Naturvårdslag

Chapter 1: General provisions.

Chapter 1: General provisions.

The law states its goals: to maintain biodiversity, protect natural beauty and landscape values, support sustainable use of natural resources and the natural environment, increase knowledge of nature and public interest in nature, and promote nature research.

The provision states the law’s purpose: to maintain biodiversity, protect natural beauty and landscape values, support sustainable use of natural resources and the natural environment, increase knowledge of nature and general interest in nature, and promote nature research.

This section says the law applies to the protection and management of nature and landscape, but not to forest management and use where the Forest Act already regulates the matter, except for listed sections and chapters. It also requires economic, social, cultural, regional, and local factors to be considered in planning under the law.

This section states that the Act applies to nature and landscape protection and management, but not to forest management and use where those matters are regulated by the Forestry Act, subject to listed exceptions.

This section says the act implements three EU directives, with stated exceptions for certain bird-species cases and where another law provides otherwise.

This section says the Act implements three EU directives on habitats, wild birds, and environmental liability, with stated carve-outs and a cross-reference to other law.

International agreements binding on Finland on nature and wild species protection apply alongside this Act, and the Government may issue more detailed rules for carrying out the obligations in those agreements.

International agreements binding on Finland about nature and wild species protection apply alongside this Act. The Government may issue more detailed provisions by decree.

The provision says nature conservation should aim to achieve and maintain a favorable conservation status for the country’s habitat types and wild species, and it defines when that status is favorable and what counts as nature damage.

Nature conservation should aim to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for the country’s habitat types and species.

The Environment Ministry has top-level guidance and supervision over nature and landscape conservation. Regional ELY centres must promote and supervise it in their area, and municipalities must promote it in their area.

Ympäristöministeriöllä on ylin ohjaus ja valvonta luonnon- ja maisemansuojelussa; ELY-keskuksen tulee edistää ja valvoa sitä alueellaan, ja kunnan tulee edistää sitä alueellaan.

Nature conservation programmes may be prepared to reserve areas for conservation purposes, and the programme must state which measures are considered to endanger its purpose.

Nature conservation programmes may be prepared to reserve areas for conservation purposes.

Ympäristöministeriö laatii luonnonsuojeluohjelman, ja valtioneuvosto yleisistunnossa hyväksyy sen.

Ympäristöministeriö laatii luonnonsuojeluohjelman, kuulee asian kannalta merkityksellisiä tahoja valmistelussa, tiedottaa valmistelun alkamisesta julkista keskustelua varten, ja valtioneuvosto hyväksyy ohjelman yleisistunnossa.

In a government-approved nature conservation programme area, actions that endanger the conservation purpose are prohibited, and the ELY Centre may grant an exception if the purpose is not significantly endangered.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus may grant a deviation from the restriction if conservation purposes are not significantly endangered, and state authorities and institutions must plan and decide so their measures do not hinder the conservation programme.

This section says which areas count as protected nature areas and lists the general conditions for establishing one.

This section says what counts as a nature conservation area and lists the general conditions for establishing one.

A national park may be established only on state-owned land, and it must be at least 1,000 hectares.

A national park must be established by law, only on state-owned land, and the area must be at least 1,000 hectares with significance for nature appreciation or education.

Natural reserves may only be established on state-owned land, and the legal form used depends on the area size and the reserve’s purpose.

A nature reserve’s establishment and purpose are regulated by law if the area is at least 1,000 hectares; otherwise they are regulated by decree.

In national parks and nature reserves, activities that alter nature are prohibited.

In national parks and nature reserves, activities that alter nature are prohibited.

The section allows certain conservation-area measures in national parks and nature reserves, and lets the management authority restrict reindeer grazing in a nature reserve for special reasons.

Section 14 lists activities allowed in national parks and nature reserves despite section 13, and lets the area manager restrict reindeer grazing in a nature reserve for special reasons.

In national parks and nature reserves, the responsible area authority or institution may permit certain otherwise restricted activities if they do not endanger the area's purpose.

Kansallispuistossa ja luonnonpuistossa tietyt toimet ovat sallittuja luvalla, jos alueen perustamistarkoitus ei vaarannu.

