A working group appointed by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Defence has determined that nature restoration in eastern and northern Finland can generate synergies with national defence, including by creating natural obstacles to movement across terrain.
The Finnish Government states in a press release dated 15 June 2026 that the restoration of peatlands and former peat production areas can help create natural barriers to movement across terrain, while also supporting biodiversity and climate adaptation.
"The working group's final report shows that nature restoration also benefits national defence. Private actors have already expressed interest in financing nature restoration that contributes to national defence," said Sari Multala, Minister for the Environment and Climate, in the press release.
The working group estimates that peatlands in eastern and northern Finland where restoration would also benefit defence cover at least 180,000 hectares. The working group emphasises that the potential is greatest on state-owned land, and that measures on private land should be carried out on a voluntary basis.
"Finland's natural environment and national defence both benefit from this cooperation. There are significant combined advantages to be gained from nature restoration, and the defence administration is prepared to support continued measures at various levels," said Antti Häkkänen, Minister of Defence, in the press release.
The working group proposes a number of measures to realise the synergies, including continued and deepened cooperation between the environmental and defence administrations, the allocation of additional resources for restoration, and the use of EU funding and private capital. The working group was chaired by Tarja Haaranen, Director General at the Finnish Ministry of the Environment.