T. Vuorisalo et P. Laihonen, Biodiversity conservation in the north: history of habitat and species protection in Finland, ANN ZOO FEN, 37(4), 2000, pp. 281-297
Biodiversity conservation in Finland has developed from old hunting and for
est-use regulations towards habitat conservation based on ecological resear
ch and international agreements on protection of wildlife. Hunting of game
animals and persecution of species considered as pests have been legally re
gulated in Finland since the Middle Ages. The first attempts to control for
est destruction date back to the 1600s. Banning of spring hunting of waterf
owl was suggested already in 1769. The rise of "modern" nature conservation
in the late 1800s was apparently influenced by the European bird conservat
ion movement (introduced to Finland in 1870 by Z. Topelius), the widespread
criticism towards the 1898 Hunting Decree, and the growing interest toward
s conservation issues among biology and forestry professionals, inspired by
an article published by A. E. Nordenskiold. Already in the 1800s both hunt
ing/persecution and habitat changes were perceived as threats to wildlife.
The Nature Conservation Act, which became the cornerstone for Finnish conse
rvation policy, was enacted in 1923. In the 20th century the numbers of pro
tected species and conservation areas have increased. For more than a centu
ry Finnish conservationists have participated in international conservation
efforts, in which Finland now participates as a member of the European Com
munity.