Research in Punkaharju

Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen

Research work

Research on forest genetics has been carried out at Punkaharju from the 1920's, when the research area was established. Research work gained momentum when the breeding station was founded. The breeding station was upgraded to research station in 1988.

The main building of the Punkaharju Unit was completed in 1982; an extension was built in 1997. The staff also have modern greenhouses at their disposal. The research unit accommodates 37 members of staff, 9 of which are researchers. In addition to this, there are 2-5 temporary researches and a varying number of other workers. The research unit has large-scale co-operation with other research organisations both in Finland and abroad. Researches from other countries often work at the Punkaharju research unit.

A weather station of Finnish Meteorological Institute, which was earlier operated in the nearby village, was moved to the research unit in 1st June 2001.

Research activities

Punkaharju Unit focuses on the following six subjects:

• Biotechnology
• Cultivation of exotic and special tree species
• Environmental performance of weather and decay resistant timber

The researchers and other members of staff also participate in a numerous other research projects mainly on forest genetics.

The research unit has a well equipped biotechnology laboratory and modern greenhouses. Research is carried out in co-operation with several research organisations in Finland and abroad.

Co-operation with a number of research organisations in Finland and abroad is active.

Photo: Metla/Teijo Nikkanen

Researchers in Punkaharju