In Sami homeland parks, conditions for maintaining and developing Sami culture must be safeguarded, and park creation must appropriately consider conservation goals and, in national parks, visitors’ interests.

In national parks and nature reserves in the Sámi homeland area, the conditions for maintaining and developing Sámi culture must be safeguarded.

Päätös muun luonnonsuojelualueen perustamisesta ja siihen liittyvät rajoitukset annetaan pääosin valtioneuvoston asetuksella; enintään 100 hehtaarin alueella asetuksen voi antaa myös ympäristöministeriö.

Valtioneuvosto, and in some small-area cases the Ministry of the Environment, can issue decrees about establishing other nature conservation areas and about restrictions or allowed measures in them.

Movement outside designated roads, paths, or areas in a natural park needs permission from the authority or institution administering the area.

Liikkuminen luonnonpuistossa muualla kuin merkityillä teillä, poluilla tai alueilla edellyttää luvan alueen hallinnasta vastaavalta viranomaiselta tai laitokselta.

Kansallispuistolle on laadittava hoito- ja käyttösuunnitelma, jossa määritellään toimet perustamistavoitteiden toteuttamiseksi. Suunnitelman tekee alueen hallinnassa oleva viranomainen tai laitos, ja ympäristöministeriö vahvistaa kansallispuiston suunnitelman. Suunnitelma voidaan myös laatia luonnonpuistolle tai muulle luonnonsuojelualueelle.

Kansallispuistolle on laadittava hoito- ja käyttösuunnitelma, ja luonnonsuojelualueen hallinnassa oleva viranomainen tai laitos laatii sen; kansallispuiston suunnitelman vahvistaa ympäristöministeriö.

The managing authority or institution must prepare an order for a national park, and it may also prepare one for a nature reserve or other conservation area.

A national park must have an order regulation for its users, and it may also be prepared for a nature reserve or other conservation area. The regulation is issued by the authority or institution that administers the area.

Luonnonsuojelualueen rajat on merkittävä selvästi havaittavalla tavalla, ja vesialueilla rajat voidaan merkitä vain karttaan.

The Environment Ministry may set more detailed rules on how protected-area boundaries and restrictions are marked, and an authority may contract a qualified private expert to do the field marking in some cases.

Certain land can be added to a nature conservation area, but an application cannot add land belonging to a general water area.

Certain land may be added to a nature conservation area or national park under the conditions stated here, and some land cannot be attached.

A protected natural monument may be designated, the responsible authority must mark it clearly, and damaging or defacing it is prohibited.

Authorities or institutions managing the area may declare a qualifying natural formation a protected natural monument, and they must mark it clearly.

The ELY Centre may establish certain protected areas, but only on the landowner’s application or consent unless the area is in a government-approved conservation programme. The decision must include needed conservation rules, and it can restrict movement if protection requires it.

ELY-keskus may establish certain nature reserves, but only under stated conditions and with required consultation and agreement on restrictions and compensation.

The ELY Centre and the landowner may agree to temporarily protect an area for conservation or landscape protection, for up to 20 years at a time.

The ELY Centre and the landowner may agree on temporary protection of the area, and the agreement information must be entered in the real property information system.

Kunta voi päättää yksityisellä maalla olevan luonnonmuistomerkin rauhoittamisesta maanomistajan hakemuksesta tai suostumuksella.

The municipality decides on protecting a natural monument on privately owned land if the landowner applies or consents.

ELY-keskus may end or relax protection for a privately owned conservation area if the natural values have substantially declined or if protection blocks a project or plan of major public interest.

The regional ELY Centre may end or relax protection of a privately owned protected area in certain cases, must get the Environment Ministry’s opinion, may need to hear the owner, and may require repayment of compensation.

Kunta may end a natural monument’s protection if the reasons for protection no longer exist or the protection blocks an important public-interest project or plan.

Kunta may end the protection of a natural monument if the legal basis no longer exists or if protection blocks an important public-interest project or plan.

Areas in the listed natural habitat types may not be altered if that would endanger the habitat’s characteristic features on that area.

