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Accessibility of recreation services (6.10)
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| Orienteering in the forest gives new experience for every hobbyist
regardless of the level of the skills. |
Figure 6.10. Visits to national parks, hiking areas and nature
centres, 2000–2010.
Source: Metsähallitus |
Hiking and other outdoor activities in the forest as enabled by
Everyman’s Rights are part of the Finnish way of life and leisure
time. Areas designated for outdoor activities, extensive conservation
areas and large tracts of forest provide excellent opportunities
for outdoor recreation. Movement in forests is only restricted
in military areas and strictly protected nature reserves,
where access requires a permit. Strict nature reserves are principally
closed to the public, although some of them have marked
paths for public access. Restrictions to free access apply to about
0.4% of the area of forestry land in Finland.
About half of all outdoor recreation excursions in forests occur
on privately owned land. Two fifths occur in local municipal
recreation areas, which are important particularly for the residents
of large cities and other built-up areas. One fifth occurs
on State land.
Finns own 485,000 leisure homes in Finland, most of them in
a forest and along a waterway. Leisure homes are popular: in
2009, 64% of the population spent time at a leisure home, and
the average number of visits per year was 38.
Table 6.10. Participation in outdoor recreation activities in Finland, 1998–2000 and 2009
Source: Finnish Forest Research Institute, National inventory of recreational use of nature.
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Outdoor activity |
Participation rate |
Number of participation |
|
1998–2000 |
2009 |
1998–2000 |
2009 |
% of the population |
Number during one year |
Hand-picking of berries and other nature products |
Picking wild berries |
56 |
56 |
8 |
7 |
Picking mushrooms |
38 |
41 |
7 |
7 |
Picking herbs and flowers |
17 |
25 |
9 |
6 |
Forestry work |
|
|
|
|
Harvesting of household and fuelwood |
30 |
43 |
12 |
13 |
Forest management in leisure time |
10 |
16 |
9 |
12 |
Hunting and game |
Bird hunting |
6 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
Small game hunting |
5 |
7 |
15 |
14 |
Game management |
4 |
5 |
13 |
13 |
Moose hunting |
3 |
4 |
12 |
15 |
Activities on snow and ice |
Skiing |
46 |
43 |
17 |
14 |
Snowmobiling |
10 |
10 |
13 |
9 |
Other activities in forests |
Hiking |
23 |
27 |
26 |
14 |
Camping on the terrain |
8 |
12 |
6 |
5 |
Orienteering |
4 |
5 |
11 |
12 |
Other outdoor activities |
Walking |
68 |
71 |
113 |
66 |
Bicycling |
55 |
54 |
48 |
33 |
Sightseeing in nature |
35 |
51 |
34 |
21 |
Activities with children |
30 |
33 |
40 |
28 |
Picnicking |
30 |
37 |
7 |
7 |
Walking the dog |
25 |
28 |
213 |
166 |
Running and jogging |
16 |
30 |
50 |
39 |
Birdwatching |
14 |
21 |
56 |
44 |
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