Southern Finland Research Articles

Yield, Quality and Nitrogen Use of Forage Maize under Different Nitrogen Application Rates in Two Boreal Locations

Research focusing on the nitrogen (N) application and N use of forage maize (Zea mays L.) in the boreal region is either limited or non-existent. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of yield, quality and N recovery efficiency (NRE) of forage maize to an increase in the N application rate and different climatic conditions in two locations in Finland. The field experiment was conducted in southern (Helsinki; 60° N) and central (Maaninka; 63° N) Finland in 2019 and 2020. Dry matter (DM) yield, forage quality and NRE were determined for N application rates of 100, 150 and 200 N kg ha−1. The DM yield was similar to all studied N application rates. Moreover, there were no marked differences in the studied forage quality traits or the NRE following the N application rates. However, the NRE of maize was generally low at 45%. The current study recommends a N application rate of 100–150 N kg ha−1 for forage maize in the boreal region. There is no need to increase the N application from current recommendations since climate conditions seem to limit the growth, development and NRE of forage maize. The observed low NRE of forage maize warrants further research in the future.

Mesolithic shadow play? Exploring the performative attributes of a zoomorphic wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) antler artefact from Finland

ABSTRACT Throughout history, humans have told stories to one another. Although these stories have largely disappeared over the course of time, they have sometimes left material remains, for instance in the form of rock art. However, rock art might not be the only materialization of prehistoric storytelling practices. On the contrary, if made active again, other prehistoric artefacts might also bring past storytelling practices back to life. In this paper, we examine how storytelling might have taken place in Late Mesolithic Finland (c. 6800–5200 cal BCE). As a case study, we investigate a zoomorphic wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) antler artefact from southern Finland, the so-called ‘Lepaa artefact’, with multidisciplinary methods arising from the traditions of experimental archaeology, 3D technologies, and artistic research. As a result, we suggest that Mesolithic storytelling might have been entangled with ritual practices and accompanied by performances that resemble traditional shadow theatre.

Anthropogenic Illumination as Guiding Light for Nocturnal Bird Migrants Identified by Remote Sensing

Migrant birds rely on environmental and celestial cues for navigation and orientation during their journeys. Adverse weather, such as heavy rain or fog, but also thick layers of low-level clouds, affect visibility and can challenge birds’ ability to orientate. Therefore, birds typically favour certain meteorological conditions for migration. Photopollution from artificial lights outdoors and radiated from buildings is known to negatively affect nocturnal migrants’ flight behaviour and trajectories, which may lead to collisions with human infrastructure. Positive effects of artificial light have been identified in some stationary birds, e.g., for extended foraging hours, though not during migration. In the present study, we show the effect of artificial light on the concentration and flight directions of migrating birds during overcast conditions in the peri-urban woodland in Southern Finland. Overcast conditions, by low-level clouds, prompted birds to migrate at low altitudes. Instead of spatially homogenous large-scale migration patterns, birds were observed to adapt their flight directions, in accordance with the artificial lights of the urbanized area. By using dual- and single-polarisation weather radar data we were able to study small-scale patterns of bird movements under the influence of low-level cloud layers. These cases show the remarkable capability of the existing weather radar networks to study bird migration.

Operational Challenges of Modern Demand-Control Ventilation Systems: A Field Study

To maintain proper indoor air quality and increase energy efficiency, a demand-control ventilation (DCV) system has become a popular solution. This paper reports the findings of a field study conducted on the performance of the DCV systems in eight public buildings in southern Finland. We conducted the measurements in two stages. In the first stage, we made a site visit and measured the airflow rates in the design operation conditions of the chosen space. For the second stage, we left temperature/humidity data loggers to monitor the thermal conditions during the normal operation mode of the space. The results indicate that, out of the eight studied spaces, only one DCV system was performing according to design specifications. While the systems were operating in a suboptimal way, the flaws in functionality were mostly minor, and none of the sites had perceived indoor-air-quality- and/or thermal-condition-related problems during the time of measurement. Nonetheless, this result shows that the potential benefits of DCV were partially lost due to malfunctioning systems. Additionally, by only monitoring room air temperature (or IAQ) without airflow rate measurements in different operation modes, it is not possible to conclude whether the DCV system works properly or not.