Protected natural habitat areas must not be altered if the change would endanger the habitat’s characteristic features.

The ban takes effect once the ELY Centre has defined the area’s boundaries and notified the owners and holders; the ban must also be announced on the municipal notice board.

The ban enters into force when the ELY Centre has defined the protected area’s boundaries and notified the owners and holders. The decisions remain effective despite an appeal unless the appeal authority decides otherwise. If the natural values of the protected habitat have disappeared, protection may be revoked.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus may grant an exception in individual cases from the prohibition in section 29(1) if conservation objectives are not significantly endangered or if protection would prevent an extremely important public-interest project or plan.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus can grant a case-specific exemption from the prohibition in 29 §(1) if habitat conservation goals would not be significantly endangered, or if protection would prevent a project or plan of major public interest.

Maisema-alue voidaan perustaa luonnon- tai kulttuurimaiseman kauneuden, historiallisten ominaispiirteiden tai muiden erityisten arvojen säilyttämiseksi ja hoitamiseksi.

A landscape area may be established to preserve and manage the beauty, historical characteristics, or other special values of a natural or cultural landscape.

Ympäristöministeriö päättää valtakunnallisesti merkittävän maisema-alueen perustamisesta ja tarkoituksesta. Muiden maisema-alueiden osalta päättää elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus maakunnan liiton esityksestä.

The Ministry of the Environment decides on nationally significant landscape areas; other landscape areas are decided by the ELY Centre on the regional council’s proposal.

The regional ELY Centre may grant an exception to landscape-area rules in individual cases.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus voi myöntää yksittäistapauksessa poikkeuksen maisema-aluetta koskevista määräyksistä.

Maisema-alueen suojelu voidaan lakkauttaa tai suojelumääräyksiä lieventää, jos maisema-arvo on olennaisesti vähentynyt tai jos suojelu estää tärkeän yleisen edun hankkeen tai suunnitelman toteuttamisen.

Maisema-alueen suojelu voidaan lopettaa tai suojelumääräyksiä lieventää tietyissä tilanteissa.

You may not erect a sign on land or water area that forbids passage, landing, or other use of everyman’s rights without a legal basis.

A sign that forbids movement, landing, or using everyman’s rights may not be erected on land or water areas without a legal basis.

This section sets the chapter’s scope: it applies in Finland and Finland’s economic zone to wild animal and plant species, with stated exclusions, and the same rules extend to subspecies, breeds, stocks, forms, fungi, and fungal species.

This chapter applies in Finland and Finland’s economic zone to wild animal and plant species, with specified exceptions, and similar rules apply to subspecies, breeds, stocks, forms, fungi, and fungal species.

Mammals and birds within this chapter’s scope are protected; other animal species may be protected by decree if they become threatened or protection is otherwise needed.

Mammals and birds covered by this chapter are protected; other species may be protected by decree if they are threatened or protection is otherwise needed.

It prohibits intentionally killing, capturing, disturbing, or otherwise harming protected animal species, and also prohibits harmful hunting methods for invertebrates.

Rauhoitettuihin eläinlajeihin kuuluvia yksilöitä ei saa tahallisesti tappaa, pyydystää, ottaa haltuun, siirtää, vahingoittaa tai häiritä tietyissä suojelluissa tilanteissa. Tietyt pesäpuut ovat rauhoitettuja, ja haitalliset selkärangattomien pyyntikeinot ovat kiellettyjä.

A dead protected animal may not be taken into possession, but it may be delivered to a state research institute for examination. If properly processed and it has scientific, educational, or collection value, it may be taken and given to certain museums, institutions, or, with an ELY Centre permit, to others.

Kuolleena tavattua rauhoitettua eläintä ei saa ottaa haltuun, mutta sen voi toimittaa valtion tutkimuslaitokselle kuolinsyyn selvittämistä varten.

Sairaana, vahingoittuneena tai muulla tavoin avuttomassa tilassa tavattua rauhoitettua eläintä on pyrittävä auttamaan, ja eläin voidaan ottaa haltuun hoitoon kuljettamista ja tilapäistä hoitoa varten.

