The draft for the forest management policy will be available on the Kerro Kantasi service from 17 October to 6 November. The survey about the draft will ask for respondents’ views on biodiversity, forests’ sustainability and recreational use. How could the diversity of forests be maintained and increased? What should we do for forests to adapt to climate change and the impact of a growing city? How can we ensure that forests are safe for activities, and how do we preserve cultural and historical values in forest areas?
The policy applies to City-owned forest areas, excluding forests that Helsinki owns in the areas of other municipalities. The policy does not concern the nature reserves in Helsinki, either, as they will have their own plans for management and use.
Forests are allowed to age naturally
The leading principle in the new set of policies is promoting the diversity of forests. In forest management, the City will emphasise natural aging whenever possible. The aim is to preserve old trees and leave thickets and decaying trees in the forests. Invasive alien species will be combatted, and multiple tree species will be promoted.
The aim is also to reinforce forests’ adaptability in the face of climate change and the city’s growth. As more construction is carried out, the recreational use of forests and the pressure of an urban environment increase. The new set of policies will also prepare for the phenomena caused by climate change, such as storms, wildfires and droughts.
The new policies aim to ensure that the recreational use of forests will be safe. The City is obligated to ensure the safety of outdoor trails and the edges of traffic routes and building plots. In these locations, dangerous trees, saplings and shrubs will be removed.
The aim is also to offer residents experiences in nature and recreational use of forests. The City will open up views of points of interest, such as terrain shapes, while still maintaining the atmosphere of the forest.
Residents and associations involved in multiple stages
Residents and other stakeholders have been heavily involved in the preparation of the policies. During the autumn, Helsinki has organised open-to-all events on forest management. The seminar on forest nature in Helsinki presented the latest scientific findings on biodiversity and forest management. Residents and policymakers also met at a discussion event on the seminar topics. In addition to these events, associations have been met with on outdoor walks where they learned about forests and maintenance work in the Haaga district.
Helsinki forests have been systematically managed for a long time
Helsinki forests have been under management for over 100 years, and they have been systematically maintained as recreational areas since the 1950s, with regard to natural values, as well. Wood is not harvested from Helsinki forests for profit, and they are not maintained as commercial forests.
The previous Nature Maintenance Policy is from 2011, and it will now be updated in autumn 2022 to better reflect the current City Strategy. One of the Strategy’s main objectives is to increase planned diversity in forested areas and facilitate the natural aging of forests.
The updates will be carried out in two stages. During the first stage in 2022, the work will cover forested areas, while during the second stage in 2023, updates will be made to the policies on open landscapes, such as meadows and fields.
The section on forested areas will be submitted to the Urban Environment Committee at the end of the year. The policy will not define concrete measures or methods to realise it. Instead, the measures and methods will be included in the Work Instructions for Nature Management, which will be updated directly [LJ1] after the preparation of the policy.
Draft of the forest management policy (PDF, In Finnish)
Online survey: kerrokantasi.hel.fi(Link leads to external service)
Photo by: Aino Karilas / Sitowise Oy