Dynamics of the Cavities of Grey-Headed Woodpeckers Picus canus Reveal Their Long- and Short-Term Ecological Roles in Boreal Forests

Cavities provide suitable microhabitats for various organisms. Therefore, cavity excavators are important species in forest environments. We observed large differences in both persistence and occupancy of the cavities of Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus monitored during the whole cavity lifespan in a 33-year study in southern Finland. Of a total of 80 cavities studied, the median persistence time was 17 years, but this varied from a median lifespan of 29 years for cavities in living trees to only 9 years for cavities in dead trees. The expected number of life-span nests of forest bird species per old cavity was 4.2 in living, and only 1.6 in dead trees. Ten bird species utilised the old cavities (most frequently Great Tit Parus major, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca). The results show that both suitable living and dead trees should be available for cavity excavators such as the Grey-headed Woodpecker, and that living and dead trees may have different, but important ecological roles for cavity-nesting birds in boreal forests.

Monazite record for the Paleoproterozoic Svecofennian orogeny, SE Finland: An over 150-Ma spread of monazite dates

The Svecofennian orogeny in Fennoscandia is an example of a long-lived orogeny characterised by low pressure, high temperature (LP–HT) metamorphism. In this paper, we present new LA-ICP-MS age data on monazite from fifteen paragneiss samples and two granitoid samples from the southeastern part of the Svecofennian orogen, including the Sulkava granulite complex. The high-grade rocks in the study area were metamorphosed at ca. 750–800 °C and 5–6 kbar, followed by near-isothermal decompression down to 3–4 kbar. The analysed monazites yielded 207Pb/206Pb dates from 1953 to 1737 Ma. The youngest dates are typically yielded by rims and overgrowths of monazites and by younger domains in patchy monazite grains. Psammitic and pelitic layers from the same outcrop display differences in monazite date distributions, with younger dates being more common in pelitic layers. Both detrital and metamorphic origins are possible for the ≥1.91 Ga monazite grains found in some samples. For the younger (<1.91 Ga) monazite grains, we found three main age peaks. The peak at 1.89–1.86 Ga fits well with the high-grade metamorphic event at 1.89–1.88 Ga observed elsewhere in southern and central Finland. The 1.87–1.86 Ga interval dates a near-isothermal decompression stage. The age peak at 1.83–1.82 Ga records the age of younger high-grade metamorphism in the study area. The age peak at 1.80–1.77 Ga is interpreted to represent isotopic resetting due to fluid-induced alteration during a shield-wide exhumation stage, when waning magmatism, leucosome crystallisation and a change towards brittle-ductile deformation led to localised fluid flow before cratonisation. The dates between the age peaks could be explained in part by mixed isotopic ages in patchy grains without clear growth zones.

The perceptions of different professionals on school absenteeism and the role of school health care: A focus group study conducted in Finland.

School absenteeism and school dropout jeopardize the future health and wellbeing of students. Reports on the participation of school health care in absenteeism reduction are infrequent, although physical and mental health problems are the most common causes of school absenteeism. Our aim was to explore what reasons different professionals working in schools recognize for absenteeism and which factors either promote or inhibit the inclusion of school health care in absenteeism reduction. Data for this qualitative study was gathered from ten focus groups conducted in two municipalities in southern Finland. The groups included (vice) principals, special education/resource/subject teachers, guidance counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, school doctors, and social workers working in child protective services. Data analysis was predominantly inductive but the categorization of our results was based on existing literature. Study participants identified student-, family-, and school-related reasons for absenteeism but societal reasons went unmentioned. A number of reasons promoting the inclusion of school health care in absenteeism reduction arose, such as expertise in health-related issues and the confidentiality associated with health care. Inclusion of school health care was hindered by differences in work culture and differing perceptions regarding the aims of school health care. Professionals working in schools were knowledgeable about the different causes of school absenteeism. Clarifying both the aims of school health care and the work culture of different professionals could facilitate the inclusion of school health care in absenteeism reduction.

Does growing atmospheric CO2 explain increasing carbon sink in a boreal coniferous forest?