A protected animal found sick, injured, or otherwise helpless should be helped, and it may be taken into custody for transport to care and temporary care.

A wild plant species may be protected by regulation if it becomes endangered or protection is otherwise needed. Picking, collecting, cutting, uprooting, or destroying a protected plant, and similarly its seeds where applicable, is prohibited.

A wild plant species may be protected by regulation if its existence is threatened or protection is otherwise needed. Picking, collecting, cutting, uprooting, or destroying a protected plant—and, as applicable, its seeds—is prohibited.

This provision restricts releasing certain alien animal species into nature and planting or sowing certain alien plant species outside specified areas or in waters when they may form a permanent population.

EU-sääntöjen piiriin kuuluvien eläin- ja kasvilajien kauppaa, tuontia, vientiä, jälleenvientiä ja kauttakuljetusta koskee mainittu asetus; tietyt kuljetukset on hoidettava hyväksyttyjen rajanylityspaikkojen kautta.

This section makes the EU wildlife-trade rules apply to the listed species and their parts/derivatives, and it requires certain cross-border movements to go through approved border crossing points unless a regulation says otherwise.

Protected species, parts, and derivatives may not be imported, exported, sold, exchanged, or offered for sale or exchange without a permit from the ELY Centre.

Trade in protected animal or plant species listed here is banned unless a permit is obtained from the ELY Centre.

A regulation may declare a wild species endangered if its natural survival in Finland is endangered.

A decree may declare a wild species threatened if its natural survival in Finland is endangered.

Protected species occurrence sites may not be destroyed or impaired. The Environment Ministry must prepare a recovery program when needed, and the ELY Centre decides site boundaries and gives notice so the prohibition takes effect.

Certain protected species occurrence sites must not be destroyed or weakened, and the Environment Ministry must prepare a recovery programme when needed.

This section allows certain activities despite the protection rules and lets authorities grant derogations from the protection rules under specified conditions.

ELY-keskus may grant derogations from the protection rules if the species’ conservation status remains favourable; for nationwide applications, the Ministry of the Environment decides. The section does not apply to the species covered by section 49.

This section bans harming breeding and resting places of certain protected animal species, and bans possessing, transporting, selling, exchanging, or offering listed animal and plant specimens or their parts/derivatives, with some bird-related exceptions.

The ELY Centre may grant case-specific exemptions from these prohibitions on the stated legal grounds.

The Ministry of the Environment must promptly start implementing the approved nature conservation programme, consider protected values and threats when planning the order of implementation, and may stop implementation in part if the statutory conditions are met.

Ympäristöministeriön on ryhdyttävä toteuttamaan hyväksyttyä luonnonsuojeluohjelmaa viipymättä. Ministeriö voi myös päättää luopua toteuttamisesta osittain tietyissä olosuhteissa.

A landowner in a nature conservation program may demand redemption of the land after four years and once the approval decision is final, unless the program has already been implemented for that land or the matter has been agreed otherwise.

A nature conservation programme landowner may demand expropriation of the area after four years have passed from the approval decision, once the decision is final, unless the programme has already been implemented for that area or otherwise agreed.

The Government may expropriate real property and special rights for establishing protected areas or otherwise carrying out protection under this Act. The Environment Ministry may decide on the expropriation permit in certain protected-area and Natura 2000 cases.

Valtioneuvosto may expropriate land and special rights for establishing a nature conservation area or otherwise carrying out protection under the Act; in certain protected-area cases, the Ministry of the Environment may decide on the expropriation permit.

A property owner or holder of a special right may be entitled to full compensation from the state for significant harm caused by specified decisions or prohibitions, subject to stated prerequisites and exclusions.

The State must pay full compensation for significant harm caused to a landowner or holder of a special right in the situations described here, with some exceptions.

The ELY Centre may require that compensation under section 53 be paid in up to four annual instalments.

The compensation under section 53 may be paid in up to four annual installments if the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment պահանջs it, and interest must be paid on the installments after the first installment is paid.

