Forests

Forest are the most extensive and species rich habitat in Finland. Forests cover 36% of the country's total area and 49% of land area. Over 40% of all well-known Finnish species live primarily in forests.

A more detailled description of forest habitats can be found at Biodiversity.fi

Forests are the most important provider of ecosystem services. Six of the ten most important provisioning servives relate directly to forests. Measured in economic terms, wood provided by forests in the most valuable provisioning service in Finland.

Forests play a crucial role in the functioning of most regulating services. Forest ecosystems take part in the cycling of water, carbon and nutrients; they provide nursery habitats for many economically important species and absorb noise as well as pollutants. The cultural signicance of forest habitats is no less significant. Most Finns have a personal relationship with forest and seek recreation in them.