Every ninth species in Finland is threatened
In Finland, there are approximately 48,000 species of plants, fungi, and animals. Nearly half of them are known well enough to be able to assess how threatened they are. A species is classified as threatened when it is in danger of disappearing from Finland over time. According to the latest "Red list of Finnish species" (2019), almost 12 percent of the species that were analysed are threatened. In total, there are 2,667 threatened species in Finland.
The high number of threatened species indicates that Finland's nature is not doing very well. The diversity of species has declined and is at risk of further decline. As nature becomes impoverished, its ability to adapt to climate change or other threats weakens. At the same time, humans lose the opportunities and benefits that nature provides.
Threat level varies
All species are divided into categories in the assessment of threatened species. In Finland, around 70% of species are classed in the category of least concern (LC). A small number are listed as regionally extinct (RE), meaning that they have already disappeared from Finland.
There are three categories of threatened species, the most serious being critically endangered (CE) and the least serious being vulnerable (VU). Critically endangered species in Finland include, for example, the European eel and the artic fox.
The most serious situation for birds and mosses
In all species groups, some species are threatened. The most concerning situation is with birds and mosses; approximately one-third of their species are threatened. There are many reasons for this, but often the cause is changes in the species' habitats. In particular changes in agricultural areas are a threat for birds Critically endangered birds include, among others, the ortolan bunting and the great snipe. The swallow population has also plummeted and the species is now classified as vulnerable.
The situation of the species shows no signs of improvement
The status of threatened species in Finland is evaluated approximately every ten years. While the results of these evaluations are not directly comparable, they do suggest that the situation has not improved. The proportion of threatened species has not decreased, and new species are still being classified as threatened. More of the already threatened species have moved from the less severe categories to a more severecategory than vice versa.
Endangerment continues in nearly all habitats
The proportion of threatened species among all species in a given habitat is highest in the fells. There, species are particularly threatened by climate change, and the situation is likely to worsen. Additionally, in almost all other habitats, the trend is moving in a negative direction.
Among threatened species, forest species are the most numerous
A significant portion of all species in Finland are forest species. Changes in forest ecosystems therefore affect a large group of species, and forest species are hence the most threatened species in quantity. They often suffer the most from changes caused by forestry.
Habitats disappear for the species in cultural environments
The second-largest group of threatened species consists of cultural environment species. These include areas such as built-up areas and agricultural lands. Particularly species-rich are areas shaped by traditional cattle and hay farming: meadows, dry meadows, and wood pastures. The species of cultural environments are threatened by the disappearance of important habitats and the general trend of agricultural lands becoming more monotonous.
| Habitat | Proportion of all threatened species, % |
|---|---|
| Forest | 31.2 |
| Cultural habitats | 24.4 |
| Fells | 11.6 |
| Rock outcrops and boulder fields | 11.2 |
| Shores | 10.6 |
| Aquatic habitats | 5.8 |
| Mires | 4.5 |
| Unspecified | 0.6 |
Source: Red List of Finnish Species 2019.
The downward trend can be reversed
Threatened species assessments identify the critical aspects that threaten the survival of species. This knowledge creates the conditions for change. Many efforts have already been made in Finland to improve the protection and management of species and their habitats. Effective actions must be extended to all land use. Finland is committed to the European Union's common goal of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2030.
