Lusto
The Finnish Forest Museum
Lustontie 1
58450 PUNKAHARJU
Finland
Phone +358 15 345 100
Telefax +358 15 345 1050
lusto@lusto.fi
The state forest service institute, Metsähallitus, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. In honor of this special occasion, Metsähallitus and the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto have prepared a jubilee exhibition, Encounters in the Forest. In the separate scenes of the exhibit, people of different eras discuss hot forestry topics of their day.
Metsähallitus has always been integrally connected to Finnish society and its turning points. During the existence of Metsähallitus, uncountable true scenes and encounters have been put forth on the ever-changing and pluralistic stage that is the forest. The events of the exhibition take place in the forest, and around the world, as well as in logging huts and offices. Thus they offer an interesting window into the shared history and journey of Metsähallitus and all Finns.
During the beginning of the 19th century no accurate understanding of Finland’s forest assets existed, and it was commonly feared that all forest reserves would dwindle, and eventually run out. The iron and saw industries, peasants, farmers, and landless folk utilized forest reserves freely during those times. As a result of the Basic Land Consolidation-process (Isojako), state and private lands were separated from each other, and reformation of forest legislation was begun.
A temporary forest management institution was established in 1851, and by 1859 it was regularized as Metsähallitus. From the viewpoint of ordinary folk this meant a new supervising agent for state owned forests, which had previously been freely utilized. Metsähallitus was in charge of managing and protecting state forests, as well as bringing in profits for the state. Because of this dualistic purpose, conflicts between the institution and ordinary people could not always be avoided.
The modern Metsähallitus-corporation is a conglomerate whose areas of business include forest economy, the refinement and sale of soil, property sales emphasizing on leisure property, seed and sapling production, as well as nature and game tourism and travel. In addition to these, Metsähallitus also manages all national parks, national hiking areas, and wilderness and other protected areas.
An exhibition at the Finnish Forest Museum Lusto at Punkaharju, May 20th - March 28th, 2010