Despite being home to the largest share of Europe’s remaining primary and old-growth forests, Finland and Sweden are putting these irreplaceable ecosystems at risk, says a new WWF report.
The report, published on 23 January, reveals alarming evidence that both countries are falling short of their commitments under the EU Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy.
On January 27–28, the European Commission will host a pivotal workshop in Helsinki to address old-growth forest conservation. But as discussions begin, WWF warns that urgent action is needed to prevent further destruction of these critical habitats.
The EU Green Deal sets a clear objective: the last remaining primary and old-growth forests in Europe must be strictly protected. Yet, the WWF report uncovers worrying trends. Finnish and Swedish governments are exploiting loopholes to allow logging in forests that should be safeguarded. Thousands of hectares of forests with high conservation value are logged each year, despite their importance for climate stability, biodiversity, and long-term ecological health.
“Publicly available evidence shows both Finland and Sweden are deviating from EU policies,” says Mai Suominen, Forest Expert at WWF Finland. “This cannot continue if we are serious about tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.”
WWF emphasises that protecting primary and old-growth forests is essential to achieving Europe’s climate and biodiversity goals—and to maintaining the EU’s political credibility. Instead of prioritising short-term biomass supply for the forest industry, Finland and Sweden must put forest protection at the heart of their strategies for a circular and sustainable bioeconomy.
“Forest protection isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s fundamental to the success of a sustainable and circular bioeconomy,” says Peter Roberntz, Forest Expert at WWF Sweden.
The WWF report lists several recommendations, but foremost it calls on the European Commission to monitor national implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Finland and Sweden must credibly fulfill their commitments to strictly protect primary and old-growth forests.
“The consequences of inaction would be severe. Continued logging of primary and old-growth forests will not only undermine Europe’s environmental goals but also erode public trust in national governments and the EU itself,” concluded Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, Manager, Forests, of the WWF European Policy Office. “The EU Commission’s workshop in Helsinki must be a turning point. We urge decision-makers to put words into action and ensure Europe’s last great forests are protected before it’s too late.”
