E VERYMAN’S RIGHTS AN THE FINNISH ENVIRONMENT 5en | 2015 This publication is intended for anyone who needs in-depth ENVIRONMENTALNATURE PROTECTION information on the content of everyman’s rights. The publication Everyman’s rights and the code D is particularly suitable for the use of authorities, associations and THE CO companies. Everyman’s rights are discussed in light of the current of conduct on private land legislation, and the publication does not affect the content of Existing legislation and suggestions for best practices everyman’s rights. Everyman’s rights are also discussed from the D E OF CON point of view of users and landowners, and regarding outdoor recreation hobbies and the use of land. Pekka Tuunanen Markus Tarasti D Anne Rautiainen (ed.) UCT LAN ON PRIVATE D THE FINNISH ENVIRONMENT 5 en | 2015 ISBN 978-952-11-4456-1 (PDF) ISSN 1796-1637 (online) MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT THE FINNISH ENVIRONMENT 5en | 2015 Everyman’s rights and the code of conduct on private land Existing legislation and suggestions for best practices Pekka Tuunanen Markus Tarasti Anne Rautiainen (ed.) Helsinki 2015 MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT The Finnish Environment 5en | 2015 Ministry of the Environment Department of the Natural Environment Layout: Government Administration Department / Marianne Laune Cover photo: Environmental Administration Image Bank / Tapio Heikkilä Drawings: Juha Sihto The publication is available only on the internet: www.ym.fi/julkaisut Helsinki 2015 ISBN 978-952-11-4456-1 (PDF) ISSN 1796-1637 (online) FOREWORD Without everyman’s rights and other possibilities for activity in another’s area, hu- man activity and movement would be restricted to public areas, roads and one’s own property. Everyman’s rights are especially important when moving about in nature outside population centres. Everyman’s rights have a particular significance for the recreational use of nature, natural means of livelihood and nature tourism. With its extensive forests and waters, our sparsely populated country has the prerequisites for extensive use of everyman’s rights. The general framework and conditions for everyman’s rights and other activities on another’s land are based on legislation. In fact, this publication discusses everyman’s rights and activities in nature primarily in regard to legislation. For this reason, the publication includes the most important legal provisions that apply to everyman’s rights. However, legislation usually stipulates only what activities are permitted or punishable, which means that activities on another’s land cannot always be based on the requirements of law alone. Therefore, this publication also presents good practices that help to avoid conflicts. Many questions related to everyman’s rights and activities on another’s land cannot be answered unambiguously due to the lack of legislation and/or the scarcity of legal practice. This means that the legality of an individual action cannot be evaluated case-by-case based on this publication. The most interesting of the known legal cases have been selected for the publication. This publication is intended especially for use by the authorities, different associ- ations and companies, but it also serves anyone who needs in-depth information on the content of everyman’s rights. The publication discusses everyman’s rights from the points of view of their users and landowners and regarding land use. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the contents of the publication. The guide has been prepared in cooperation with authorities, experts, Metsähallitus (state-owned enterprise operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) and the Ulkoilufoorumi network for the promotion of outdoor recreation. Key participants in the preparation of the publication include Senior Government Adviser Hannu Karjalainen, Senior Environmental Adviser Pekka Tuunanen and Senior Adviser Markus Tarasti, from the Ministry of the Environment, and Markku Tornberg, Head of Environmental Affairs, the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK). The publication has been edited by Anne Rautiainen, MSc (Agr. & For.), Suomen Latu ry – the Outdoor Association of Finland. Comments on the draft version of the publication were requested between 2 March and 15 April 2011. The parties from whom comments were requested are listed in Appendix 3. As a basis for the work, the Ministry of the Environment prepared the report Jokamiehenoikeuksien toimivuus (Functionality of everyman’s rights) (Reports of the Ministry of the Environment 19/2007). The Ministry of the Environment wishes to thank all parties that participated in the editing of the publication. Ministry of the Environment The Finnish Environment 5en | 2015 3 4 The Finnish Environment 5en | 2015 CONTENTS Foreword ..............................................................................................................................3 Key concepts........................................................................................................................9 General principles of everyman’s rights .................................................................... 11 Key statutes .......................................................................................................................14 EVERYMAN’S RIGHTS IN PRACTICE .....................................................................19 1 Protection of domestic and public premises .....................................................20 Protection of domestic premises ..................................................................................20 2 Forests and forestry sites ........................................................................................28 3 Water bodies and natural ice .................................................................................30 4 Cultivated areas and pastures ...............................................................................32 Cultivated fields ............................................................................................................32 Fallow fields, protective strips and buffer zones .........................................................33 Pastures ..........................................................................................................................34 5 Nature reserves .........................................................................................................35 6 Recreational areas ....................................................................................................38 7 Outdoor recreation routes .....................................................................................40 Public outdoor recreation routes ..................................................................................40 Private outdoor recreation routes .................................................................................41 Paths ............................................................................................................................41 Ski trails and man-made snow tracks ..........................................................................42 Organised event along an outdoor recreation route ....................................................44 Rights and obligations concerning route maintenance ..............................................44 8 Private roads ..............................................................................................................45 9 Reindeer herding area .............................................................................................49 10 Defence Forces’ Areas .............................................................................................51 Areas in permanent use ................................................................................................51 Areas in temporary use .................................................................................................52 Restricted areas on the coast of Finland ......................................................................53 11 Border zone ................................................................................................................54 The Finnish Environment 5en | 2015 5 ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF ANOTHER PARTY .............................................57 12 Use of structures .......................................................................................................59 13 Providing information about natural attractions .............................................60 14 Camping and exercise as hobbies .........................................................................61 Camping ........................................................................................................................61 Moving about on foot, by skiing and cycling ..............................................................65 Hobbies with dogs ........................................................................................................66 Keeping cats and other pets ..........................................................................................69 Horse riding ..................................................................................................................69 Orienteering ..................................................................................................................71 Climbing ........................................................................................................................71