Metsähallitus reached both its financial and operational targets in 2024. The profit for 2024 was almost EUR 180 million. Metsähallitus plays an important role in safeguarding biodiversity and promoting the achievement of Finland’s climate targets. State-owned lands and waters also produce many types of wellbeing, and Metsähallitus’ operations have significant impacts on regional economies.
Metsähallitus had a turnover totalling EUR 485.2 million (EUR 435 million in 2023) and turned a profit of EUR 179.8 million (EUR 142 million). The good business result was mainly due to strong demand for and high price of timber. EUR 110 million of Metsähallitus’ profit was entered as revenue for the State in 2024.
“Biodiversity, recreational use, reindeer husbandry and safeguarding the Sámi culture are taken into account by fully or partly excluding sites from commercial use. Metsähallitus’ inputs in these societal benefits totalled EUR 117 million, of which EUR 84 million was spent on fostering biodiversity,” reports Juha S. Niemelä, Director General of Metsähallitus.
Economic uncertainty slowed down the sale of sites and the launch of new wind power projects. Towards the end of the year, a large land deal for a potential data centre investment was concluded with Google. This deal is a good example of how state-owned areas can be used as drivers of green growth while creating positive regional impacts.
Forest management has multiple objectives
A total of 6.5 million m3 of timber was harvested in state-owned multiple-use forests, representing around one half of the annual forest growth of 12.6 million m3. A sustainable felling plan for state-owned forests is defined in regional natural resource plans in cooperation with stakeholders. The plans factor in the long-term development of forest resources and other objectives set for state-owned forests associated with such aspects as biodiversity, recreational use and climate objectives. While the carbon sink in state forests has been reduced especially by the slower growth of forests and more accurate input data and calculation methods, it remains significant.
“We are currently updating our Climate programme, and in this context we will determine if additional measures are needed to strengthen the carbon sinks in state-owned forests,” says Niemelä.
Wind power project development helps achieve Finland’s climate targets
Metsähallitus continued to develop renewable energy projects in state-owned land and sea areas in 2024. At the end of 2024, more than 2,000 GWh of wind power was produced on state lands.
“Over the longer term, the volumes of wind power and other renewable energy generated in state-owned areas will increase, producing a significant amount of fossil-free energy and promoting the achievement of Finland’s climate targets,” Niemelä explains.
Action for biodiversity
Metsähallitus plays an important role in fostering biodiversity and implementing the Helmi habitat programme. In 2024, restoration and nature management measures were carried out in both protected areas and multiple-use forests across more than 11,000 hectares in total.
“We will continue to actively promote biodiversity this year, focusing especially in stream restoration,” Niemelä says.
Launched last summer, inventories of primary and old-growth forests will continue in summer 2025. The inventory data will be used to prepare a proposal on protecting the state’s primary and old-growth forests.
Nature and wilderness excursions remain popular
Parks & Wildlife Finland’s state budget funding has been reduced, as a result of which hiking services will also be cut. The activities have simultaneously been developed by introducing a new operating model and investing in the use of digitalisation, in particular.
Hiking, hunting and fishing remained as popular as ever. A total of 8.6 million visits were made to national parks and other Metsähallitus’ outdoor destinations, and permit customers spent more than 0.5 million days hunting and fishing in state-owned areas. The new digital service channels launched in late 2024, Eräluvat.fi and Luontoon.fi, make planning nature excursions and purchasing hunting and fishing permits easier than ever.
New strategy promotes societal objectives
Expectations placed on state-owned areas are reconciled in regional natural resource plans, which are drawn up in collaboration with stakeholders. An update of the plan for activities on state-owned lands in Southern Finland will be completed this spring. The preparation of a natural resource plan for Lapland will begin this year.
Metsähallitus’ new strategy was published towards the end of the year. The strategy sets four societal objectives that Metsähallitus seeks to influence through its work: green growth, a carbon-neutral Finland, welfare of nature and wellbeing of humans. State-owned lands and waters will play a key role in achieving all these objectives.
Further information:
Juha S. Niemelä, Director General, email: juha.niemela(at)metsa.fi, tel. +358 50 5003681
Henrik Jansson, Executive Director, Parks & Wildlife Finland, email: henrik.jansson(at)metsa.fi, tel. +358 400 328 759
Jussi Kumpula, Managing Director, Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd, email: jussi.kumpula(at)metsa.fi, tel. +358 400 388614
Otto Swanljung, Director, Real Estate Development, email: otto.swanljung(at)metsa.fi, tel. +358 40 5601715
Vesa Ruusila, Director of Game and Fisheries, email: vesa.ruusila(at)metsa.fi, tel. +358 40 8406877