Tasks as a public authority
National Forest Inventory (NFI)
According to the Decree on the Finnish Forest Research Institute, it is Metla’s task to monitor forest resources and the health of the forests. NFI produces up-to-date, reliable information about the number of trees and their growth in Finnish forests, the state of the forests, harvesting possibilities, and biodiversity.
Forest Statistics Information Service
The Forest Statistics Info rmation Service draws up and publishes statistics on the forest industries as part of the Official Statistics of Finland (OSF). The Forest Statistics carries out information retrieval and also processes materials collected by other producers and publishers of statistics. Info rmation retrieval includes statistics on felling, forestry and improvement work and the energy use of wood. The forest statistics are published in the Finnish Statistical Yearbook of Forestry, as Forest Statistical Bulletins and on the forest statistics website.
Estimation and reporting of greenhouse gases
The project is responsible for the reporting of greenhouse gases related to land use and its changes in accordance with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the development of reporting, including reporting in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol.
Forest health monitoring
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| Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen |
Finland has participated in the monitoring programmes of ICP Forest since 1985 and the EU forest condition monitoring programmes since 1995. In accordance with a decree in force in 2003–2006, forest monitoring was carried out by the authorities with the support of the EU, and Metla carried on these operations in 2007 and 2008 by means of its own budget. A key task was to meet the national and international reporting obligations relating to the condition of forests. Monitoring of the condition of forests is divided into two separate levels: the purpose of extensive monitoring (Level I) is to produce a general annual survey on the regional and temporal variations of the state of the forests and the condition of trees (loss of needles and leaves, colour symptoms and damage). The purpose of intensive monitoring (Level II) is to watch and study the functioning and the cause-effect relations of the forest ecosystems and to use this information when explaining the changes in the condition of forests that have been detected in the focus areas of Level I.
Forest tree breeding
The content of the operations is to implement the long-term breeding programme, Forest Tree Breeding 2050 , and to take part in the implementation of the seed management programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The National Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Orchard Programmes have the nationwide responsibility for the promotion of the long-term tree breeding programme. The progress of the breeding work is monitored by the advisory committee on tree breeding.
Forest gene resources
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| Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen |
The genetic diversity of Finnish forests is maintained in accordance with the National Plant Genetic Resource Programme. The practical work includes a survey of genetic resources, creation of a forest network of gene reserves, and establishing collections of minor tree species, as well as communication. The Forest Gene Resources project maintains and, when necessary, updates the collections. The register of forest genetic material documents the breeding material, the material on forest genetic research and the basic materials that have been officially approved for the commercial production of forest regeneration material, and maintains the information. The information is required by tree breeders, researchers, and authorities supervising the trade in forest regeneration material.
Forest damage diagnostic service
The task of the Finnish Forest Research Institute is to monitor the incidence and spreading of plant diseases and pests causing forest damage. The Forest Damage Diagnostic Service provides services and advice relating to forest damage. The Forestry Centres and Forestry Boards, as well as the government agencies and institutions with forest areas under their management, are obliged to help the Finnish Forest Research Institute in this task. A report on the monitoring results is submitted every year to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Inspection of plant protection products
The objective of the operation is to inspect the biological efficiency and usability of pesticides intended for use in forestry in accordance with the good experimental practice standard. The practice is based on the Act on Plant Protection Products and an EU directive. Depending on the preparation’s purpose of use, the inspection is carried out as field trials or as greenhouse or laboratory tests over several years. The tests will provide information on the effects of the preparation on the desired area of application, the appropriate amounts and times of use, and the risk of damage on the cultivated plants. The information is required for the registering of preparations and as part of drawing up the instructions for use of the preparations. Moreover, the project has the facility to carry out research on the use of pesticides currently on the market for the benefit of advisory services, training and, consequently, the professionals.
Tasks related to legislation on measuring roundwood and sawn timber
The tasks consists of the settling of disputes related to the measurement of timber with the aid of official measurements, supervision of the factory measurement of timber, and helping customers in issues and irresolution related to the measurement. The supervision of factory measurement is the most significant part of the operations, ensuring procedures complying with regulations in all places of measurement and reliability in the measurement of timber. Metla has a statutory duty as a developer of timber measurement. It has to establish the criteria for measurement methods determined by law with necessary studies and provide a statement for processing by the Timber Measurement Council. Moreover, Metla assists the Council in the preparation of measurement instructions.
Monitoring of forest regeneration in protected forest areas
The operations are based on the Forest Act and the Government Decision on timberline forests. The Finnish Forest Research Institute monitors the regeneration of forests in the timberline forest area and the forests in the high regions of the Lapland and Oulu Provinces , and draws up a report on these to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry every 10 years. The first report was drawn up in 2001 and the next will be due in 2011.
