Sustainability

From wind power to wild forests

OX2 has taken an important step in its ambition to generate renewable energy in harmony with nature by supporting the permanent protection of a high-value forest in Finland.

Through a donation to the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation, OX2 has enabled the conservation of the 18-hectare Kaitaranta forest estate in Kurikka, Southern Ostrobothnia. The initiative is linked to the Honkakangas and Rajamäenkylä wind farm projects and forms part of OX2’s broader goal to deliver a net-positive impact on biodiversity by 2030.

A forest of exceptional ecological value

Kaitaranta is not just any forest. It is a rich and varied natural landscape that reflects the ecological complexity that is increasingly rare in managed forest regions. The area combines:

Old-growth forest and younger woodland
Diverse mire habitats, including flood meadows and swamps (locally known as luhta and letto)
A near-natural upland bog
An almost undisturbed stream ecosystem

Approximately half of the forest is classified as METSO class I or II habitat. That is Finland’s highest categories for valuable forest biodiversity. The site is home to towering pines aged 250–300 years, alongside abundant deciduous trees and large volumes of deadwood. These features are critical for biodiversity, supporting cavity-nesting species and a wide range of insects, fungi, and birdlife that depend on mature and decaying forest structures.

The protection area is located within the wider region of OX2’s project portfolio, related to the Rajamäenkylä and Honkakangas wind farms. The donation was made in November 2025 and will protect the forest permanently.

From minimizing impact to creating value

The protection of Kaitaranta marks a shift in how OX2 approaches biodiversity. While environmental considerations have long been part of renewable energy development, this initiative goes beyond avoiding harm. The donation was voluntary and not a legal requirement. Instead, it represents a proactive investment in restoring and protecting nature. Something which aligns well with OX2’s commitment to achieving a net-positive impact on biodiversity. How we intend to prioritize our journey toward net positive impact, navigating our way from minimizing harm to expanding additionality, is presented in our Biodiversity Strategy.

This is also the company’s first major concrete biodiversity action in Finland under that ambition. By enabling permanent conservation through an established foundation, OX2 ensures that the ecological value of Kaitaranta is safeguarded for future generations.

A model for collaboration

The partnership with the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation provides a strong and credible framework for long-term protection. It also points to a scalable approach for other markets. Collaborating with trusted conservation organizations allows OX2 to:

Secure permanent protection of ecologically valuable land
Strengthen trust with local communities and authorities
Create tangible biodiversity gains linked to renewable energy projects

As the demand for renewable energy grows, so does the need to ensure that development contributes positively to surrounding ecosystems. Initiatives like Kaitaranta demonstrate that energy and nature can be developed in parallel—and even reinforce each other.

"There are only a few forests left in Finland like Kaitaranta. It is an exceptionally valuable natural site, the protection of which is extremely important. The protection of the area is made possible thanks to OX2's donation. This is a great example of what can be achieved with a donation. We are grateful to everyone who supports the protection of biodiversity."

Timo Huhtamäki,
CEO of the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation

Enabling opportunities for landowners and communities

Protecting biodiversity is not separate from developing renewable energy, it is part of building sustainable, long-term opportunities for landowners and local communities. Projects like Honkakangas and Rajamäenkylä bring new economic possibilities, while complementary measures such as the Kaitaranta conservation effort help preserve the natural values that local communities depend on and care about. By integrating these perspectives, OX2 aims to create projects that are not only viable, but welcomed and supported over time.

Looking ahead

The protection of Kaitaranta is an important milestone, but it is also a starting point. As OX2 continues to develop wind and solar projects, similar initiatives may be implemented in other locations, expanding the impact from individual sites to a broader strategy for biodiversity.

The ambition is clear: renewable energy development that not only reduces emissions, but also strengthens ecosystems.

"We are already thinking of next steps on our nature work and how we can create even more impact and improve on our next projects. Everything starts early on with project development where we study, plan and permit our wind, solar or battery projects following mitigation hierarchy. Nature work and additional actions such Kaitaranta protection or nature restoration come into play when we do investment decisions on a project."