Land use - Why care? (Finland)

The population density in Finland is 17.4 persons/km² (excluding the sea area), i.e. every person has almost six hectares of space. The density is the lowest in EU, and in Europe, only Norway has a lower population density. The share of forest, 77 %, is also the highest in EU. The abundance of space does not allow a careless use of land.

The decisions on how the land is used affect the wellbeing of nature and humans. Reductions in landscape diversity are detrimental to biodiversity and the ecosystem services. Also, adaptation to climate change requires successful decisions about land use.

The existing land-use planning legislation and guidelines aim to promote a favourable living environment and ecologically, economically, socially and culturally sustainable development.