Among the business functions, operating profit from forestry improved although turnover was reduced by declining demand. Sales of commercial timber declined somewhat, to slightly under 6 million cubic metres.
In forestry, Metsähallitus continued major investment in non-business targets. Taking account of general social obligations that go beyond the provisions of the Forest Act has decreased our calculated operating profit by Euro 55 million.
Parks & Wildlife Finland, which has responsibility for Metsähallitus´ public administrative tasks, almost fully achieved the targets set by the Ministries. The overall financing of Parks & Wildlife Finland increased by Euro 3.6 million, to Euro 65.4 million. Of this, Euro 50.5 million was obtained from the state budget and the remainder came from cash flow from operations and project funding.
Major decisions on protection, with a bearing on Metsähallitus, were made in 2014. A total of 13,000 hectares of Metsähallitus' multiple-use forests were protected under the auspices of the forest biodiversity programme of Southern Finland. The national parks of Teijo and Southern Konnevesi were established, and Metsähallitus also continued preparing its proposal for a mire protection programme. This protection proposal, covering 6,000 hectares, was completed in the winter of 2015.
On account of tightened revenue recognition requirements, a record amount of forest land was sold in 2014, equalling that covered by the METSO protection programme. "This total of 26,000 hectares has permanently diminished Metsähallitus' ability to make a profit," Härmälä points out.
The Board of Directors proposed a total of Euro 110 million of the profits to be transferred to the state.
Metsähallitus is a state enterprise that administers more than 12 million hectares of state-owned land and water areas.