Metsä Group to launch foundation for the conservation of forests with high ecological value

In an effort to strengthen the protection of forest areas with significant ecological value, Metsä Group has announced the creation of a new conservation foundation. The initiative will complement existing protection programs and provide financial compensation to forest owners for land with conservation potential.

The foundation will be officially established in the autumn of 2025 and begin operations in early 2026. It is designed to enhance the services already offered by Metsä Group, providing forest owners with more options to contribute to biodiversity preservation. The foundation will focus on the permanent protection of forests with high natural value, thereby reinforcing the country’s conservation network.

Metsä Group’s greatest impact on biodiversity occurs in commercial forests. To mitigate this, the company promotes regenerative forestry practices, such as the Metsä Group Plus management model, which aims to improve the ecological state of these areas.

The creation of the foundation is part of a broader effort to promote biodiversity. In addition to long-term protection, the new entity will include a funding program for nature-related projects, particularly those located outside commercial forest areas.

 

“We already encourage forest owners to take advantage of the voluntary METSO forest protection program. The foundation to be established will complement existing conservation programmes. Through our foundation, it is also possible to protect sites that do not currently have funding available for their protection”, says Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group.

The foundation will allow landowners to receive financial compensation even for areas that are not viable for wood harvesting. Conservation criteria will be defined based on environmental considerations, and protection decisions will be permanent. Conservation measures can be applied throughout Finland and are not limited to forests owned by Metsä Group members.

To support its initial activities, €10 million in funding authorisations have already been reserved. The foundation will also be open to direct donations from owner-members and other interested parties.

“In order to strengthen the state of forest nature, we need both forest protection and the development of forestry activities. Our country’s climate will warm significantly in the forecasts over the next few decades. Biodiversity improves the health of forests and their adaptation to a changing climate, and thus also brings economic security”, Hämälä concludes.