The regional Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment may temporarily prohibit use of a protected area for up to two years, and the owner may be entitled to compensation if the protection later lapses and the ban caused significant harm.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus may prohibit certain use of a protected area for up to two years, and its decision must be obeyed even if appealed unless the appeal authority says otherwise. If protection later lapses and the owner suffers significant harm from the prohibition, the owner is entitled to compensation from the State.

If an expropriation permit has been granted, no action may be taken on the area that could endanger the purpose of the expropriation.

If an expropriation permit has been granted for an area or special right, no action may be taken in the area that could jeopardize the purpose of the expropriation.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus voi kieltää lainvastaisen teon tai laiminlyönnin jatkamisen, määrätä sen korjattavaksi ja käyttää uhkasakkoa, keskeyttämisuhkaa tai teettämisuhkaa. Toiminnanharjoittajan on ilmoitettava luontovahingosta viipymättä ja ryhdyttävä ehkäiseviin toimiin.

ELY-keskus can stop noncompliance, order repairs, and use fines or enforcement threats; operators must promptly report nature damage and take preventive action.

Section 58 says certain nature-protection breaches are punishable by a fine, and it also excludes some camping and vehicle-stopping situations from being treated as a nature protection offence when the restriction is not clearly marked.

This section sets penalties for certain nature conservation offences and infringements, mainly fines and the Criminal Code rules for environmental damage or nature conservation crimes.

If someone commits the act referred to in section 58, the person must forfeit the offence object to the state, and the value of a protected animal or plant may also be confiscated. The Ministry of the Environment sets indicative values for protected animals and plants.

People convicted of the act referred to in section 58 must forfeit the object of the offence to the State, and the value of protected animals or plants must also be forfeited. The Ministry of the Environment sets indicative values for protected animals and plants.

Luonnonsuojelualueen valvoja, ja tietyissä tapauksissa alueen omistaja, saa ottaa haltuunsa lainvastaisesti käytettyjä tai aiotusti käytettäviä välineitä sekä luvattomasti pyydystettyjä eläimiä ja otettuja kasveja. Rajavartiolaitos osallistuu lain noudattamisen valvontaan luonnonsuojelualueilla.

Luonnonsuojelualueen valvojalla, ja tietyissä tapauksissa alueen omistajalla, on oikeus ottaa haltuunsa kiellettyjä tai väärinkäytettyjä esineitä, eläimiä ja kasveja luonnonsuojelualueella. Rajavartiolaitos osallistuu lain noudattamisen valvontaan alueilla.

This section lists who may appeal certain environmental decisions and which court hears the appeal.

This section sets out who may appeal certain environmental and administrative decisions, and which court hears the appeal.

Hallinto-oikeuden päätöksestä voi tietyissä asioissa valittaa, ja muissa asioissa valittaminen edellyttää valituslupaa korkeimmalta hallinto-oikeudelta.

Päätöksistä saa valittaa hallinto-oikeuteen tai korkeimpaan hallinto-oikeuteen, ja valitusoikeus on tietyillä asianosaisilla, kunnilla sekä tietyillä ympäristöä edistävillä yhteisöillä.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus may appeal certain permit-granting or plan-approval decisions made under another law if the decision conflicts with this Act or rules issued under it.

This section says when an administrative court decision may be appealed, and when an appeal requires leave to appeal from the Supreme Administrative Court.

Säännös kuvaa Natura 2000 -verkoston sisältöä Suomessa, menettelyä alue-ehdotuksia valmisteltaessa, valtioneuvoston toimivaltaa tietojen muuttamisessa sekä sitä, että alueen suojeluarvoja ei saa merkittävästi heikentää.

Hallinto-oikeuden päätöksestä saa valittaa korkeimpaan hallinto-oikeuteen. Jos hallinto-oikeus muuttaa tai kumoaa viranomaisen päätöksen, myös päätöksen tehnyt viranomainen voi valittaa.

Project or plan promoters must assess likely significant effects on Natura 2000 area values in the situations described, and authorities must supervise the assessment and request opinions.

Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskuksella on oikeus valittaa tietyistä muun lain mukaisista lupa- tai suunnitelmapäätöksistä, jos päätös on tämän lain tai sen nojalla annettujen säännösten tai määräysten vastainen.

