Finland's president isn't sure where US President Donald Trump got the idea that raking is part of his country's routine for managing its substantial forests.
Trump told reporters yesterday while visiting the ruins of the Northern California town where a fire killed at least 76 people that wildfires weren't a problem in Finland because crews "spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things" to clear forest floors.
Trump: "You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the forest, very important... I was with the President of Finland... he called it a forest nation and they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't have any problem." pic.twitter.com/cC8syQobdC
— Contemptor (@TheContemptor) November 17, 2018
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in an interview today in the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper that he spoke briefly to Trump about forest management on November 11, when they both were in Paris for Armistice Day events.
Niinisto said their conversation focused on the California wildfires and the surveillance system Finland uses to monitor forests for fires.
He remembered telling Trump "we take care of our forests," but couldn't recall raking coming up.
The US leader's comment generated amusement on social media in Finland, which manages its vast forests with scientific seriousness.
Forests cover over 70 per cent of Finland's 338,000 sq km. The Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million is home to some of the world's biggest paper and pulp companies.
- AP
Hi from Finland. We never rake forests, never. Parks yes, but forest, no. Has Trump inhaled too much smoke, and what smoke. Btw we have here the cleanest air, by far. https://t.co/Bo5Y5dwz7x
— Hannu Uusitalo (@unnaH) November 17, 2018
I'm relieved that President Trump has the answer for stopping wildfires in the age of climate change. Who knew it was as simple as a "forest rake?" I searched for them on Amazon but couldn't find any. Perhaps a new product for Trump, Inc.?
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) November 18, 2018