Metla - The Finnish Forest Research Institute - is a specialist organisation
running nine research units in locations spread over Finland and owning
a network of research forests covering almost the entire country. Metla's
mission is to enhance, through means of research, economically, ecologically
and socially sustainable forest management and use. As an organisation
under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Metla
is the biggest forest research organisation in Europe.
Metla was founded in 1917, and it operates a large amount of permanent
field experiments producing extensive measuring data. In addition to research
and information reserve management, Metla creates forecasts relating,
for example, to the health status of forests, harvesting prospects, and
the timber trade. Additionally, Metla administrates the Koli national
park, the Malla and Vesijako nature parks, and several smaller nature
reserves.
JOENSUU
The Joensuu Research Centre promotes regional economic and enterprise
activities based on forests and forest products especially in Eastern
Finland. At the end of 2004 the number of permanent employees was 74.
KANNUS
The Kannus Research Station focuses on wood energy, forest management
planning, coastal forests, afforestation of agricultural land, and the
utilisation of peatland forests. The number of permanent staff is 27.
KOLARI
The Kolari Research Station focuses on forest management and sustainable
use of the northern timberline forests. It also works towards balancing
needs dictated by the differing users of the natural resources. The number
of permanent staff is 24.
MUHOS
The Muhos Research Station specialises in research into the ecology of
forest regeneration, changes in the condition of the forest environment,
and the development of forest management methods for use in the Ostrobothnia-Kainuu
region. The number of permanent staff is 49.
PARKANO
The Parkano Research Station promotes sustainable forestry by producing
information on forest health conditions and on forestry, with the focus
of interest on peatlands. The number of permanent staff is 43.
PUNKAHARJU
The Punkaharju Research Station performs research on forest genetics,
especially in biotechnology and resistance breeding; research results
are applied to the practical needs of forest improvement. The number of
permanent staff is 38.
ROVANIEMI
The Rovaniemi Research Station specialises in research into forest management
methods applicable in the northern zone, research into forest ecosystems
and their material and non-material values to promote the integration
of the different forms of forest use. The number of permanent staff is
76.
SUONENJOKI
The Suonenjoki Research Station specialises in research into forest tree
nurseries and studies of forest regeneration, ecophysiology of forest
trees and forestry planning. The number of permanent staff is 46.
VANTAA
The Vantaa Research Centre produces basic information about ecologically,
socially and economically sustainable forest use. Metla has assigned Vantaa
principal responsibility for creating national policies for forest management
and forestry and for serving the related interest groups. The number of
permanent staff is 334.
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Finland is the most heavily forested country in Europe, with 76
% of its area covered by forests. The forest industry generates
one third of Finland's exports. Ever since the 1970s, the amount
of cutting in Finland has been less than the amount of growth, which
means that the country's forest reserves are continuously increasing.
As early as in the 1800s people were concerned about the forest
reserves being reduced. Metla developed a solution to the problem:
a National Forest Inventory (NFI). Finland was the first country
in the world to complete a NFI between 1921-1924. The current form
of multi-sourve inventory consists of combining satellite images
and numerical geospatial information with conventional terrain measurements.
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