In Finland the share of forested land area is the highest in Europe. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization it is 73 percent. Forests are mainly owned by ordinary Finnish families, but the holdings are small and their borders are not visible in the nature. The settlements and agricultural areas form only patches in a continuous forest landscape. Open agricultural landscapes can be seen only in Ostrobothnia and South-Western Finland.

Roughly two per cent of commercial forests are harvested annually. Half of that are thinnings and the rest is felled for regeneration. The average area of felling for regeneration is less than two hectares. Nearly all Finns live within 50 kilometres distance from strictly protected forests.