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30.1.2026 | The new European forest partnership project prepared under the lead of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry progresses. The final Grant Agreement related to the partnership is to be signed by the end of May 2026. The first call for applications for research funding should open in autumn 2026.

24.10.2025 | The European Partnership ‘Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future’ brings together about 100 organisations from 28 countries to develop forest research and strengthen international cooperation. Finland acts as the coordinator of the project, with the work led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

7.4.2026 | The evaluation explored the objectives of the Climate Act and the means to achieve these from the perspectives of impact, cost-effectiveness and acceptability. The process was led by the Ministry of the Environment. Meeting the objectives requires additional measures, especially in the land use sector.

23.3.2026 | Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah will visit Morocco from 24 to 27 March 2026. The purpose of the trip is to strengthen bilateral relations and promote trade with Morocco, especially in forest and water expertise. Minister Essayah will be accompanied by a business delegation focusing on these matters.

30.6.2025 | Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio has made a decision on funding for a cooperation project between the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the Finnish Forest Centre, State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration. The project’s total budget is EUR 1.037 million in 2025–2028.

4.7.2025 | The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has launched an extensive package of measures that aims to strengthen forest growth and carbon sinks on a long-term basis. The package is based on the Government Programme and it will contribute to the achievement of the climate targets. The measures have been prepared in close interaction with stakeholders and researchers. Various actors in the forest sector have a key role in the implementation of the measures.

11.3.2025 | The webinar series of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO that started on Tuesday 11 March is part of a global initiative aimed to develop forest-based bioeconomy worldwide. At the opening of the series, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah stressed the role of multilateral cooperation as we move towards sustainable forest-based bioeconomy.

19.1.2024 | Finland finances international forest research as part of development cooperation in the forestry sector. According to Pia Katila, Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Institute Finland, multidisciplinary approach is a key to producing information to support forest policy in developing countries.

2.10.2024 | Ministers responsible for forest affairs in Europe signed a declaration on the development of sustainable forest management and decided to set up a facility that will focus on anticipating and managing the risks to forests. The declaration was signed by 35 Member States and supported by more than 20 observer organisations. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah represented Finland at the Conference, held in Bonn, Germany on 1–2 October 2024.

5.2.2025 | The Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO (2008–2025) has had a positive impact on forest biodiversity. This is the conclusion of the independent final evaluation of the programme. A working group of the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is preparing the next period of the programme that will start in 2026.

21.8.2024 | For Forest+ is a group dedicated to advocating for the interests of the forested Member States within the EU. Ministers from the group’s member states – Austria, France, Slovenia and Sweden – and their representatives visited Finland on the invitation of the Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah between 20 and 21 August 2024. During their visit, the ministers discussed next st...

25.11.2024 | Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah visits Canada with a delegation of the Finnish forestry and bioeconomy actors on 24–28 November. Minister Essayah will deliver the keynote speech at the Scaling Up Bioeconomy Conference 2024 in Ottawa. Finland is the Feature Country of this year’s conference. In addition, the Minister and the business delegation will visit the province of Quebec.

9.12.2025 | For the first time, biotechnology is among the proposed themes of IPCEIs. The EU Member States want to promote biotechnology projects by including biotechnology in Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs). Together with Germany and Estonia, Finland has been preparing three thematic IPCEI proposals for biotechnology since November 2024.

5.10.2023 | The Barents Forest Forum, held on 4–5 October 2023, discussed sustainable forestry in the northern areas of Finland, Sweden and Norway. The Forum concluded Finland's two-year chairmanship of the Forest Sector.

13.11.2025 | With a budget of almost EUR 28 million, the ACWA LIFE project is one of the most significant projects during the history of water resources management in Finland. The eight-year project to be started in the beginning of 2026 will improve the status of waters by enhancing river basin management planning and actions based on this in five areas.

4.12.2025 | On 4 December 2025, the Government submitted the national Energy and Climate Strategy to Parliament as a report. In line with the Government Programme, the strategy will accelerate the clean transition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen carbon sinks.

9.2.2024 | At its meeting on 9 February, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the promotion of technology-neutral energy policy and the proposal on a more efficient monitoring of forest data. In addition, the Ministerial Committee outlined Finland’s positions for two upcoming informal ministerial meetings.

7.11.2025 | The UN Climate Change Conference COP30 will be held on 10–21 November in Belém, Brazil. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is organising four side events, where the focus will be on the circular bioeconomy, climate change adaptation and resilient food systems. Two of the events will be held at the Finland Pavilion and two at the Nordic Pavilion. Besides these, the Ministry will participate...

15.12.2022 | On 14 December 2022, the National Forest Council adopted Finland’s new National Forest Strategy, which extends until 2035. The new National Forest Strategy is a growth strategy that seeks growth of both forests and business and, first of all, growing wellbeing both from forests and for forests.

18.12.2024 | On November 21, 2024, the Scientific Café, organized by the project coordinator and national partner MMM for Finland, explored the theme “Strengthening Biodiversity in Finnish Forests". Held at the House of Science and Hope (Puistokatu 4) in Helsinki, the event took place on a stormy Thursday evening, creating an intimate café-like atmosphere complemented by coffee and light refreshments. Despite ...