Google Cleared 250,000 Trees for Finnish Data Center Before Environmental Review

Oct 24, 2026
Google cleared an estimated 250,000 trees near Muhos before completing environmental assessments. Finnish authorities halted work at two sites earlier this month.
Google Cleared 250,000 Trees for Finnish Data Center Before Environmental Review
Image: By Anthony Quintano from Mount Laurel, United States

Google cleared an estimated 250,000 trees from 330 hectares of forest near Muhos in northern Finland before completing required environmental impact assessments, The Guardian reports from the site. Muhos and a second site in Otanmäki are part of Google's €13 billion AI infrastructure project in Finland. Finland's Licensing and Supervision Authority ordered Google earlier this month to temporarily stop work at both sites.

The topsoil was removed along with the trees at Muhos. Mari Annala, an ecologist with the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, estimates that another 150,000 trees were felled at Otanmäki.

Google's Finland country manager, Antti Järvinen, apologized for the clearings and said the company acted based on its understanding of the law at the time. More than 93,000 people have signed a petition seeking tighter data center regulation and fees to compensate communities for environmental damage.

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