The Finnish lynx population has developed favourably. The current management guidelines have been found to be working well and there is no reason to significantly alter them. The main aims of the management activities are: to maintain a robust yet shy lynx population that steers clear of people; to minimise the damages caused by lynxes; and to increase people's lynx awareness. Basically, the management plan aims to allow the coexistence of lynxes and local humans.
Finland is divided into two large regions for the purposes of lynx population management: the reindeer herding area in the north of the country and the rest of Finland. In the reindeer herding area the lynx population will be kept at current levels while ensuring that lynxes may move freely between Scandinavia and Russia. Exceptional hunting permits are issued specifically for individual lynxes that harm reindeer. The goal in the rest of Finland is to establish a robust lynx population that allows the natural spreading of the species.
The development of the lynx population living south of the reindeer herding area is controlled by hunting.