At the beginning of summer, the criteria for the protection of old and primeval forests were published. An inventory is being taken, although a final decision on the criteria has not yet been made.
During two growing seasons, it is planned to map up to 250,000 hectares of state forests with the help of 50 people.
Eeva-Liisa Jorri, regional manager of Metsähallitus Metsätalous Oy, tells MTV news: "We collect measurement information to support decision-making, and then when the criteria are known, we look at which properties meet those criteria, and which are not".
Metsähallitus Metsätalous Oy is a subsidiary of Metsähallitus, which manages and uses PEFC-certified state forests.
The government has undertaken to protect the remnants of national state forests that meet the criteria of naturalness and antiquity.
Conservation organizations consider these criteria too strict to grant the forest protected status.
Based on the results of the inventory, the Metsähallitus board will make a proposal to the government about the areas that should be protected.
