Everyone’s forest
In Finland, everyone has the right to access forests under the principle of 'Everyone’s Right.' This means that anyone can freely walk, hike, pick berries and mushrooms, and enjoy nature in forests regardless of land ownership, as long as they follow certain guidelines.
In the US, access to private forests is generally restricted without the landowner's permission. However, following the Finnish tradition, we have made an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to open our forests around the UPM Blandin paper mill in Grand Rapids to the local community. The easement grants public access for recreational purposes such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling in perpetuity.