March 27, 2021 HANDICRAFT AND WOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF HCMC
The land with the most forests covered in Europe
Forests cover 75% of Finland, with an average area of 4.2 hectares of forest per person. In Finland, land classified by forest use accounts for 86%.
Finland's lumber harvest increases every year. The number of trees cut down has decreased compared to the number of growth forests. The annual production of forest growth in Finland in recent years has exceeded one million cubic meters. New forests are planted every year in the right season, lasting only about 80 days.
Private businesses and families own about 60% of the forest with about 632,000 families owning forested land in Finland. If we include private ownership or investment in 2 hectares of forest or more, on average 14% of the Finnish population owns forested land.
Pine forests make up the majority
Most of Finland is located in the boreal coniferous zone, with more than half of its forest products being pinus sylvestris. Other common tree species include spruce (spruce - picea abies), birch (birch - betula pubescens) and silver birch (silver birch - betula pubescens). These tree species contribute 97% of Finland's total forest product production. Finnish forests are not just a single species of tree, but are largely composed of several species with about 30 different native tree species.
Sustainable forestry industry
The sustainable forest product industry has three objectives. First, keep the balance of the natural ecosystem. In other words, helping the natural environment to regenerate itself after being altered by impacts. Next, the socio-cultural values associated with the forest are not lost. And third, forest products economically benefit all involved.
Managing forests close to nature means applying processes that mimic the development of nature. Therefore, how to make natural cycles as less affected as possible, while maintaining resources and sustainable socio-economic development is a core element in forest management in Finland.
Forest certificates
Most forests in Finland are certified. Forest certifications are an attempt to ensure that forest products are legal in terms of ecological, economic and social sustainability. In fact, a forest certificate is a document attested by a third party that ensures the forest is sustainably managed and used, in accordance with some of the criteria mentioned in the certificate.
PEFC is the largest certification system in the world. To achieve PEFC certification, forest management needs to meet the standards of biodiversity, health and sustainability of forests as well as renewable forest use. More than 85% of forests for economic purposes in Finland are PEFC certified.
Finnish lumber suppliers are very willing to cooperate with Vietnamese furniture manufacturers in the steady supply of sawn timber from pine and spruce. By using Finnish wood, you highlight your own sustainability and send that message to each customer.
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