Director general’s review

Challenged by customer excellence and socio-economic impact

ANNUAL REPORT 2005

Core Values, Vision,     
Mission   
Strategic objectives   
Metla   
Rewievs   
Director Genral’s review   
Research Director’s review   
Review of international       
activities   
Forest-based      
entrepreneurship and      
forest environment      
models and databanks   
Forest ecosystems and     
social significance     
of forests   
Doctoral theses   
Events and seminars   
New projects   
Publications   
Resources   
New appointments   
Organization   

Photo: Erkki Oksanen

Metla adopted its new strategy at the beginning of this year. This followed a year and a half of hard work, numerous meetings, seminars, and interviews. It was the first time that Metla’s strategy has been created as an extensive interaction between Metla’s staff, interest groups and the owner, taking their expectations into consideration.

According to the new Metla strategy, confirmed at the end of 2005, Metla strives for research and development activities that have socially and scientifically high standards, that enhance sustainable use of forests as well as economic competitiveness, and support the formulation of forest policies, serving as part of a national system of innovation. Four priority areas have been defined for the research: forest-based enterprise and business activities, the social impact of forests, the structure and functions of forest ecosystems and information reserves of forestry and the forest environment.

"In order to be a socially and scientifically impressive, dynamic and reactive organization, Metla must excel in taking into consideration its customers', collaboration partners' and the owner's expectations."

The changes taking place in Metla’s operating environment were taken into consideration during the strategy preparation work. Metla’s operations are affected by globalization, the changed impact of Russia and the Baltic area on Finnish forestry and timber management, the expansion of the EU, global environmental changes, the impact of environmental values on the consumption of forestry products, and the increasing use of bioenergy. In Finland factors affecting Metla’s operations include forest owners’ age distribution, profitability of private forest ownership, structure of research funding, and increased productivity requirements in the public sector.

As far as the scientific and social impact is concerned, the most influential Metla products are, naturally, the scientific publications. In spite of a decline in person-years, Metla’s researchers published a record number of articles in international peer-review journals. The number of review-type articles was also doubled from the previous year. The fact that Silva Fennica, a journal published by Metla and the Finnish Society of Forest Science, has become the world’s most frequently cited general forestry journal, speaks for the high level of quality of forest research in Finland.

Research information was also brought forth at numerous seminars, such as Effects of climate change on forests , which was planned by Metla and held at the Finnish Parliament. Another international climate seminar was held in early spring 2005 at Pallastunturi. This was arranged in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and Metsähallitus (National Board of Forestry). A seminar on sustainable use of forests and land use conflicts in northern Lapland was held in Saariselkä, where Metla’s researchers introduced their results on socio-economic research into forestry, reindeer husbandry, tourism and conservation.

The Suonenjoki Research Unit continued its strong cooperation with seedling producers by training employees at nurseries. The NFI and forest planning research programmes disseminated the data of forest reserves and the calculated predictions of forest development to those organizations that require the information. The information package for users of the research data is available from the Metinfo website and in the more than 400-page Finnish Statistical Yearbook of Forestry annual.

During 2005 Metla participated actively in the preparations for the European Forest-based Sector Technology platform and provided support to the National Forest Management and Metso programmes directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. A considerable number of Metla’s researchers participated as specialists in revising the Forestry Development Centre Tapio’s national recommendations for forest and ecosystem management and in the training sessions on Good Forest Management Practices held around the country.

Metla continued its strong input in international activities. Metla gained much international attention in the International Union of Forest Research Organizations IUFRO World Congress in Australia. Professor Risto Seppälä completed his five-year term as the President of IUFRO at the end of 2005. In addition, Metla had a leading role when the Global Forest Information System database was being compiled as well as in the extensive international World Forests project.

To increase its socio-economic impact Metla intensified efforts in dissemination of the research results and renewing the journal aimed at customers. The number of newsletters describing research results was tripled from the previous year. The input into international communications was also strengthened.

In accordance with Metla’s productivity plans, the major strategic issues were the management of the research forests, as well as the facilities in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The final decisions were postponed until 2006. Similarly, work on creating a strategic plan for human resources was also put back by a year. During 2005 preparations were made to start shared use of the office facilities of Metla and MTT Agrifood Research Finland in Kannus.

Progress was made regarding the development plan for staff wellbeing 2004-2006. Special attention was paid to creating an interactive organization culture. New research directors were recruited during the year, one focusing on ecological sustainability and another on socio-economic sustainability. Additionally, at the end of 2005, a new Director was nominated to the Vantaa Research Unit. The development of the Joensuu Research Unit was continued according to the plans agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In December an agreement was reached for a new pay system based on job-specific requirements and individual performance.

In order to be a socially and scientifically impressive, dynamic and reactive organization, Metla must excel in taking into consideration its customers’, collaboration partners’ and the owner’s expectations. We must be able to provide increasing value and new operational opportunities to our customers. All this means an increasing input into developing a more interactive operational culture, increased know-how and quality. Our vision is that Metla will be the most influential and effective national and international expert on sustainable use of forests anticipating the information needs of its clients.

I would like to finish by thanking the staff at the Finnish Forest Research Institute and our cooperation partners for having made 2005 an active year with good results.

Hannu Raitio
Director General, Professor