Website of Finland’s environmental administration

Nature, waters and sea

Natura 2000 areas in Finland

The European Union aims to halt the loss of biodiversity throughout its territory. One of the most important means to achieve this goal is the Natura 2000 network.
Aerial view, internationally valuable bird wetland in Viitasaari.
Aerial view over an internationally valuable wetland area in Viitasaari. © Markus Sirkka

Natura areas in Finland

The borders of the sites can be viewed via the open web service of environmental data:

The Natura 2000 network in Finland covers around five million hectares. Three quarters of the area is land and one quarter is water. The total number of sites is 1,866, 87 of which are in Åland.

The EU Member States propose sites for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. The Natura 2000 network protects the habitats of wild fauna and flora defined pursuant to the Habitats Directive. Europe is home to 200 of such habitats and 700 of such species.

Areas belonging to the Natura 2000 network must be protected in such a way that the conservation goals established by the law are fulfilled. Depending on the area, this happens for example according to the Nature Conservation Act, the Land Extraction Act, or the Forest Act.

Published 16.3.2023 / Updated 17.3.2023

Publisher

Ministry of the Environment