major companies such as UPM, Metsä Group, Stora Enso, Tervakoski, Versowood, Kuhmo, and Sappi Finland, along with Metsähallitus and the chairman of the Sawmill Industry Association.

Recent incidents highlighted the need for this discussion. In mid-August, thousands of freshwater mussels, or “naiads,” were found dead in Hukkajoki, Suomussalmi, after Stora Enso’s machinery crossed the river. Another environmental incident occurred in Puolanka at a Stora Enso logging site.

During the meeting, Mykkänen aims to gain clarity from the largest timber buyers and industry players on how they will operate moving forward to ensure legal compliance and accountability throughout the supply chain. Violations of buffer zone recommendations have been controversial, with the environmental organization Greenpeace criticizing Metsähallitus for not establishing adequate protective zones near the mussel river in Kainuu.

Metsähallitus maintains it has adhered to its environmental guidelines by leaving a buffer zone of approximately 10-15 meters along the riverbank, in addition to a 40-meter area where no land cultivation is conducted. In contrast, the Forestry Center recommends a 45-meter buffer with no forestry operations. Mykkänen has proposed a 50-meter buffer for mussel rivers, a target that major forestry companies have committed to meeting.

Metsähallitus’ forestry usage director, Hannu Lehtonen, noted that experts agree buffer sizes should vary based on the environmental context, emphasizing the importance of preventing harmful materials from entering water bodies. Mykkänen has also initiated an assessment of potential measures to prevent future large-scale damage, which could include stricter penalties or an expanded definition of natural damage.