Strong research collaboration with Russia continues – two new extensive projects about to begin
Metla continues its active research collaboration with Russia by means of two new research projects. The two themes are new cross-border solutions for more efficient forestry and increased use of energy wood and Russian forest sector's business environment. Both projects also include several Russian partners. The results will benefit those involved in Russian forestry on both side of the border. Promoting Nordic forest use methods in Russia will open up new business opportunities for Finnish forest machine manufacturers, among others.
Forest use cooperation between the two Karelias
Metla continues its long-term cooperation with the Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) in a new project to be launched in October 2012 entitled “New cross-border solutions for more efficient forestry and increased use of energy wood”. The project develops new methods for forest planning and wood procurement, the construction and maintenance of forest roads, and the use of wood energy.
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| Defining wood harvesting zones on the basis of quarterly limits is typical in Russia. Photo: Vasili Katarov. |
Several concrete goals have been set for the projects. Metla’s MOTTI forest management software will be modified to suit the growth conditions in the Karelian Republic in Russia. Support systems for decision-making based on regional data will be developed for wood harvesting and logistics. Permanent model sites for wood harvesting and the construction of forest roads will be established on the grounds of Petrozavodsk State University. Much effort is also put into developing education programmes – best practices in Finland and Russia will be surveyed during the project.
The projects’ publications and results will eventually be gathered in the Russian-language information service, www.lesinfo.fi, maintained by Metla, for the purpose of developing it into a more active channel for information exchange as well as a meeting point for forest sector actors on both sides of the border.
Other partners in the project in addition to Metla and PetrSU are the North Karelia Forest Centre, North Karelia University of Applied Sciences and North Karelia College in Valtimo. Others participating in the cooperation include Arbonaut Oy, Kesla Oyj, Ladenso OAO, Olonetsles OAO, Petro John Deere Forestry ZAO, Shujales OAO, the National Committee on Housing, Municipal Services and Energy Economy of the Karelian Republic, the Administration of the Local Power of Sortavala Metropolitan Region, the regional government of Pitkäranta, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of the Republic of Karelia.
The project runs until the end of 2014 and its total budget is EUR 900,000. The main source of financing is the Karelia ENPI CBC Programme, a cross-border cooperation programme implemented in the regions of Kainuu, North Karelia, North Ostrobothnia and the Republic of Karelia in Russia. Its objective is to increase well-being in the programme region through cross-border cooperation. The programme is funded by the European Union, the Russian Federation and Finland. 
Further information
- Researcher Elina Välkky, elina.valkky(a)metla.fi
Changing business environment in Russia – a challenging research target
Metla studies the Russian forest sector’s business environment under the project “Finnish–Russian Forest Academy 2 – Extension and Piloting” (2012–2014) to be launched in November 2012. The project is coordinated by Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT). Under analysis are the impacts of the recent changes to Russian forest policy. The project also surveys the perspectives of Finnish and Russian operators on the forest sector's business environment. The project also includes mapping and describing the key themes that need to be researched, especially within the fields of forest use, forest inventory and forest legislation.
The project involves establishing a Finnish-Russian Forestry Expertise Centre to act as the coordinating body between Finland and Russia in forestry-related education, research and business development projects. In addition to LUT and Metla, the project’s cooperation partners are St Petersburg State Technological University of Natural Polymers and St Petersburg State Forest Technical University. Others participating in the project include the Committee on Natural Resources in the Leningrad region and the All-Russian Institute of Continuous Education in Forestry in Moscow.
The main source of financing is the South East Finland–Russia ENPI CBC Programme, aimed at strengthening the cooperation between the regions of South Karelia, Southern Savonia and the Kymenlaakso region in Finland and the City of St Petersburg and the Leningrad region in Russia, as well as creating good preconditions for implementing the cooperation. The programme is funded by the European Union, the Russian Federation and Finland.
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Further information
- Finnish-Russian Forest Academy 2 – Extension and Piloting: Lappeenranta University of Technology, Project Manager Anu Honkanen, anu.honkanen(a)lut.fi
- Business environment study and research on important new topics: Researcher Elina Välkky, Metla,elina.valkky(a)metla.fi