Central Finland, 2024
During a site inspection by the Finnish Forest Centre, it was found that the buffer zone around a spring (a habitat of special importance under the Forest Act) had been left too narrow during harvesting over an area of approximately 0.02 hectares. In our internal review, we have identified shortcomings in the planning of harvesting and in the flow of information. In addition, the location of the spring had been incorrectly marked on the base map and in the open forest asset data. Following the incident, we have developed the systems we use to avoid similar situations in the future.
North Ostrobothnia, 2024
Approximately seven hectares of thinning area outside the wood trade agreement were harvested, and there was no valid forest use notification. This was a technical error that did not lead to any environmental deviations.
Central Finland, 2024
During a post-harvesting site visit, a Metsä Group employee observed that a forest machine had crossed a natural rivulet. In our internal review, we have found shortcomings both in Metsä Group's harvesting guidelines and in the contracted entrepreneur's operations. The incident has been reported to the authorities by Metsä Group. The event is being investigated and the site restoration measures are being planned in cooperation with the authorities.
North Ostrobothnia, 2023
A small spring, difficult to discern, was found on a thinning site after felling. Springs are habitats of special importance under the Forest Act. As the spring had not been recorded in the Finnish Forest Centre’s forest asset data, Metsä Group did not have advance knowledge about it, which is why it was not mentioned in the harvesting instructions. The spring was not taken into account adequately during felling, and the rivulet flowing from the spring had been crossed.
Pirkanmaa, 2023
During Metsä Group's own site inspection, it was observed that the guidelines provided by the Pirkanmaa ELY Centre for an area in the Natura 2000 network had not been included in the harvesting instructions. Felling was carried out contrary to the ELY Centre’s guidelines in around two hectares of the Natura area: regeneration felling was carried out in selection cutting areas and areas in which treatment was prohibited. The herb-rich forests that were to be preserved had been marked off considerably smaller than agreed. In addition, machines were operated within the buffer zones for protected plants (Epipogium aphyllum, Micranthes nivalis). The incident was reported to the authorities by Metsä Group. Measures were taken to avoid additional damage after the mistake, and corrective action was taken as instructed by the ELY Centre. The employee who planned the felling had deviated from both Metsä Group’s procedural guidelines and the authorities’ instructions. The employee is no longer employed by Metsä Group.
North Ostrobothnia, 2023
Harvesting was carried out on a forest islet, which is a habitat of special importance under the Forest Act. In Metsä Group’s harvesting instructions, the area had been excluded from harvesting, but the forest owner had encouraged the harvester operator to act contrary to the wood trade agreement. When Metsä Group’s representative noticed this, harvesting was suspended, and the incident was immediately reported to the Forest Centre.
