Protecting species

Approximately 43,000 species of flora, fauna and fungi can be found in Finland. The Nature Conservation Act automatically protects all species of birds and mammals not specifically listed as game species or unprotected species in the Hunting Act. Some game animals are additionally protected under the Hunting Decree. The Nature Conservation Decree also protects 44 animal species from other species groups, as well as 131 vascular plants and 7 mosses. 
Species may also be legally defined as threatened or in need of special protection. Where many species are concerned, conservation work in Finland involves co-operation between volunteer naturalists, conservation organisations, professional researchers and the authorities. Examples of such work include schemes designed to protect white-tailed eagles, white-backed woodpeckers, Saimaa ringed seals and grey seals.
Protection of EU Habitats and Birds Directive species
A total of 83 animal species and 46 plant species listed in Annexes II, IV and V of the EU Habitats Directive are found in Finland. In addition three plant genera are mentioned in Annex V. In Annex I of the EU Birds Directive 62 bird species are listed.
Exceptions have been granted in Finland regarding certain species for which special areas of conservation would normally need to be designated according to Annex II of the Habitats Directive. These species include the European beaver, the wolf, the brown bear, the lynx and all six fish species.
In areas where reindeer husbandry is practised, the European beaver and the wolf are also exempted from the strict protection normally given to them under Annex IV of the Habitats Directive. Instead, the requirements of Annex V are applied to these species, meaning that steps must be taken to ensure that their favourable conservation status is not endangered.
Predators
The wolf and the wolverine are both listed according to the criteria of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as endangered in Finland. In 2005, there were estimated to be 190-210 wolves and 135-140 (in 2004) wolverines in Finland. The lynx and the brown bear are classed as near threatened. There were thought to be around 1 150-1 200 lynxes and 930-975 bears in Finland in 2005.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry controls the numbers of predators in Finland through hunting legislation. Within regional quotas set by the ministry, game management districts may grant permits for the hunting during the hunting season of lynxes, wolves, otters or bears that have caused damage, where no other solution to these problems can be found, and as long as this hunting does not endanger the species' favourable conservation status.

- Source: www.ymparisto/fi - Updated 10.1.2009/Ministry of Environment.

Habitat types protected under the Nature Conservation Act

The following natural habitat types are protected under Finland’s Nature Conservation Act: broad-leaved woods, hazel woods, black alder swamps, sandy shores, coastal meadows, dunes, juniper meadows, wooded meadows, and large trees in open landscapes. These habitats are scarce, and often small-scale, but nevertheless valuable in terms of their biodiversity or their landscape value.
By November 2006, a total of 1,060 forest sites, 245 shore sites and coastal meadows, as well as 16 cultural landscapes fulfilled the criteria of the Nature Conservation Act (Section 29). The total area of these sites was 2006 about 3,000 ha.
Around 780 areas of natural habitat with a total area of some 1,500 hectares – mainly consisting of broad-leaved woodland – have already been designated for protection in order to preserve their characteristic natural features.
The aim is not necessarily to keep these areas untouched, however, as in many cases habitats have to be carefully managed to preserve their valuable features.
The Forest Act additionally safeguards the characteristic natural features of seven key forest habitat types, while four aquatic habitat types are protected under the Water Act.
Habitats protected under the EU Habitats Directive
A total of 69 habitats listed as important in the European Union’s Habitats Directive can be found in Finland, including marine habitats around Baltic Sea and its shores, inland waters, mires, forests, rocky areas, arctic fells and meadows. Such areas are protected through their inclusion in the Natura 2000 European network of protected areas.
Assessment of threatened habitats
The Finnish Environment Institute has prepared the first Red List of habitat types in Finland and assessed the changes that have occurred in the last fifty years.
Habitat monitoring
The monitoring of habitat types listed for protection in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive is being planned right across Europe. Monitoring will in future be based on improved national monitoring capabilities, as well as the continuation of existing schemes. The habitats directive stipulates that the conservation status of all listed habitat types should be monitored, with the results reported to the EU Commission every six years.

- Source: www.ymparisto/fi - Updated 6.6.2009/Ministry of Environment.