In Finland’s forest ownership structure, approximately three-quarters of commercial forests are privately owned. Metsämiesten Säätiö (Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation) commissioned Taloustutkimus Oy to conduct a study on what the more than 600,000 forest owners in Finland think about the public discussion on forests. Only a quarter are satisfied with the current forest discussion. The majority think that the forest discussion should address more forest owners, the economy, and employment. A clear majority of respondents believe that the intense forest discussion is caused by the general importance of forests to Finns, the strong relationship Finns have with forests, the conflicting goals related to forests, and the EU’s policy and preparation affecting forests.

Of the forest owners, 78% believe they should participate more in the forest discussion, as well as forestry professionals (64%) and forestry researchers (59%). 73% of forest owners believe that the forest discussion is not based on facts. Only 8% believe that nature itself benefits from the current forest discussion.

Link to the video and more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziXOdoVd3bI