Date 24 June 2009 Executive Secretary Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf Convention on Biological Diversity 413, Saint Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 (FAX + 1 514 288 6588) Submission of Finland's fourth national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity in accordance with decision VIII/14 of the Conference of Parties (notifications 2006-083 and 2008-052). This report to the CBD by Finland indicates a relatively strong commitment of all sectors and stakeholders to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The assessment of the status of and current trends in biodiversity in Finland reveals a mixed picture, however. The 4th national report is based on nearly 100 habitat-specific indicators that reflect not only the state of biodiversity, but also the pressures put on biodiversity and the actions taken in response to these. The overall development of the indicators and reporting of the trends have been evaluated in a similar fashion as those in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). The impacts of climate change on biodiversity are of high importance for a northern hemisphere country with subarctic fell ecosystems. Some of these impacts have been evaluated in this report, yet further attention needs to be focused on this question in the future. The global-level commitments and efforts to strengthen the implementation of the CBD have to be realized on both national and regional levels. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans are therefore of highest importance. The National Action Plan for Biodiversity in Finland for 2006–2016 builds on our agreed actions to implement the CBD together with different stakeholders through our National Biodiversity Monitoring Group. We need evidence of the adequate positive effects of the actions on biological diversity. The mainstreaming of biodiversity into different policy sectors is crucial for reaching our common goal. It is very hard to believe that the 2010 target can be reached without adjusting national and regional actions and performance according to the target. It is clear that more needs to be done to reach the 2010 target for halting the loss of biodiversity. Without a doubt, scientific assessments are of vital importance when adjusting actions for achieving our common goal. The Convention has not yet received enough public or political recognition. Only by raising public awareness, and with the support of public opinion and the broad participation of all relevant stake- holders in preparing and implementing conservation and sustainable use actions, can we improve our commitment to the sound implementation of the Convention. We must also demonstrate the important role biodiversity can play in opening up new economic opportunities and in the efforts to eradicate pov- erty. One of the crucial objectives of our national work is to improve the effective communication of issues related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Finland has launched a new logo "Biodiversity – Essential to Life" to illustrate our common commitment to halting the loss of biodiversity. Our logo is found on the cover of this report and will be actively used by different stakeholders up to the year 2010 and beyond. With high regards, Yours sincerely, Minister Paula Lehtomäki Ministry of the Environment, Finland Fourth National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Finland YMPÄRISTÖMINISTERIÖ MILJÖMINISTERIET MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT Contents Executive summary 1. Overview of biodiversity status, trends and threats 1.1 Introduction 1.2. Biodiversity indicators 1.2.1 DPSIR-framework and habitat approach 1.2.2 Assessing the overall development of indicators – the arrow symbols 1.3 Characteristics of Finland's biodiversity 1.4 Forests 1.5 Mires 1.6 Baltic Sea 1.7 Inland waters 1.8 Farmlands 1.9 Alpine habitats 1.10 Urban areas 1.11 Shores 2. Current status of national biodiversity strategies and action plans 2.1. Finland´s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2006–2016 – An overview 2.2 Results achieved and challenges encountered 2.2.1 Forests 2.2.2 Mires 2.2.3 Baltic Sea 2.2.4 Inland waters 2.2.5 Farmlands 2.2.6 Alpine habitats 2.2.7 Urban areas 2.2.8 Shores 2.3 Conservation of biodiversity 2.3.1 Protected areas network in Finland 2.3.2 Species 2.3.3 Case studies 2.4 The conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources 2.4.1 Plant genetic resources 2.4.2 Forest genetic resources 2.4.3 Animal genetic resources 2.4.4 Genetically modified organisms 2.4.5 Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) 2.5 Cross-cutting measures 2.5.1 Building up an improved knowledge base 2.5.2 Research infrastructures and plans to develop governmental research institutes 2.5.3 Reporting according to EU Habitats Directive 2.5.4 Impact of climate change on biodiversity 2.5.5 Indigenous Saami people and traditional knowledge 2.5.6 Biodiversity as an economic issue 2.5.7 Business and biodiversity 2.5.8 Communication, education and public awareness 3/156 3. Sectoral and cross-sectoral integration or mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations 3.1 Governance structure 3.2 Key means to mainstream biodiversity issues 3.3 Mainstreaming biodiversity into international co-operation 3.3.1 EU co-operation and biodiversity 3.3.2 The EC Mid-Term review and the 2010 target 3.3.3 Green Diplomacy Network (GDN) 3.3.4 Biodiversity and climate change 3.3.5 The science/policy interface 3.3.6 Development co-operation 3.3.7 Financial resources 3.3.8 International evaluations of biodiversity in Finland 3.4 Regional co-operation 3.4.1 Finland in Nordic co-operation on biodiversity 3.4.2 Co-operation between Finland and Russia in nature conservation 3.4.3 Arctic co-operation on biodiversity issues 4. Conclusions: Progress towards the 2010 target and implementation of the strategic plan 4.1 Progress towards the 2010 targets 4.2. Progress towards the goals and objectives of the Strategic plan of the convention Appendix 1: A. Information concerning reporting party B. Process of preparation of the fourth national report Appendix 2: Further sources of information Appendix 3: A. Progress towards Targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) B. Progress towards Targets of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) 4/156 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An assessment of the status of biodiversity in Finland and current trends reveals a mixed picture. Certain populations and distributions of wildlife species are showing positive trends, and some species that were once considered to be at risk of extinction are now stabilizing or even increasing. The conservation status of many species and biotopes protected under the Habitats Directive are still under pressure, despite the progress made in implementing the Natura 2000 network. Some species show positive trends, and it is encouraging that large carnivore species and fish species have recovered in Finland. The Birds Directive has clearly helped many bird species to recover. Some 12% of Finland’s total surface area is now under protec- tion, either as established protected areas or other areas reserved for nature conservation programmes. If Natura 2000 network sites are included, the total area under protection increases to 15%. The protected areas network is more representative in the north and the east but the there are still particularly a need to improve the ecological network in Southern Finland. Natura 2000 sites have complemented the previously existing network of protected areas, and notably enhanced the protection of marine habitats, which are still inadequately protected overall, however. Land use practices in Finland are still changing, but not on the same scale as in recent decades. Forest area has decreased slowly since 1990's. In addition, the quality of habitats for biodiversity has deteriorated in certain aspects. New recommendations for forests management practices have been drafted for both private and state-owned forests. Natural resource plans and landscape ecological plans have been produced for all state-owned lands. The planning process has helped to identify and safeguard many valuable biotopes, and also introduced new practices such as the maintenance of connectivity in commercially managed forests. New ambitious goals have been set for the amount of dead wood in both commercially managed and protected state-owned forests. Surveys indicated that the trends in species diversity in forests are mixed. In the latest red-list assessment published in 2000 forests were found to host more endangered species than any other major habitat type. Threats to biodiversity in Finland include the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, invasive alien species and climate change. Invasive species pose a risk to biodiversity as their numbers continue to rise. Climate change is evidently affecting more bird species negatively than positively. Positive trends include reductions in the pollution of inland waters. The improved ecological status of lakes has reduced the pressure on their biodiversity. However, the status of river systems is not as favourable. Certain agricultural practices are still putting pressure on biodiversity, although policy measures and the spread of organic farming are having positive effects. The main threats to biodiversity in agricultural areas relate to the cessation of traditional farming practices and intensifying land use. Common farmland birds have declined and more than 90% of traditional rural biotopes have been evaluated as threatened.. Progress have been made in relation