Half of the habitat types are threatened
Nearly 400 habitat types have been identified in Finland. The threat level status of habitat types in Finland was last evaluated in 2018. Some of the habitat types are doing well: they are in a viable state and have a large surface area. These include highly humic lakes, peat moss mires and several rocky barren habitats.
However, nearly half of habitat types in Finland are classified as threatened. This means that their amount has substantially decreased, or their status has significantly deteriorated. If a habitat type disappears, the plant and animal species associated with it will face difficulties. The loss and degradation of habitats is by far the biggest cause of biodiversity decline.
What is a habitat type and how does it disappear?
Habitat types are land or water areas with specific environmental conditions and a characteristic biotic community. Environmental conditions include factors such as climate, soil and bedrock quality, landforms, and water conditions. The characteristics of the biotic community are species composition and community structure. Unlike extinct species, habitats do not physically disappear but transform into a different type of environment. This also makes it possible to remedy the situation – and in some cases, to restore habitat types.
The situation of seminatural grasslands and wooded pastures is the poorest
Finland's habitat types are divided into eight main groups. Among these groups, the most endangered habitat types are found in seminatural biotypes which include meadows, dry meadows and other traditional rural environments. Current farming methods no longer maintain these seminatural habitats. They have mostly overgrown or been converted into fields.
Plenty of forest but forest habitat types are still threatened
About three quarters of Finland's land area is covered by forests. However, the situation of forest habitat types is still poor: none of them are classified in the least concern category throughout Finland. Some are in the near threatened category, but the majority - 26 out of 34 - are threatened. This is mainly due to the fact that forestry has changed the characteristics of the forests. In particular, old-growth forests and rotten trees have declined.
The threat level varies within the country
The situation of habitat types is better in Northern Finland than in Southern Finland. This is because in the north, there are more nature reserves, a lower population density and fewer activities that alter the natural environment. In particular, mire habitats are better off in the north: 24% of mire habitats are threatened in Northern Finland compared to 86% in Southern Finland.
There are many reasons for the endangerment
Habitat fragility is the result of land and water areas being used for a variety of purposes that alter, destroy, and fragment nature. Habitats are left under residential areas, roads and other construction. Large areas are shaped by agriculture, forestry, mining, peat extraction, reindeer husbandry and other uses of natural resources.
The threat assessment of habitat types is based on a thorough analysis
Finland is a pioneer in the threat assessment of habitat types. In 2018 a recent international method for habitat threat assessment was applied for the first time. The method is based on precise criteria to determine the rarity of a habitat type and to examine changes in its quantity and quality. More than 120 experts were involved in the work.
Red List of habitats
The poor state of habitat types is recognised and being improved through various means
Work is underway in many areas to improve the situation of habitat types. The means range from protecting areas to managing the use of natural resources. Voluntary conservation and restoration activities are supported in particular by the Helmi habitats programme and METSO - Forest biodiversity programme for Southern Finland. The aim is to halt biodiversity loss and promote the recovery of degraded habitats. Finland is committed to the European Union and UNEP 2022 targets to protect 30% of its land and water area. There is also a target to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.