Natural spruce stands are found on richer soil. Birch is commonly found as an admixture, but it can occasionally form pure birch stands. About half of the forest land area consists of mixed stands. Rarer species are found mostly as solitary trees. The south-western corner and the south coast of Finland are touched by a narrow zone growing oak, maple, ash and elm.
Finnish forestry aims at imitating the natural succession.
Forest regeneration is comparable with forest fires or storms, and intermediate felling resembles natural thinning. The forests are managed a compartment at a time, i.e. felling or management work is directed at a part of the forest with a homogenous tree stand. The average size of a compartment is less than two hectares. Forests are allowed to grow between 60 and 120 years, depending on the tree species and the composition of the site. When the growth of a forest stand begins to slow down significantly, it is time to make room for a new forest.