The terrestrial net ecosystem productivity (NEP) has increased during the past three decades, but the mechanisms responsible are still unclear. We analyzed 17 years (2001–2017) of eddy‐covariance measurements of NEP, evapotranspiration (ET) and light and water use efficiency from a boreal coniferous forest in Southern Finland for trends and inter‐annual variability (IAV). The forest was a mean annual carbon sink (252 [±42] gC m‐2 a‐1), and NEP increased at rate +6.4–7.0 gC m‐2 a‐1 (or ca. +2.5% a‐1) during the period. This was attributed to the increasing gross‐primary productivity GPP and occurred without detectable change in ET. The start of annual carbon uptake period was advanced by 0.7 d a‐1, and increase in GPP and NEP outside the main growing season contributed ca. one‐third and one‐fourth of the annual trend, respectively. Meteorological factors were responsible for the IAV of fluxes but did not explain the long‐term trends. The growing season GPP trend was strongest in ample light during the peak growing season. Using a multi‐layer ecosystem model, we showed that direct CO2 fertilization effect diminishes when moving from leaf to ecosystem, and only 30–40% of the observed ecosystem GPP increase could be attributed to CO2. The increasing trend in leaf‐area index (LAI), stimulated by forest thinning in 2002, was the main driver of the enhanced GPP and NEP of the mid‐rotation managed forest. It also compensated for the decrease of mean leaf stomatal conductance with increasing CO2 and LAI, explaining the apparent proportionality between observed GPP and CO2 trends. The results emphasize that attributing trends to their physical and physiological drivers is challenged by strong IAV, and uncertainty of LAI and species composition changes due to the dynamic flux footprint. The results enlighten the underlying mechanisms responsible for the increasing terrestrial carbon uptake in the boreal zone.

Self-Efficacy, Internet Self-Efficacy, and Proxy Efficacy as Predictors of the Use of Digital Social and Health Care Services Among Mental Health Service Users in Finland: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of services, but at the same time, some user groups are excluded due to a lack of digital skills. One of the vulnerable groups is people with mental health problems. It has previously been found that self-efficacy beliefs explain the use of digital technology, but the role of social support is largely unexamined. Bandura’s concept of proxy agency provides a useful concept to investigate the role of social support in using digital services.ObjectiveThe study investigates sources of social support and the effect of proxy agency, Internet efficacy, and self-efficacy beliefs on the intention to use digital health and social care services.MethodsParticipants (N = 121) were users in community-based mental health services who were recruited through four organizations in southern Finland for a cross-sectional study. The scales for proxy agency and intention to use services were developed for purpose of the study. The questionnaire also comprised self-efficacy and Internet efficacy scales. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis.ResultsBoth Internet self-efficacy and proxy efficacy (p < 0.001) predicted the intention to use digital health and social care services. Self-efficacy had an indirect positive effect on intention through Internet self-efficacy. Family members and friends were the main source of social support in using digital services.ConclusionInternet self-efficacy and proxy efficacy are important contributors to the intention to use digital health and social care services. Proxy agents may serve as facilitators to reduce the digital divide and promote the use of digital services by complementing individuals’ self-efficacy and Internet self-efficacy beliefs. It is important to develop different forms of social support, such as peer support, to enhance the quality of proxy agency. The limitations of proxy agency are discussed.

Latent profile analysis as a method for process evaluations: Discovering response subgroups in a mindfulness intervention

RationaleClustering techniques have been used within intervention studies to locate any distinct subgroups among intervention participants. One way in which they have not yet been utilized, but for which there is potential benefit, is in finding different motivational and behavioral response types to a newly introduced behavior. ObjectiveThis study aimed to use latent profile analyses (the same as latent class analyses except with continuous indicator variables) to identify 1) types, or classes, in terms of social cognitive responses to a mindfulness intervention, using The Reasoned Action Approach constructs, and 2) longitudinal/change trajectory classes of the target behavior (i.e., mindfulness practice). MethodsThe data derived from a school-based mindfulness intervention (N = 1646) among 12-15 year-olds, conducted in southern Finland from 2014 to 2016. We explored associations between the identified classes and with gender, linguocultural group, and mental health and practice outcomes. ResultsAnalyses indicated a solution of five latent classes for both social cognition post-intervention—Uncertain but Positive (40.2%), Acceptable but No (18.8%), Indifferent (16.8), Inclined (15.5%), Disinclined (8.6%)—and practice trajectories—Stable Low (52.1%), Decreased from Seldom (25.8%), Decreased from Sometimes (10.7%), Increased from Zero (6.8%), Increased from Seldom (4.6%). The strongest differentiating theoretical construct among the social cognitive classes was a descriptive norm. The classes were characterized by some associations between each other (e.g., “Acceptable but No” and “Stable Low”) and with linguocultural groups (e.g., “Inclined” and small language minorities) and mental health (e.g., “Disinclined” and externalization and depressive symptoms), but no specific associations were found by gender. ConclusionsThis study shows how more person-centered analyses can be utilized in process evaluations, which predominantly only make use of variable-centered analyses. This knowledge could suggest ways to tailor universal interventions for subgroups with different receipt profiles and thereby improve intervention acceptability and engagement.

