WWF Finland strengthens preparedness with trainings and authority workshop

During autumn 2025, WWF Finland has focused on training staff from Parks and Wildlife Finland for oiled wildlife response related tasks. Parks and Wildlife Finland is a unit of the state-owned enterprise Metsähallitus, which is responsible for managing state owned land and marine areas. Since Parks and Wildlife staff members have extensive local knowledge as well as an understanding of important species and habitats in coastal areas which are likely to be impacted by an oil spill, they are a valuable resource in the event of an oiled wildlife response operation.

Two courses were conducted for Parks and Wildlife Finland in October. A Basic responder course was held, and the skills and knowledge of participants were further developed during a two-day Advanced responder course with a focus on field and pre-wash activities. The role of Parks and Wildlife Finland as part of the oiled wildlife response organisation will be further developed in the coming months and years. Finland has a long and complex coastline with an extensive archipelago, which causes logistical challenges when planning and executing field operations.

The Advanced training event gained complexity since three oiled mallards had previously been brought to the training venue (Korkesaari Zoo). During the course, they were successfully washed by Finnish specialist responders, and could later be released by zoo staff.

Together with authority representatives, WWF Finland also organised a WildX table top exercise based loosely on experiences from a real-life tank washing incident which happened on the Hanko peninsula in January 2025 and resulted in extensive pollution by tank washing residues (in this case a mix of animal fat and vegetable oils). During the exercise, participants explored the challenges of managing a local incident along the Hanko peninsula, and especially how field activities would best be carried out if a spill would lead to wildlife impacts on the southwestern tip of Finland.