Protecting species

	Brown bear. Photo: Pentti Sormunen.

Approximately 43,000 species of flora, fauna and fungi can be found in Finland. The Nature Conservation Act protects all species of birds and mammals not specifically listed as game species or unprotected species in the Hunting Act. Some game animals are additionally protected under the Hunting Decree. The Nature Conservation Decree also protects 44 animal species from other species groups, as well as 131 vascular plants and 7 mosses. 

Species may also be legally defined as threatened or in need of special protection. Where many species are concerned, conservation work in Finland involves co-operation between volunteer naturalists, conservation organisations, professional researchers and the authorities. Examples of such work include schemes designed to protect white-tailed eagles, white-backed woodpeckers, Saimaa ringed seals and grey seals.

Protection of EU Habitats and Birds Directive species

A total of 83 animal species and 46 plant species listed in Annexes II, IV and V of the EU Habitats Directive are found in Finland. In addition three plant genera are mentioned in Annex V. In Annex I of the EU Birds Directive 62 bird species are listed.

Exceptions have been granted in Finland regarding certain species for which special areas of conservation would normally need to be designated according to Annex II of the Habitats Directive. These species include the European beaver, the wolf, the brown bear, the lynx and all six fish species.

In areas where reindeer husbandry is practised, the European beaver and the wolf are also exempted from the strict protection normally given to them under Annex IV of the Habitats Directive. Instead, the requirements of Annex V are applied to these species, meaning that steps must be taken to ensure that their favourable conservation status is not endangered.

Predators

In 2011, there are estimated to be 135-145 wolves and 150 wolverines in Finland. The wolf is classified as endangered and the wolverine critically endangered, according to the IUCN caregories. The lynx and the brown bear are classified as vulnerable. At present, there are thought to be around 2 200 lynxes and 1 150 bears in Finland.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry controls the numbers of predators in Finland through hunting legislation. Within regional quotas set by the ministry, game management districts may grant permits for the hunting during the hunting season of lynxes, wolves, otters or bears that have caused damage, where no other solution to these problems can be found, and as long as this hunting does not endanger the species' favourable conservation status.