UPM Pulp Matters 2/2023

The certification system lies at the heart of sustainable forestry in Finland.

C oniferous forests blanket vast territories in countries like Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States. anada and the US account for over 15% of the world’s forests. Finland and Sweden both have forest coverage over 70%, making them the most heavily forested countries in Europe. The forestry sector balances seemingly conflicting pressures. On the one hand, forests act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide. They are indispensable in the green transition, serving as sources for biofuels and materials to replace fossil based plastics. Innovations for textiles and the medical industry also originate from forests. On the other hand, global economic growth, particularly in developing countries, population growth, and urbanisation have spurred global demand for forest industry products. The challenge lies in protecting the forests for the health of people and our planet while utilising trees as a renewable material source. How are these two objectives reconciled? Antti Asikainen is the Executive Vice President of research at the Natural Resources Institute of Finland and chairman of the Finnish Forest Economy Science Panel. He emphasises the interconnectedness of climate, environment and economic issues.

“A combination of measures is needed to reach multiple objectives. We must enhance forest growth by optimising density and renewal and implementing biodiversity- enhancing measures. Both approaches are imperative to ensure a sustainable supply of industrial wood, but also to address climate and biodiversity concerns,” Asikainen explains. UPM took its first steps in the 1990s with the original biodiversity programme. The company is committed to creating a net positive impact on biodiversity in the UPM-owned Finnish forests and plantations in Uruguay by 2030. UPM is also implementing its Forest Action programme, a framework which combines forest responsibility actions and goals on climate, biodiversity, water, soil and social contribution. F inland is an interesting case for researchers and scientists, having gathered forest data for over a century. Statistics illustrate how diversifying tree species or incorporating retention trees and decaying wood influences the health, growth and biodiversity of forests. Overall, it is evident that a healthy, sustainably managed forest is more productive and grows faster. At the heart of sustainable forestry in Finland lies the certification system. Since

Antti Asikainen, Executive Vice President, Research, Natural Resources Institute Finland

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