Finland’s Ambitious Carbon Neutrality Target Threatened by Declining Forest Sinks
Tiina Sanila-Aikio, former president of the Finnish Sami parliament, is deeply concerned about the unprecedented warmth and dryness of this summer in Finnish Lapland. The boreal forests in the Sami homeland, known as the Taiga, are showing signs of distress with orange conifer needles and withered moss on the forest floor. These forests, which take centuries to grow, have played a crucial role in Finland’s ambitious carbon-neutrality target of 2035.
Finland’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2035, 15 years ahead of many other EU countries, relies heavily on its vast forests and peatlands that have historically absorbed more carbon than they emitted. However, recent data shows a troubling trend of declining carbon absorption in these natural sinks. The country’s forest sink has decreased by about 90 percent since 2009, leading to increased emissions from soil and peat.
This decline in carbon absorption has had a significant impact on Finland’s overall climate progress, despite substantial emission reductions in other sectors. The net effect is that Finland’s emissions are now at the same level as in the early 1990s, undoing decades of climate action. This reversal has global implications as many countries, including Finland, rely on natural carbon sinks to meet their climate targets.
Juha Mikola, a researcher at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), emphasizes the importance of maintaining land sinks to achieve carbon neutrality. However, the current situation in Finland, where the land sector has become a net contributor to global heating, poses a serious challenge to reaching the carbon-neutrality goal. Tarja Silfver, a research scientist at Luke, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the difficulty of achieving the targets with the drastic decline in forest sinks.
The urgency of addressing the declining forest sinks in Finland cannot be overstated. The fate of Finland’s carbon-neutrality target and its impact on global climate efforts hang in the balance as the country grapples with the loss of its once reliable carbon-absorbing forests and peatlands. The need for immediate action to preserve these vital natural sinks has never been more critical. The decline of Finland’s land sinks, which have traditionally been seen as a crucial carbon sink, is a cause for concern among researchers and policymakers. The reasons behind these changes are complex and not fully understood, but they are believed to be a combination of factors including unsustainable forest management practices and the impact of climate change.
Burning peatland for energy, a more polluting practice than coal, remains common in Finland. This contributes to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Additionally, commercial logging of forests, including rare primeval ecosystems, has increased at an alarming rate. This has led to a significant increase in emissions from Finland’s land sector.
Rising temperatures in Finland are also a contributing factor to the decline of land sinks. The warming climate is heating up the soil in the country, causing peatlands to break down more rapidly and release greenhouse gases. Palsas, massive mounds of frozen peat in Lapland, are disappearing at a rapid pace.
The number of dying trees in Finland has also increased in recent years, with forests being stressed by drought and high temperatures. In southeast Finland, the number of dying trees has risen significantly, along with the amount of standing deadwood.
Finland is not alone in experiencing a decline in land sinks. Other European countries, such as France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Estonia, have also seen significant declines in their land sinks. Drought, bark beetle outbreaks, wildfires, and tree mortality from extreme heat are ravaging Europe’s woodlands, exacerbating the pressure on forestry practices.
The decline of land sinks poses a significant risk to these countries’ climate policies, as they have relied on the natural carbon storage capacity of their forests to offset emissions. With the decline of land sinks, these countries are facing challenges in meeting their climate targets.
In response to these changes, environmental campaigners like Greenpeace and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation are documenting rare species and advocating for the protection of forests. They are working to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these ecosystems and the need for sustainable forest management practices. In an effort to protect endangered wildlife and prevent the certification of sustainable timber mills, researchers are working tirelessly to establish the presence of these vulnerable species in Finland’s old-growth forests. By doing so, they hope to grant these forests a stay of execution and halt the relentless clearing of land for pulp and lumber production.
The devastation caused by clear-cutting is evident, with massive expanses of once-thriving old-growth forests now reduced to barren landscapes. While a fraction of Finnish forests remain untouched, primarily on or around peatlands, there is little formal protection in place to safeguard these vital ecosystems. New areas continue to be cleared at an alarming rate, posing a significant threat to biodiversity and the environment.
Experts suggest that slowing down forest clearance, implementing better protection measures for intact ecosystems, and improving forest management practices could help restore Finland’s land sink. However, the financial implications of such actions have sparked resistance from the forestry industry. The Finnish finance ministry estimates that harvesting a third less timber would result in a significant decrease in GDP, costing billions of euros annually. Additionally, increasing forest protection would come with a hefty price tag, further complicating conservation efforts.
While Finland’s leading timber companies argue that the country’s forests still absorb more carbon than they release, they acknowledge a significant decline in carbon sequestration in recent years. They point to fossil fuels as the primary culprit of climate change, downplaying the impact of forestry practices. According to them, planting new trees after harvesting ensures long-term carbon sequestration benefits.
However, critics warn that rising global temperatures could further diminish Finland’s land sink, jeopardizing the country’s ability to absorb and store carbon effectively. With climate change threatening the survival of key tree species like spruce, the entire forestry system in Finland is at risk. Communities in the Arctic Circle are already feeling the effects of environmental changes, with traditional livelihoods dependent on the health of the ecosystem.
As researchers continue their efforts to protect Finland’s old-growth forests and the wildlife they harbor, the need for sustainable forest management practices and conservation measures becomes increasingly urgent. By raising awareness of the importance of preserving these vital ecosystems, they hope to secure a brighter future for Finland’s forests and the species that call them home.