Landscape context and substrate characteristics shape fungal communities of dead spruce in urban and semi-natural forests.

SummaryUrban green areas are becoming increasingly recognized for their biodiversity potential. However, little is known about how urbanization shapes cryptic species communities, such as those residing in deadwood. In this study, we investigated downed Norway spruce trunks at intermediate stages of decay, in urban and semi‐natural forests in southern Finland. To understand the interconnections between landscape context, deadwood characteristics and wood‐inhabiting fungal communities, we studied structural characteristics, surface epiphyte cover and internal moisture and temperature conditions of the tree trunks, and fungal communities residing in the wood. Our findings showed that urban tree trunks had less epiphyte cover and lower moisture than trunks in semi‐natural forests. Overall, urban forests provide less favourable habitats for a majority of the dominant wood‐inhabiting fungal species and for red‐listed species as a group. Yet, 33% of urban trunks hosted at least one red‐listed species. While these landscape‐scale effects may be driven by local climatic conditions as well as contingencies related to available species pools, our results also highlight the significance of substrate‐scale variability of deadwood in shaping wood‐inhabiting fungal communities. We show that epiphyte cover is a significant driver or indicator of these small‐scale dynamic processes in deadwood.

Logging Trail Segmentation via a Novel U-Net Convolutional Neural Network and High-Density Laser Scanning Data

Logging trails are one of the main components of modern forestry. However, spotting the accurate locations of old logging trails through common approaches is challenging and time consuming. This study was established to develop an approach, using cutting-edge deep-learning convolutional neural networks and high-density laser scanning data, to detect logging trails in different stages of commercial thinning, in Southern Finland. We constructed a U-Net architecture, consisting of encoder and decoder paths with several convolutional layers, pooling and non-linear operations. The canopy height model (CHM), digital surface model (DSM), and digital elevation models (DEMs) were derived from the laser scanning data and were used as image datasets for training the model. The labeled dataset for the logging trails was generated from different references as well. Three forest areas were selected to test the efficiency of the algorithm that was developed for detecting logging trails. We designed 21 routes, including 390 samples of the logging trails and non-logging trails, covering all logging trails inside the stands. The results indicated that the trained U-Net using DSM (k = 0.846 and IoU = 0.867) shows superior performance over the trained model using CHM (k = 0.734 and IoU = 0.782), DEMavg (k = 0.542 and IoU = 0.667), and DEMmin (k = 0.136 and IoU = 0.155) in distinguishing logging trails from non-logging trails. Although the efficiency of the developed approach in young and mature stands that had undergone the commercial thinning is approximately perfect, it needs to be improved in old stands that have not received the second or third commercial thinning.

Winter thriving: on the role of a boreal city on bird communities

Abstract Information on how urban areas affect bird communities during winter in the boreal region is still scarce. With the aim of assessing such role of the urban habitats on over-wintering boreal birds, I focused on a city-wide approach in the city of Lahti (southern Finland) and two nearby forests (as controls). Point count surveys were conducted in 157 sites within the city and 30 in the control forests. In order to achieve comparable sets of data to contrast with the reference forests, I randomly selected five 30 point count sub-samples from the Lahti city-wide survey. Species richness was, in general, higher in the sub-samples from the city of Lahti. Such pattern did not show relationship with the built cover of the studied sites. Bird abundances were 3.3–5.9 times higher in the urban sub-samples when contrasted with the forest ones. Although results of this study are limited to a single city and consider one wintering season, they clearly illustrate the important role of urban systems as habitat for wintering birds in boreal systems.

