Forest carbon sinks at the center of Finland’s climate policy

Forest carbon sinks absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, playing a significant role in mitigating climate change. Finland is comparatively the most forested country in Europe, contributing to an ambitious climate policy. However, that policy was disturbed by late 2022 research data indicating that Finland’s land use has shifted from a carbon sink to an emission source.

In December 2022 the emissions inventory of Tilastokeskus or Statistics Finland was published, alongside a report by Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) on the growth of forests and the causes of the deterioration of carbon sinks. According to these reports, in 2021 Finland’s combined land use was an emission source for the first time ever, and the reasons for this are, among other things, abundant felling, poor tree growth and the increase in emissions from peatlands.

The forests in Finland still remained a net carbon sink, but the size was nevertheless 59 per cent smaller than the previous year. It was not enough to cover the emissions of other land use categories.

Can the forest carbon sinks be saved?

It is imperative to save forest carbon sinks in order for Finland to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. According to research, it is possible to save the forest carbon sinks although it requires significant changes in land use. According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions caused by land use is to change the way we cultivate peatlands. Some estimate that in Finland peatlands are roughly as significant a source of emissions as passenger car traffic.

We were involved in the project “Old fields and peatlands to carbon sinks”, a LUKE 2020 initiative, that focuses on peatland cultivation practices. Its primary goal was to produce information that helps increase Finland’s carbon sinks in an economically, socially and ecologically sustainable way. This can be done for example by reforesting peatlands that are retired from peat production as well as agricultural lands that yield low profit or are no longer used for cultivation.

Peat is low in potassium and phosphorus but rich in nitrogen, so the vegetation growing naturally on former peatlands quickly dies due to a lack of mineral nutrients. Without measures the peatlands are mainly wastelands that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. By reforesting them, the peat continues to store carbon, and carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere. In addition, reforestation diversifies the local ecosystem.

Our plan for increasing carbon sinks

It is essential for the growth of carbon sinks to avoid clear-felling and draining in peat forests. Instead of draining, naturally moist areas should be utilized for paludiculture. LUKE has already emphasized the importance of this for carbon sinks.

Paludiculture can gain even more efficient carbon absorption than forest carbon sinks, and at the same time it provides habitats for many endangered species. We are currently working together with LUKE on how we could harness the naturally moist areas of our planting sites for paludiculture in the best way for the climate and nature.

The emissions of a clear-felled swamp forest can be up to ten times higher than that of a peatland forest full of trees. We are therefore committed to ensuring that the forests we plant serve as a carbon sink for at least the next hundred years. Research and development will decide what happens to our trees after that: we want our trees to have a future that supports the climate and nature in the best possible way. 

You can read more about our reflections on the future here.