The goal of the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland 2008-2016, or METSO, is to halt the decline of forested habitat types and forest species and to establish the favourable development of natural biodiversity by the year 2016. The scientific selection criteria of METSO list ten habitats that are significant in terms of biodiversity. Their protection is based on voluntary action by forest owners.

The Forest Biodiversity Programme 2008-2016 was the subject of a government policy decision in 2008, simultaneously with the National Forest Programme 2015. The METSO Programme contains 14 measures for safeguarding and increasing biodiversity both in conservation areas and in commercial forests.