Active and adaptive biodiversity management

Science-based actions for continuous progress

Biodiversity in Northern forests

In Northern forests, our actions are adapted based on the environment and our progress monitoring. Recognising regional and local perspectives is important, as the best results can be achieved when biodiversity management is adapted to the conditions of each forest site. Our biodiversity programmes for own forests in Sweden and for private forest owners define our actions to enhance biodiversity and go beyond legislation and certification requirements. These programmes are based on science and developed internally and together with external partners. 

The actions that we take – in our own forests and the forests owned by other forest owners – consider several elements of biodiversity. They can be summarised under various focus areas: 

• creating and preserving deadwood
• restoring and preserving selected environments, such as wetlands or old forests
• biodiversity management actions, such as controlled burning, to promote special values
• leaving retention trees, nature value trees, and thickets 
• protecting waters and their surrounding environments
• increasing the share of broadleaved trees and mixed forests
• protecting and promoting habitats for selected species

Biodiversity in own forests

In our own forests in Sweden, we implement active biodiversity management in areas for wood production and set-aside areas. Own forest land provides us with a great platform to make sustainable choices, explore alternative forestry methods, and pilot best practices for biodiversity. Long-term development of biodiversity as well as impact of harvesting are monitored with biodiversity indicators.

Our biodiversity program – for increased biological diversity in Stora Enso's own forests

We are part of the solution and we are acting with ambition. Our Biodiversity Program for Stora Enso’s own forest holdings in Sweden includes 20 concrete goals to enhance biodiversity by 2030.
 
This is not just a vision, it’s a plan built on actions that makes a real difference. We’re increasing the share of broadleaved trees, preserving and creating deadwood, restoring aquatic landscapes, and implementing targeted measures for species that need protection.
 
Each initiative is designed to strengthen nature’s resilience and enrich forest ecosystems. 

Biodiversity services for forest owners

In Finland, Sweden, and the Baltics, Stora Enso works with private forest owners, providing them with the needed support and services for promoting biodiversity in their forests. Forest owners make the decisions regarding their own forests, but for instance Stora Enso’s biodiversity action programme in Finland aims to generate biodiversity awareness among forest owners and offer biodiversity services as well as restoration and protection opportunities. We encourage forest owners to certify their forests.

The impact of harvesting is monitored with biodiversity impact indicators in harvesting. Private forest owners can also use Stora Enso’s online customer portal to follow longer-term biodiversity data and key figures concerning their own forests.

The biodiversity action programme in Finland includes various actions
in four focus areas

Biodiversity in South American tree plantations

Stora Enso owns tree plantations in joint ventures: Veracel with Suzano in Brazil and Montes del Plata with Arauco in Uruguay. These plantations are managed as a mosaic area for wood production and biodiversity: biodiversity is protected and restored in dedicated set-aside areas.

Both joint ventures have their own separate biodiversity programmes but with similar focus areas and biodiversity indicators: progress is monitored with biodiversity indicators for tree plantations. Stora Enso’s leased plantations in Guangxi, China fall currently out of this scope: development is on-going to integrate the biodiversity management actions under Stora Enso’s biodiversity leadership programme.