(translation from English)
Our Finnish colleagues have included in their list of words and terms those that have started to be used in the forestry sector relatively recently or have experienced an unexpected revival. At least in Finland, some of the words below are considered part of everyday use, gradually being introduced into or returning to colloquial speech.
AFOLU or AFOLU
In accordance with European Union plans, land use and forestry (abbreviated as LULUCF) could in future offset (balance) emissions from agriculture and agricultural production; this would result in a new term, AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use). The new system is planned for implementation from 2031. According to a European Commission proposal, the AFOLU sector must become carbon neutral by 2035.
Vitamins, obtainable by bending down or “bending down for vitamins”
Berries, mushrooms and other forest products that require bending down or stooping to harvest (picking, cutting, breaking, etc.).
Biodiversity loss
Biodiversity refers to a wide range of ecosystems, species, and genes. It includes all living beings, including plants, animals, fungi, and microbes. In forests, biodiversity loss can be prevented, for example, by diversifying tree species in a stand, increasing the amount of deadwood, and caring for habitats, including preserving forest areas for ecological purposes.
Carbon farming
...refers to various actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to increase carbon sequestration in the soil. One of the ways to farm carbon in forestry is by establishing new forests, or afforestation.
Nature-based forestry
...is one of the sustainable forestry methods adopted in the European Union, which is also included in the sustainable finance taxonomy. The aim of nature-based forestry is to create forests that integrate biodiversity, the maintenance and management of carbon sinks, and financial gain, while providing jobs and raw materials for the timber industry.
Compensation or compensatory forest
...these terms refer to the possibility of offsetting emissions that cannot be prevented for the purpose of climate conservation. Possible compensation methods include, for example, fertilising young stands and new forests with wood ash or planting a new forest. These activities (i.e., compensatory) are usually paid for by the client who requires such compensation.
Deforestation
A situation or process in which forest disappears and is not regenerated. For example, in Finland (and also in Latvia), deforestation is associated with construction work or road building.
Deforestation-free (deforestation-free)
Timber is considered deforestation-free if its harvesting is in no way linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
Eco-battery (ecological charging)
A tree that can be hugged and that provides the person hugging it with palpable energy.
Environmental anxiety or worry
The sense of loss or bereavement caused by existing or threatened changes to the landscape or ecosystem, species viability, or way of life.
Forest dust or forest microbe extract
...contains forest soil microbes and is believed to improve health. Forest dust is used in cosmetic products for skincare.
Forest habitat types
...are divided into managed forests, herb-rich forests, and special habitats, which have at least 70 subtypes. Subtypes of herb-rich forests include, for example, the broad-leaved subtype, in which oaks or elms dominate. Special forest habitats include, for example, forests in rocky terrain, flooded forests, or forests on podzolic soils.
According to data from the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, three types of forest habitats in Finland may be endangered. Their total area, however, is unknown.
Forest yoga
Yoga classes held in the forest. As is well known, the origins of yoga lie in India and it combines various physical postures with meditation.
Local wood
...obtained using local labour, processed at a local sawmill, and used in the same region where it was harvested. This trademark – local wood – is readily used by Finnish sawmills, supporting environmentally friendly practices.
LULUCF
European Union regulation regarding land use, land-use change, and forestry. The LULUCF regulation determines when and how greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration will be accounted for in EU climate targets over the next 10 years. (Please also see AFOLU)
Merged (blended) with the forest
A situation well known from Finnish folklore and rooted in it, namely, that a person has come completely under the influence of nature. Being lost, losing one's sense of time, or being unable to perceive or recognise well-known things or one's most mundane surroundings are the first signs of merging with the forest.
Non-clearcut timber (timber not from clearcutting)
Timber that has been obtained without clearcutting, kept and processed separately. It is sold as timber obtained in a more ethical way.
Organic forest
A forest certified as organic. In such forests, the use of certain fertilisers and/or plant protection products is prohibited, allowing only natural products classified as organic to be used. In practice, almost all forest land in Finland meets the criteria for organic forest land.
Pre-emptive felling
An action taken by a forest owner in an area where a protected area is planned to be established or designated, or other changes made, so that the forest owner's options for operating on their property might be restricted. In many cases, this phrase is used in a negative sense.
Remote forest visit
A journey to the forest that takes place remotely, without planning to actually visit the forest in person.
Taxonomy, EU taxonomy
A taxonomy or classification developed within EU structures to direct funding towards sustainable goals in line with climate and environmental issues. It appears that the taxonomy will affect forest use and management, thereby impacting the timber industry and forest owners. Biological taxonomy, on the other hand, means the systematic classification of organisms.
Forest therapy
Forest used for recreational purposes, enjoying its beauty. Forests can be used for health improvement purposes, depending on each individual's personal beliefs and preferences. Many Finnish municipalities have created so-called health forests for their residents, which are included in the healthcare sector or considered an important part of it.
Trail running
A sporting activity carried out on unpaved trails and paths. In Finland, it is known as cross-country running.
Tree Hugging Week
In Finland, it is celebrated in the last week of August. Its goal is to encourage everyone to hug a tree.