Artificial intelligence requires enormous computing capacity, and cooling that hardware consumes significant water. In Finland, the environmental impact of expanding that infrastructure is also being felt across forests, wildlife and nearby communities.
Construction halted after extensive tree clearing
Finnish authorities have ordered Google to halt construction at two data-centre sites near Muhos and Kajaani while the projects face scrutiny over alleged illegal deforestation. More than 1,000 acres of trees were cleared between the locations, with the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority saying Google and its contractor bypassed required approvals and environmental assessments.
Google’s Antti Järvinen said the company acted “on the best understanding we had of the legislation at the time”. Reports about the sites describe nearly half a million felled trees and large areas of exposed mud where forest once stood.
Wildlife displaced by the development
The clearing has also changed how animals move through the region. A resident in Kajaani said wolves entered the village after other wildlife was driven out of the forest. She added that the animals were later scared away, but the incident highlighted how quickly major construction can disrupt habitats.
Reports have linked the wolf sightings to the data-centre development, while Finnish authorities have demanded a temporary halt as environmental concerns are assessed.
“We had wolves coming into the village because all the wild animals moved out of the forest.”
The Kajaani resident also criticised the pace of AI development and said she did not want Google operating in Finland. Her comments reflect wider unease about rapid technological expansion and its local consequences.
A wider pattern of wildlife entering cities
When forests near urban areas are cleared and food becomes harder to find, wild animals can move closer to people. The pattern is encouraging wilder animals to head to the big city, with coyotes and foxes among the species increasingly seen around populated areas. Wild boars have also appeared in urban environments.
The Finnish case shows how quickly the consequences of AI infrastructure can become visible. A project designed to support digital services can affect water use, forests, soil and wildlife at the same time, especially when construction proceeds before environmental reviews are complete.
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