In the Arctic winter, frost that forms on the trees day after day creates a thick layer of ice, turning them into tykky, or “the sentinels of the Arctic.” Tykky forms when water vapor in the humid air freezes on contact with the icy branches, creating unique and often surreal shapes. With temperatures ranging from -5 to -30 degrees, the trees, buried under this thick armor, give life to untouched places with an almost alien appearance. I took this photo during a snowshoe walk in the Sompio Strict Nature Reserve, in Urho Kekkonen National Park, one of the largest parks in northern Finland.

We had spent the night in the car, looking for a clear sky to admire the aurora that had brought us as far as Norway. It was a night with some success, although we got stuck in the snow on a small road near the border and were rescued by a weekly commuter returning home for the weekend.

We left in the late morning for this hike, which took us to the top of Phyna Nattanen. It’s a simple walk in summer, but in winter it becomes a snowshoe hike of several hours. Under a flat light, typical of midday sun on a cold sunny day, I took this photo of two tykky shaped by the freezing wind, which had drawn complex patterns on the surface of the snow.

Finland has very advanced systems for monitoring and managing its forests, including detailed databases on the country’s trees. It uses national forest inventories and remote sensing technologies (such as satellite images, LIDAR, and drones) to map and record information on millions of trees. These databases include data on species, location, height, diameter, and tree health, useful for sustainable forest management, ecological studies, and environmental protection.

Forests cover about 74% of Finland’s total area. In numbers, this means that out of about 338,000 km², around 248,000 km² are covered by forests. Finland is one of the most forested countries in Europe, and forests are a key natural resource for its economy, biodiversity, and culture.

The creation of protected areas and the sustainable management of forests have helped prevent a drastic reduction in forest cover. In some areas, the quality of the timber and biodiversity are also showing positive signs thanks to these measures.

However, there are still major challenges to face. In recent years, forests in Finland have started to emit more CO₂ than they absorb. This happens because higher temperatures and periods of drought stress the trees, causing more deaths and slower growth. Dead trees release the carbon stored in the wood and soil. Acid rain, insect outbreaks, and diseases are also increasing, weakening the forests and killing more trees. If the amount of dead material increases (for example, after storms or infestations), emissions rise.

The Finnish forest is therefore shifting from being a “net absorber” of CO₂ to a “net emitter,” at least temporarily. This is an important sign that climate change and other pressures are altering the natural balance of the forests.

ICE TREES