Finland is surrounded by the Baltic Sea and a quarter of the
country lies above the Arctic Circle. It boasts Europe’s largest
forest cover of 23 million ha (75% of the national territory).
Water bodies, mainly lakes which number some 190,000, account
for a further 10% of land area. Finland’s 180,000 islands make
it Europe’s largest archipelago. The 1886 Forest Act was the
first of its kind, pre-dating even the Swedish Forestry Act
(Skogsvårdslagen) of 1903. It mandates replanting of every
forested area. Household waste recycling has been in place for
20 years and 80% of packaging is reused. To encourage continued
recycling, the Helsinki Environment Centre organises composting
information sessions. In this fairly flat country, slow-moving
waterways are exposed to all types of pollution. Phosphates and
fertilisers have already damaged some Baltic coastal areas.
Rational, organic agriculture practices have yet to be
implemented. Energy: the country has no coal, oil, or natural
gas reserves. Hydroelectric generat