The project was coordinated by the Forestry Development Centre Tapio.
Improved location information
The new operating model will enable forestry actors to retrieve location information on the occurrence of threatened species from the Finnish Environment Institute’s database.
This data can be coupled with the forestry actor’s own location information systems, making it easier to plan forest management measures in a way that takes account of the needs of threatened species. The operating model is based on voluntary participation.
Makes planning easier
Information on threatened species has already been taken into account in forest management and timber harvesting for a long time, but the establishment of a uniform database will facilitate planning.
“It is good that concrete tools, which help take better account of threatened species in everyday work, are finally available for forestry planners,” says Biologist Suvi Raivio of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
“Earlier, forest owners or the holders of logging rights learned about the presence of threatened species much too late, preventing them from taking this into consideration when planning their work. Now they can get information about the occurrence of threatened species within a forest estate well in advance, and learn about measures with which these plants and animals can be protected.”
Database maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute
The Finnish Environment Institute maintains the threatened species database, which will be used to supply information on about 600 threatened and primarily forest-dwelling species to organisations interested in this cooperation.
The database includes observations made since 1990 on vascular plants, mosses, lichens, beetles and polypores. Mammals and birds are not included in the material because of insufficient data on their occurrence. The Siberian flying squirrel was left out of the database also because functional management practices already exist for this mammal.
The environmental administration’s website hosts descriptions, management instructions and other information on the included species. The website details information on how threatened each species is as well as facts about its identification, habitat and threat factors. Management guidelines are also summarised for each species.
The recent 2010 assessment of threatened species in Finland shows that forest management practices, e.g. leaving retention trees on a cutting area, have already benefitted some threatened species, especially beetles.
Biologist Suvi Raivio, PhD, Senior Adviser (Biodiversity), Finnish Forest Industries Federation,
tel. +358 9 132 6671, +358 40 521 6216