Evaluation of conservation status

The conservation status of large carnivores is evaluated according to the implementation report of the Habitats Directive.

The starting point in evaluating the overall conservation status of a species differs from endangerment evaluations. Conservation status is evaluated based on biogeographical regions, which in Finland include Boreal and Alpine regions. Evaluation of the overall conservation status takes into account the stability and expansion rate of the natural distribution area of an animal population, as well as the size of the population, how it is developing, how the animal's required habitat is preserved and what the prediction is for the species' future.

Boreal region

	Distribution area	Population	Habitat	Prediction for the future	Overall conservation status
Wolf	FV	U1-	FV	xx	U1-
Wolverine	FV	U1+	FV	FV	U1+
Lynx	FV	FV	FV	FV	FV
Brown bear	FV	FV	FV	FV	FV

Alpine region

	Distribution area	Population	Habitat	Prediction for the future	Overall conservation status
Wolf	FV	U1	FV	xx	U1
Wolverine	FV	FV	FV	xx	FV
Lynx	FV	FV	FV	xx	FV
Brown bear	FV	FV	FV	FV	FV

Abbreviations

FV	Favourable
U1	Unfavourable-Inadequate
U2	Unfavourable-Bad
plus	Situation improving
minus	Situation declining
xx	Not known, not evaluated

Sightings as the basis of population estimates

Natural Resources Institute Finland's (Luke) estimates on the numbers of animals are primarily based on sighting data collected by a volunteer organisation consisting of the contact persons of regional game management associations. Other utilised methods include on-the-ground censuses made by hunter...

Conservation and hunting ›

Large carnivores and society

Large carnivores elicit strong reactions from people. On the one hand they are feared and hated, and on the other there is a desire to protect them and they are viewed as symbols of the wilderness. In reality, most people know fairly little of our large carnivores.

Large carnivores and us ›

Population management

Population management plans for large carnivores

The views held by Finns are sometimes conflicting when it comes to the population management and conservation of large carnivores. In order to piece together these different views, national management plans are created.

More than 500 nature visitors required intervention

Metsähallitus

For the first time, Metsähallitus wilderness supervision has monitored the results of its work in real time throughout the year. The new system reveals that 368 people violated the law while in nature, and 169 people were caught without necessary permits.

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