The purpose of this environmental report is to provide an overall picture of the quality and extent of the environmental effect of Finnish forestry, as well as of the management of these effects. The viewpoint includes more than just ecology: in line with the principles of sustainable development, an attempt is made to describe the economic and social impact of forestry as well.

The latest information included in the report concerns the year 2001, as later data is not yet available. The principal source of statistical information used is the Statistical Yearbook of Forestry published by the Finnish Forest Research Institute, the latest edition of which, concerning the year 2001, was issued at the turn of November-December 2002. The content of this environmental report is updated annually as soon as the data of the most recent Yearbook becomes available.

The report includes all aspects of Finnish forestry and the protection measures associated with it, regardless of forest ownership. Forestry includes silviculture and timber harvesting, as well as the maintenance of forestry sustainability. The long-distance transport of timber – by which we mean the further transport to the production facilities of timber which has been brought to intermediate storage, most commonly to the nearest logging road – and forest industry are excluded from this report, except where relevant.

The environmental report was compiled by the Finnish Forest Association. The report structure and text were produced by Hannes Mäntyranta, Communications Co-ordinator in the FFA. The layout of the start page and producing and design of the graphs are made by Graphic Designer Jaana Rautio / Gra. The web-pages are designed and produced by Harri Hypén in FFA. Background material for the report was collected by Pauliina Tiusanen and Heini Vihemäki, both MSc's (Forestry). The report support group included Juha Hakkarainen from the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK, Jarmo Hämäläinen from Metsäteho Oy, Jouko Kostamo from the Forest Development Centre Tapio, Kari Pelkonen from the Metsähallitus (Forest and Park Service), Susanna Sieppi from the Finnish Forest Industries Federation and Raili Voipio from the Finnish Forest Research Institute.

The environmental report was designed and produced by financial support of Finnish Forest Foundation.

Helsinki, 26 March 2004
Finnish Forest Association

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