The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry steers the policy on sustainable use of natural resources. Legislative work is carried out as part of the Finnish Government and the EU institutions and decision-making.

Renewable natural resources derive from the renewal capacity of the nature itself. Among other things, they comprise all plants and animals. According to the principle of sustainable development, renewable natural resources must be used so that their value is preserved for the future: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.