EditorFinland PAPERSKY no.48 Finland | Land of the Trees

It seems the Finnish soul has always been linked to the forest. Finns feel good in the forest. Not alone, not lost- the forest provides protection and peace. This Finland Wood issue of Papersky is for people, who like the Finns, love trees and forests.

To kick things off I would like to share a few amazing Finland Forest facts provided by the Natural Resource Institute Finland:

** 75% of Finland is forests
** 1 in 5 Finnish people own forest land
** Finland’s forests increase every year!
** 27% of Finland’s exports are based on forest products

Wow! An entire country with it’s culture and economy firmly grounded on TREES. While many cultures of the past were scared of the deep forest the Finns have always felt at home in the woods. In fact recently Finnish photographers working on the book ‘Tree People’, discovered an entire forest of trees in which each tree in the forest was etched with names and death dates of the local village’s deceased. It was custom when a funeral processions made it’s way to a grave for people to take periodical rests in the forest at these memorial trees. Folks would relax, have a drink and remember their ancestors.

Another very unique current Finnish forest custom is ‘Everyman’s Right’ this right allows everyone to move in all forest and nature areas (both private and public) on foot, on skis, on bike or on horseback. Camping in nature is also allowed, as is the picking of natural flowers, berries and mushrooms. Finns love their forests and half of the population lives less then one kilometer from good berrying or mushrooming grounds.

It’s no fairytale the Finns are the modern stewards of the Forest. This Finland issue of Papersky is wood solid with stories on: ‘Nikari Furniture’, ‘Red Sky Boat Makers’, ‘Alvar Aalto Architect’,
‘Drinking Birch Sap’, ‘Moomin’s Forests’, ‘Finnish Wood Burning Saunas’ and featuring photography by Marianna Jamadi and Ritva Kovalainen.

» PAPERSKY #48 Finland | Wood Issue

Tags: finland