Finland's decision to sell-off almost 20,000 hectares of forest to raise €25M likely to impact on long-term income and on hunters, says regional Metsähallitus official
Wendy Lisney
LOS ANGELES
,
June 24, 2014
(Industry Intelligence Inc.)
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Finland’s government stands to lose long-term income from a plan to dispose of almost 20,000 hectares of forest, while also harming hunting interests, according to a regional official, the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle reported on June 18.
The government took the decision in March, in a bid to raise €25 million from the sell-off over two years.
Markku Vainio, a regional director with Finland's forestry administration Metsähallitus, said the sales would be focused on southern Finland, where land values are high.
Vainio told Yle hunters could be impacted from the sale this year of 2,000 hectares in North Karelia, as hunting clubs rent land in the area from the government and rental agreements will have to be struck with private owners after the land changes hand.
“It’s not a good idea to kill off a cash cow,” Vainio said. Although the government wants the income selling off some assets can generate, “it’s not essential,” he told Yle.
Vainio also said a move to incorporate the government‘s forestry industry arm as a private company is facing opposition.
The primary source of this article is Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Helsinki, June 18, 2014. To view the original article, click here .
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