Environmental responsibility is part of every activity

The environmental strategy of the Finnish Defence Forces emphasises the responsibility of its personnel, both individuals and groups alike. The strategy also aims to proactively and efficiently manage environmental risks and reduce environmental impacts, while also actively protecting the environment together with the rest of Finnish society.

As part of the environmental management system, each administrative unit has an environmental programme with its own practical objectives and internal guidelines for environmental responsibility.

Making use of risk assessments for nature values

In 2023, the Finnish Defence Forces developed a risk assessment model for nature values, the purpose of which is to promote a systematic approach for acknowledging nature values and deepening the collaboration in nature conservation.

The risk assessment takes into account nature conservation areas, nature programme areas, surface waters, and the quality and volume of the activity. The resulting risk points can be reduced with various management methods, such as positive nature impacts, nature surveys, surface water treatment processes, environmental permits, and adjusting one’s activities in a more environmentally friendly direction.

Military areas carry out nature conservation work

Around 300,000 hectares of Finland’s land area has been reserved for national defence purposes. The communities that make use of these military areas must operate in a sustainable, healthy, and safe way.

The Finnish Defence Forces makes use of many firing range and training areas that feature an abundance of valuable species and animals. Due to the nature of the Defence Forces’ activities, these areas have not been subjected to the many changes witnessed elsewhere in Finland, which has helped preserve many at-risk species, habitats, and biotopes. In other words, by acting responsibly, we can help preserve the biodiversity of Finnish nature.

We carry out nature conservation in collaboration with many organisations, such as Metsähallitus. In the future, we will place further emphasis on nature values in the planning of our exercises and restoration of contaminated areas, including the prevention and monitoring of any invasive species.