Report: Outdoor activities in Finnish national parks saved society EUR 164 million in 2022

Photo: Metsähallitus / Saara Lavi

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Nature brings many benefits, however, to ensure adequate political and financial support it is important to relate this into numbers. Metsähallitus / Parks & Wildlife Finland have done exactly that in this new study.

Expert article from Tiina Hakkarainen, Manager, Corporate Relations. Metsähallitus / Parks & Wildlife Finland

Metsähallitus and the UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research calculated the benefits of outdoor activities for the Finnish economy.

In 2022, people participating in outdoor activities in National Parks and hiking areas reduced the costs to Finish society by EUR 164 million. This is done in the following two ways: outdoor sports reduce the costs incurred by chronic diseases, whilst also helping people retain their ability to work.

In 2022, more than 6.2 million visits were made to Metsähallitus nature sites. If the number of visitors to nature sites remained at least at the current level, the estimated savings would amount to as much as EUR 1.6 billion over the next 10 years. Compared to the costs incurred to society by sedentary lifestyles, the maintenance of nature sites is a cost-effective way of saving on these costs and promoting public health.

Many of Metsähallitus nature sites are suitable for day trips for the whole family, thus providing a socially significant means of increasing the physical activity of the population in addition to other methods of exercise.

Outdoor activity can generate far more savings than at present

The calculations made by the UKK Institute and Metsähallitus are underpinned by the costs of sedentary lifestyles to society, which amount to approximately EUR 3.2 billion annually. The costs of sedentary lifestyles are based on research conducted in cooperation with the UKK Institute, the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE), JAMK University of Applied Sciences, LIKES and the University of Turku Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine (CAPC).

The savings generated by outdoor activities were calculated taking into account the physical activity recommendation issued for Finns aged 18 and over as well as the extent to which people comply with it. This compliance was compared to how much it saves society on the costs incurred by national diseases and productivity costs.

Productivity costs refer to indirect costs incurred by society due to loss of production, such as sick leaves, disability pensions and premature deaths. The number of visits to nature sites on state-owned land managed by Metsähallitus was used to calculate the savings in 2022.

The calculations include Metsähallitus nature sites where it has been theoretically possible to engage in body weight outdoor activities during the recommended number of visits.

Funding for Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland comes from the Finnish Government

Funding for Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland mainly comes from the state budget. Many tasks are also carried out as projects with partners, partly with external funding, most notably from the European Union.

The funding for Parks & Wildlife Finland has been cut in recent years. For this reason, the UKK Institute report on savings from outdoor activities was of particularly importance.

Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland manages all 41 Finnish National Parks and provides free basic services at sites, at customer service points and online. Parks & Wildlife Finland provides free basic services for hikers so that as many people as possible can enjoy nature. Good hiking services make it possible to engage in outdoor activities safely and without disturbing the environment. It is also easy for nature tourism companies to develop their sustainable nature tourism activities on the basis of these services.

Further information:

Kolu P, Kari JT, Raitanen J, Sievänen H, Tokola K, Havas E, Pehkonen J, Tammelin TH, Pahkala K, Hutri-Kähönen N, Raitakari OT, Vasankari T. Economic burden of low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour in Finland. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2022 Jul; 76(7):677-684. doi: 10.1136/jech-2021-217998 (PDF, 592 kb, jech.bmj.com)

Download here the original study “Economic burden of low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour in Finland”

Download the study