Changes in forestry in Finland

In the late 1800s forestry in Finland corresponded to the present-day situation in many developing countries with a rapidly increasing number of standing trees. Now Finland's timber resources are greater than ever since people began to exploit forests and its forestry is exemplary in many respects. The dependence of the Finnish economy on wood raw material has, however, become weaker and weaker. Consequently, Finns have begun to speak of the forest cluster which does not only include forestry and the forest industry but all the economic activities derived from or connected to the forest sector. By adopting this new concept Finns try to prepare their economy far the future where know-how is more important to the success of nations than raw materials or traditional industrial processes. This will also give more room for the ecological and social sustainability in the Finnish forests where growing wood for the needs of the industry was almost the only target until the early 1990s.