Metla invests in international forestry research
The aim is to exploit the broad expertise of the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla also in R&D projects carried out in cooperation with Finnish and foreign forestry organisations. The main focus of research is on forestry in Russia and Eastern European countries.
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Timo Karjalainen |
Main focus on forestry in Russia and Eastern European countries
Metla’s research in international forestry focus area generates timely information on the status and development of the forest sectors in Russia and Eastern European countries. In research related to forestry in this particular geographic area, Metla has the goal of becoming primary provider and distributor of information in Finland. ‘Research topics are examined from the perspective of the Finnish forest sector in particular,’ Professor Timo Karjalainen specifies.
R&D projects focus on issues such as forest policy and forest-related processes, forest resources and their accessibility, sustainable forestry, procurement of wood for various purposes, and business opportunities in forestry.
Research based information is distributed in various events and discussions with stakeholders, as well as through publications and newsletters. The Finnish-language Information Service for Russian Forestry and the Forest Information Service for Central and Eastern European countries are also important channels for distributing forest-related information. Information on Finnish forestry is available in Russian through the Lesinfo information service.
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Special Project on World Forests, Society and Environment – a worldwide arena
Metla also studies and analyses the effects of global drivers of change on forestry, as well as the new challenges and opportunities they bring. Assessing how to respond to these challenges is essential. So too is taking advantage of the new opportunities changes bring. This topic and the IUFRO’s Special Project on World Forests, Society and Environment related to the subject were discussed (in Finnish) in a previous newsletter.
This newsletter includes information on brief on topics such as the forest fires in Russia, the import of coniferous wood from Russia, Romania as the current target country of the Forest Information Service for Central and Eastern European countries' project, and the recently launched bio-energy project focusing on Eastern Europe.
The newsletter also provides information on the expert meeting, held recently in Finland, to discuss the global forest resources assessment system.
Timo Karjalainen
Professor, International Forestry, Metla