FINLAND (News release) -- In the autumn of 2021, Metsä Group launched a ten-year programme to support regionally effective development projects that are carried out outside commercial Finnish forests and support biodiversity and the state of waters. The projects may relate to bird waters and wetlands, watercourse routes, small waters and coastal environments, pollinator habitats or new water protection methods.

Nearly 40 projects took part in the first round of applications, which ended in late November 2021. The following projects were the first to be selected for the programme, with a total financial investment by Metsä Group of approximately EUR 350,000.
*Rehabilitation and repair of the Virtaankoski dam in Tainionvirta river in Sysmä
*Rehabilitation and repair of Hiitolanjoki river in Simpele
*Maintenance and repair of wetlands and test use of soil improvement substances suitable for the retaining of agricultural nutrients in Lemi ("Kuuksenenselkä kuntoon" project)
*Improvement of the living conditions of the large Arctic char in southern Saimaa and Kuolimo ("Pro Nieriä" project)
*Repair work of Pieni Pyhävesi, headwater lake of the Kymijoki waterway in Mäntyharju
*Wetland projects in Alavus, Urjala and Orimattila

"A big thank you to all applicants. We received numerous interesting projects for evaluation. The selected projects improve the state of nature in a clearly verifiable way and their implementation is well planned," says Tomi Salo, SVP, Corporate Affairs, at Metsä Group.

New projects will be selected for Metsä Group's nature management programme every six months. The next selections will be made in June 2022, and the deadline for applications will be at the end of May 2022. The next round of applications will be opened in February 2022. Detailed instructions will be published at the same time.