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The experience and initiative of Finnish colleagues in explaining to those working in European Union institutions processes that they should at least be broadly familiar with is noteworthy. In this respect, Latvia also needs to take the informing of ministry and other state institution staff—who often only see the countryside, forests, and rivers on social media or through a car window—very seriously.
Of course, we may view the activities of the Latvian public in various ways, but the knowledge held by politically and socially active people about events outside their own circles of interest (work, home, and the Latvian capital) has obvious gaps (which we can read about quite regularly on social media), gaps which are quite cleverly exploited by eager storytellers “about the terrible”. In this short report on the Forest Academy sessions in Finland, the most important takeaway for readers in Latvia is this: Finns (and Swedes, too) are confident in what they know and share their knowledge with others with obvious and justified conviction. It is, in fact, the duty of every citizen of an independent state – to tell, not retell or quote; to be proud of their own experience, rather than looking over their shoulder, etc.
The Forest Academy sessions, intended for representatives of various EU institutions, brought together more than 30 people who, in the author's opinion, are quite influential in the corridors of the EU, giving them the opportunity to learn more about forestry, nature management, and the forest sector as a whole.
“The most important takeaway they get here is that when a tree is harvested, it is used completely. Resources are not left to rot if it is not necessary for biological diversity,” emphasised Hans Nilsagård (Hans Nilsagård), Senior Adviser at the Swedish Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure.
He reiterated the importance of forest management in Finland and Sweden. Without proper management, the forests in this region would quite rapidly be taken over by spruce, leaving less space for other species such as birch and pine. As is well known, an increase in the number of spruce can increase the risk of insect damage.
In September, the Finnish Forest Academy courses were attended by more than 30 representatives of different nationalities and countries, who are occupied on a daily basis in various organisations: the European Commission, the European Parliament, member state ministries, the media, universities, and various interest representation organisations. The courses lasted for three days and were the third to be organised by the Finnish Forest Association.
“Nordic forest science and knowledge about forests are of interest to other European regions. Once again, we were fortunate to meet representatives from various sectors and areas of expertise,” said Eveliina Pokela, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Forest Association, who is responsible for the organised courses.
Solutions for the green transition
To get practical, hands-on experience with commercial forest management, the course participants visited a site in Jyväskylä in central Finland and toured the Äänekoski bioproduct mill, which produces cellulose, paperboard, birch veneer, wood-based textile fibres, and 3D products from wood fibre, as well as generating energy. The training programme included information on both research and practical measures in the forest sector. The goal of the Forest Academy is to promote the sustainability of the European economy and offer solutions for the green transition.
“Facility visits, discussions, and conversations with leading experts gave the participants a great opportunity to gain direct experience and an understanding of current EU forest issues,” said E. Pokela with satisfaction. The discussions focused mainly on the use of forests and wood to address several internationally recognised problems.
Tanja Tanajama, Head of Division at the European Investment Bank, admitted in conversation that she had not known much about the forest sector previously, but that during the courses she had gained a great deal of information that now needed to be “digested”. “It is clear, and now (after the Forest Academy courses) it is absolutely clear, that forests truly have an important role in the green transition. The problems arise from the fact that they are a solution to several different, in some ways conflicting, goals. How can we find the best possible compromise?” T. Tanajama reflected on what she had learned and seen.
Forest policy must remain in local hands
The event opened in Tuusula (Tuusula) near Helsinki, at the recently opened Monio school and cultural centre, which is built of wood (logs). The participants watched a joint video greeting from the Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah (Sari Essayah), and the Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs, Peter Kullgren (Peter Kullgren), in which the ministers emphasised the importance of sustainable forest management.
“The forest sector contributes significantly to the transition to an environmentally friendly, fossil-fuel-free environment and provides us with innovations. The foundation of the transition is sustainable forest biomass, which is an alternative to fossil raw materials. There are many examples of innovative applications derived from the forest, ranging from wood construction and energy production to batteries and clothing,” S. Essayah pointed out.
The ministers noted that there are more than 600,000 private forest owners in Finland and more than 300,000 in Sweden, stressing that forests vary greatly across the EU.
“The legal framework related to forests in the EU is expanding rapidly. We want to emphasise the importance of the traditions, knowledge, and skills that our forest owners, researchers, and companies have developed over the years based on local conditions,” said S. Essayah.
“Forest policy must continue to be planned and implemented at the national level in the future so that it is cost-effective and suited to the country's conditions. A ‘one size fits all’ approach cannot be applied,” P. Kullgren added in his address.