Urban hydrological responses to climate change and urbanization in cold climates

This study explores hydrological response of urban catchment in Southern Finland to climate change and urbanization. Process-based urban hydrological modelling and statistical analysis are applied to various urbanization and climate scenarios. Future changes in precipitation and temperature under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5 (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively) clearly influence urban streamflow all year-round. We found snowpack shrinks during 2061 to 2090, snowmelt becomes earlier and the amount of melted runoff is reduced under both climate scenarios. The most significant runoff increase occurs in winter with the growth rates of 79% and 127%, respectively. It is also found that the dominant portion of urban streamflow shifts from summer to autumn in the future under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Results indicate that urbanization has direct impact on hydrological response due to the change of imperviousness, but climate change will have more significant impact on seasonal distribution of urban streamflow. Additionally, urbanization impacts shrink monthly streamflow differences along with climate change.

Heavy metals from heavy land use? Spatio-temporal patterns of urban runoff metal loads

Urban hydrology is characterized by increased runoff and various pollutant sources. We studied the spatio-temporal patterns of stormwater metal (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb) concentrations and loads in five urbanized and one rural catchment in Southern Finland. The two-year continuous monitoring revealed a non-linear seasonal relationship between catchment urban intensity and metal export. For runoff, seasonal variation decreased with increasing imperviousness. The most urbanized catchments experienced greatest temporal variation in metal concentrations: the annual Cu and Zn loads in most of the studied urbanized catchments were up to 86 times higher compared to the rural site, whereas Fe loads in the urbanized catchments were only circa 29% of the rural load. Total metal levels were highest in the winter, whereas the winter peak of dissolved metal concentrations was less pronounced. The collection of catchment characteristics explained well the total metal concentrations, whereas for the dissolved concentrations the explanatory power was weaker. Our catchment-scale analysis revealed a mosaic of mainly diffuse pollutant sources and calls for catchment-scale management designs. As urban metal export occurred across seasons, solutions that operate also in cold conditions are needed.

Age, geochemistry, and origin of the mid-Proterozoic Häme mafic dyke swarm, southern Finland

We have reappraised the age and composition of the mid-Proterozoic Häme dyke swarm in southern Finland. The dominant trend of the dykes of this swarm is NW to WNW. Petrographic observations and geochemical data indicate uniform, tholeiitic low- Mg parental magmas for all of the dykes. Nevertheless, the variability in incompatible trace element ratios, such as Zr/Y and La/Nb, provides evidence of changing mantle melting conditions and variable crustal contamination. Our ID-TIMS 207Pb/206Pb ages for four low-Zr/Y-type dykes indicate emplacement at 1639 ± 3 Ma, whereas the most reliable previously published ages suggest emplacement of the high-Zr/Y-type dykes at 1642 ± 2 Ma. We propose that the Häme dyke swarm, and possibly also the other mid- Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms in southern Finland, records a progressive decrease in Zr/Y values due to magma generation under developing areas of thinned lithosphere. We consider that the formation of mafic magmas was most probably associated with the upwelling of hot convective mantle in an extensional setting possibly related to the nearby Gothian orogeny. The generation of tholeiitic magmas below continental lithosphere was probably promoted by the elevated mantle temperature underneath the Nuna supercontinent. We speculate that the origin of most of the relatively small mid-Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms, anorthosites, rapakivi granites, and associated rocks found across Nuna was similarly triggered by extensional plate tectonics and the convection of anomalous hot upper mantle below the supercontinent.

Belowground carbon dynamics in Scots pine stands

Boreal forest soils are globally one of the most extensive carbon storages, whereas soil respiration (CO2 efflux) forms the largest carbon flux from the ecosystem to the atmosphere. Current changes in the world climate may have unpredictable effects on belowground carbon processes, and thereby, on the carbon balance of boreal forests. To better understand the various processes in soil and to quantify the potential changes in the carbon cycle, forest-floor respiration (RFF) was partitioned into five different components, and tree-root respiration (RR) was estimated, using four different methods in a mature boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand in southern Finland. Non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in tree roots were determined, and carbon allocation to belowground by trees was estimated with the whole-tree carbon model ‘CASSIA’. In addition, RR and heterotrophic soil respiration (RH) were separated using root exclusion in seven coniferous forests along a latitudinal gradient in Northern and Central Europe. The RR comprised almost half of the RFF, the RH almost a third, and ground vegetation and respiration of mycorrhizal hyphae the remaining fifth in the boreal Scots pine stand. While the annual RR decreased throughout the first three study years, the RH increased when the mycorrhizal roots were excluded from the treatments. The RR and most of the NSC concentrations were higher in the warmer years and lower in the cooler, as estimated with most of the methods. Three methods resulted in rather similar RR estimations, while the RR estimated with root incubation was significantly lower. The RR was over 50% of the annual photosynthesis in the northernmost forest stand, whereas in the southernmost stand it was only up to 15%. Carbon allocation to the belowground, as modelled with CASSIA was a third of the annual photosynthesis on average and almost 5% for the symbiotic mycorrhizae.

