Finnish Outdoor activity is based on Everyman’s Rights

General Manager Eki Karlsson

Finnish Outdoor activity is based on Everyman’s Rights

• Finland in brief

• Suomen Latu – the Finnish Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities

• Finnish Outdoor Statistics

• Everyman’s Rights

• Outdoor Players in Finland

4.3.2014 Eki Karlsson

Finland in brief

• Total area: 338,144 km², of which 10% is water and 69% forest

• Population: 5.3 million

• 15.7 inhabitants per km², European countries average is over 10 bigger (177 inhabitants per km²)

-> one reason for wide everyman’s rights in Finland

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Suomen LatuThe Finnish Central Association for

Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities

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Suomen Latu• NGO (non-governmental organization) with

• 78 000 members

• 225 member associations

• Promotes over 20 outdoor activities • Nordic Skiing, Trekking, Winter swimming, Snow Shoeing etc.

• Develops new outdoor activities• Developer organization of Nordic Walking

• Newest supported activity: Geocaching

• Protects interest of• Everyman’s Rights

• Outdoor Facilities (Places, Routes, National Parks, Laws etc)

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Testbed for Artic Outdoor ActivitiesFell Centre Kiilopää

• Suomen Latu owns fell center for 200 accommodation and restaurant customers

• One of the best place in Lappland.

• Trekking, Cross Country and Fell skiing, Moomin Ski Schools, Snowshoe Walking, Yukigasse, Snow Sculpting, Bird Watching , Geocaching, Smoke Sauna & winter swimming in frosty fountain!

• http://www.kiilopaa.fi

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Everyman’s Rights in Finland

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IN FINLAND 96% OF LAND

CAN BE USED BY EVERYONE

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Everyman’s right: Definition

• Right to use land and water areas

• Right to use certain natural products

• Right is not dependent on the user of the

right or the owner of the area

• Land owner can affect right by land use

• The user of the right may not cause

damage or disturbance! = Responsibility

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Everyman’s rights in Finland

• Free access to waterways

• Boating, anchoring, swimming, driving snowmobiles,

etc is allowed

• Free access to land

• Orienteering, short term camping, running, walking,

cross country skiing, picking berries etc is allowed

• Using motorized vehicles are not everyman’s right

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Everyman’s rights in Finland

• Natural products are partly everyman’s right

• Dry twigs and branches, fallen cones and nuts,

berries, mushrooms, fishing (with a rod and line) and

(most) flowers is allowed to pick up

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Outdoor Statistics In Finland

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Participation in outdoor recreationamong Finnish adult population

82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 100

15-24 years

25-44 years

45-64 years

65-74 years

All age groups

participation rate, % of population

Participation in outdoor recreation

2010

2000

Everyday outdoor activities

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Runnisg, jogging

Walking dog

Outdoor activities with children

Bicycling

Nordic walking

Walking for pleasure or fitness

participation rate, % of population

Participation in everyday outdoor activities

2010

2000

Source: Finnish Forest Research Institute 2011

Forest Recreation

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Hunting

Leisure forest work

Picking mushrooms

Picking wild berries

Participation rate, % of population

Participation in forest recreation

2010

2000

Outdoor players in Finland

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Outdoor players in Finland

Ministry of Education and

Culture

Sport NGOs, as Suomen Latu, skiers

Non sport NGOs, as

ScoutsMunicipalities

Metsähallitus (~Forest

Administration)

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Thank You

Eki Karlsson

eki.karlsson@suomenlatu.fi

4.3.2014