Finland and Finnish stakeholders have been vocal in efforts to influence formulations in the new Forest Strategy, particularly in the last moments before it became public. Has Finland taken leadership, or has the lobbying resulted in fragmentation? Is Finland unique, as many Finnish forestry stakeholders have claimed? In considering Finland’s role, it is fruitful to consider the role of the EU forest strategy: how does it affect forest management, and how is it positioned in the forest policy landscape of the EU and member states?
This debate has resulted in polarization and gridlocks that tend to overlook other countries’ reasons for having strong interests in forestry. It is time for the forestry and environmental parties to engage in a deeper dialogue to look for solutions also in difficult issues. The first reactions to the strategy published last Friday give hope for the emergence of such dialogue. This would be a way for Finland to promote forest policy also at the EU level, rather than getting bogged down in internal conflicts.
Eeva Primmer and Mikael Hilden from SYKE has taken a look into the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 from a Finnish persepective: Forest management needs European level collaboration (syke.fi)