Finnish forest owners in general take a positive approach to forest management and harvesting that take into account conservation measures. A new study shows that 44% of forest owners would be willing to implement special timber harvesting plans.

The study, commissioned by WWF, the forest products company Stora Enso and Finland's Forestry Centres found that around a third of owners would be willing to place up to half of their forest holdings in special management plans. They would also be ready to give up some of their present income from timber harvests if the costs of drawing up customized, environmentally lower-impact forest management plans were the same as for traditional plans.

Such plans outline recommendations and best practice for long term care and management for the future, and include information about expenses, yield estimations, lot maps and forest biodiversity data.

These "green” management plans put at least half of the forest land into maintaining important habitats and significant landscapes. If the implementation of such plans were to make owners eligible for public environmental protection supports, nearly half of owners say that would order one.