Last year, there would have been more demand for the environmental support granted by the Finnish Forestry Agency than the allocated funds. The allocation for this year has almost doubled.
Forests were protected in Kymenlaakso last year with more than 130,000 euros. The forest owners signed a total of 24 environmental support agreements, which protected a total of 38 hectares of forest.
According to the Finnish Forestry Center, the demand would have been greater than the allocation, and some of the forest owners’ applications were transferred to the payment for this year. Environmental support and funding for nature management has been increased even more this year: now the funds are used for almost double the amount compared to last year.
The most common protected areas were lush and tree-filled forests, such as groves and cornfields, the immediate vicinity of small bodies of water, and dense forests of great diversity.
The environmental subsidy granted by Metsäkeskus obliges the forest owner to exclude the valuable natural environment from logging and forest management work for 10 years.
Support for nature management is granted, for example, for consumptions that promote diversity, treatment and restoration of habitats, and water protection.
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