The authority must not grant a permit or approve a plan if the assessment shows significant harm to Natura 2000 values, unless the government makes a special overriding-public-interest decision.

The provision defines Finland’s Natura 2000 network, sets notice and publication steps for proposing areas, gives the Government plenary session power to change scientific information, and prohibits significant harm to the conservation values of Natura 2000 areas.

Sections 65 and 66 apply to an area where the Commission has announced negotiations for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network; if the Commission does not approve the proposed area or the Council does not decide to include the area, the application of sections 65 and 66 stops.

Projects or plans that may significantly harm Natura 2000 conservation values must be assessed, and authorities must act on related notifications and opinions.

Authorities must promote Natura 2000 conservation measures and consider the protection basis when planning and funding decisions are made.

Viranomainen ei saa myöntää lupaa tai hyväksyä suunnitelmaa, jos arviointi osoittaa merkittäviä haittoja Natura 2000 -luonnonarvoille, ellei valtioneuvosto tee poikkeuspäätöstä. Korvaavat toimenpiteet on määrättävä ja niiden kustannuksista vastaa hankkeen tai suunnitelman toteuttaja.

A Natura 2000 area’s protection may be lifted or eased only under stated legal conditions, and the environment ministry must immediately take measures if a decision worsens the network’s coherence or natural values.

Section 67 says that the rules in sections 65 and 66 apply correspondingly to areas where the Commission has announced negotiations for inclusion in Natura 2000, and that those rules stop applying if approval or inclusion is not decided.

Under this provision, certain decisions are free of charge.

Viranomaisten on edistettävä Natura 2000 -alueiden suojelua tukevia toimenpiteitä, ja suojeluperusteet on otettava huomioon kaavoituksessa.

Laki tai sen nojalla tehdyt päätökset eivät rajoita ennen rauhoitusmääräysten voimaantuloa perustetun, luonnonsuojelualueeseen kohdistuvan rasite-, vuokra- tai muun vastaavan oikeuden käyttämistä. Oikeus voidaan kuitenkin lunastaa valtiolle.

Natura 2000 -alueen suojelu voidaan lakkauttaa tai rauhoitusmääräyksiä lieventää vain tietyin edellytyksin, ja jos päätös heikentää verkoston yhtenäisyyttä tai luonnonarvoja, ympäristöministeriön on ryhdyttävä välittömästi määrättyihin toimiin.

Rules about an authority also apply to other associations or bodies that use public power under authority given by law.

Certain decisions under this Act are free of charge.

This section says the rules in section 64(2) on preparing and approving Natura 2000 network areas must be followed similarly when preparing proposals for the Baltic Sea protected area network. It also says the appeal-right rules in section 64(4) apply similarly.

Pre-existing easement-like rights over a nature conservation area are not restricted by this law or decisions made under it; however, such rights may be expropriated to the state.

Lain täytäntöönpanoa koskevat tarkemmat säännökset annetaan asetuksella.

Jos ELY-keskus saa metsäkeskukselta tietyn ilmoituksen, sen on ryhdyttävä toimiin liito-oravan lisääntymis- tai levähdyspaikan ja sallitun metsänkäsittelyn määrittämiseksi sekä annettava päätös viipymättä.

This section sets the law’s start date and allows some pre-commencement application and implementation steps.

When preparing a proposal for areas to be included in the Baltic Sea marine environmental protection area network, the rules from section 64(2) on drafting and approval must be followed in the same way; the appeal right is governed in the same way as in section 64(4).

This section repeals the old Nature Conservation Act, keeps earlier protected-area decisions and related rules in force unless changed or repealed, and converts certain references to the old law into references to this law after commencement.

Further provisions for implementing this Act are issued by decree.

The Government must review the listed earlier nature protection programmes and decisions when needed.

This section says the law enters into force on 1 January 1997, and some preparatory implementation actions may be taken before that date.

This section repeals an earlier nature conservation law and sets transition rules so existing conservation-area decisions, related protections, and certain prior measures remain in force unless changed, repealed, or replaced.

Rules from the listed nature-conservation provisions also apply to earlier government-approved protection programs and decisions, and the Government must review those programs and decisions when needed.