No difference in the maximum frost hardiness of different pedunculate oak populations in Finland

The natural northern distribution limit for pedunculate oak ( L.) is in southern Finland. We hypothesized that the maximum frost hardiness (FH) in the winter limited the cultivation of oaks in northern latitudes. We tested the hypothesis with controlled freezing tests in midwinter. The acorns for the experiment were collected from the four main oak populations in southernmost Finland. The seedlings were raised in the nursery, frost hardened in field conditions, and then moved to a growth chamber at –2 °C on two occasions in winter and tested for FH in controlled freezing tests. Frost hardiness was assessed by differential thermal analysis (DTA) based on the low temperature exotherm (LTE) and relative electrolyte leakage (REL) of the stem, and visual damage scoring (VD) of the buds and stem. The initiation and peak of the LTE took place at an average of –41 °C and –43 °C respectively, without differences among the populations. The variation in the initiation and peak of the LTE was high, ranging from –34.6 °C to –45.5 °C and from –37.1 °C to –46.9 °C respectively. According to the REL method, the frost hardiness of the populations ranged from –44.0 °C to –46.4 °C in February and from –40.6 °C to –41.6 °C in March, without significant differences among the populations. According to VD, the bud was the least frost hardy organ, with FH between –19 °C and –33 °C, depending on population and assessment time. We conclude that the maximum hardiness may set the limit for the distribution of pedunculate oak northwards, but the high within-population variation offers potential to breed more frost hardy genotypes.Quercus roburmaxmax

Genetic interrelationships of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea), the causative agent of sparganosis in Europe.

The geographic distribution of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea), the causative agent of food/water-borne sparganosis, is restricted to Europe, where infected canids, felids, mustelids, suids, and reptiles have been documented from Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Serbia, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. The main objective of the current study was to map the molecular divergence of S. erinaceieuropaei from Finland using the complete sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1 mtDNA). Seven cox1 haplotypes were determined in 15 tapeworms from Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from three localities in southern Finland. In addition, the first inter-population study of S. erinaceieuropaei based on currently obtained data on cox1 from Finland and previously published data from Finland, Latvia, Ukraine, and Poland, was performed. The haplotype network showed a star-like pattern without specific subdivision of lineages according to the locality. Samples from Finland, Latvia, and Poland shared several haplotypes and formed the common Baltic lineage. The haplotype of S. erinaceieuropaei from Ukraine was unique and placed on a separate mutational pathway, suggesting a different lineage of the parasite.

Schedule for Reducing the Use of Peat and the Possibilities of Replacing It with Forest Chips in Energy Production in Finland

Between 2018 and 2020, an average of 15 TWh of energy peat was consumed in Finland. Energy peat is used in 260 boilers in Finland, which produce district heat and heat and steam for industry, as well as electricity as cogeneration (CHP) in connection with district heating and industrial heat production. Peat accounts for 3% - 5% of the energy sources used in Finland, but its importance has been greater in terms of security of supply. With current use in accordance with the 2018-2020 average, the emissions from peat are almost 6 Mt CO2 per year in Finland, which is 15% of emissions from the energy sector. In this study, the technical limitations related to peat burning, economic limitations related to the availability of biomass, and socio-economic limitations related to the regional economy are reviewed. By 2040, the technical minimum use of peat will fall to 2 TWh. The techno-economical potential may be even lower, but due to socio-economic objectives, peat production will not be completely ceased. The reduction in the minimum share assumes that old peat boilers are replaced with new biomass boilers or are alternatively replaced by other forms of heat production. Based on the biomass reserves, the current use of peat can be completely replaced by forest chips, but regional challenges may occur along the coast and in southern Finland. It is unlikely that the current demand for all peat will be fully replaced by biomass when part of CHP production is replaced by heat production alone and combustion with waste heat sources.