Taking nature thinking a step further

The principles aim to strengthen the state of nature – merely safeguarding the present state is not enough. Economic growth must no longer weaken the state of nature.

Compared to previous approaches, regenerative forestry includes three new elements, says Timo Lehesvirta, Metsä Group’s leading nature expert, using a metaphor to clarify what he means.

“We are not reinventing the wheel but checking the tyres.”

First, in regenerative forestry, measurements and studies are used to demonstrate that the state of forest nature is improving. While similar measures have been adopted since the 1990s, including the establishment of forest certification systems, the measures’ impacts have not been verified.

“We are now setting targets that will be measured,” Lehesvirta says.

Second, wood production is not the only forest benefit that is measured. The forest and nature in general provide various ecosystem services; that is, something that benefits people but does not involve wood trade. Examples of ecosystem services include carbon sinks, clean water, berries, mushrooms, recreation and the prevention of erosion.

“You can ask a forest owner what kind of forest they want, or you can reformulate the question and ask what kinds of ecosystem services they want their forest to provide,” Lehesvirta says.

The third change is that proof of regenerative forestry will be included in Metsä Group’s products in the future. What this means is, for example, that Kerto® LVL or pulp packages will come with a QR code that provides access to a page that confirms the product has been produced in accordance with regenerative forestry principles. The link also provides information about the impacts of regenerative forestry on forest nature.

Lehesvirta says that current forest certificates can also be equipped with a similar QR code if required. The difference is that certificates demonstrate the measures adopted in the forest, but they do not indicate how the measures have affected forest nature and improved its state.

“In future, information about all the external and environmental impacts that the wood has had in the forest will be supplied with the product.”