What are strengths in Finnish forestry expertise? Where should we focus on in the future in order to export Finnish forestry expertise globally? How to integrate youth and students into this? These questions were discussed in the seminar of Forests and Development - Building on Finnish expertise on 2.4.2024. The seminar was taken part by experts and students from forestry and development fields and everyone interested on the topic.

Finland has a long history and experience in the development cooperation and strong expertise in forestry. Now we need a critical and updated look to evaluate the future needs, possibilities and requirements to continue our work in efficiently. Finland is committed to strengthening sustainable forestry and afforestation projects in developing countries while increasing the global carbon sink and improving local living conditions (Finnish Government Programme 2023).

Strong expertise in sustainable forest resource management (forest inventory and information systems, remote sensing) and good understanding of forest policies have built stable basis for Finnish forest and forestry work. Having awareness of different forest related interests and what forest mean for people living in and from forests is essential when we want to understand forests various roles. We should look at forests as part of wider context of land use and rural development; there are linkages to agriculture, conservation, biodiversity, restoration, commodity chains, circular economy, etc.

In future we need broader understanding and system approach to address global forest related challenges. Engaging in long-term (10-15 years) forest projects provide continuity and more stability for the work and to build sustainable results together with local people and actors. Here close and stable collaboration with private and public sector, civil society actors and embassies should be emphasized. This also requires better expertise in finances and involvement with multilateral financial instruments to export Finnish forestry expertise globally. 

Active engagement of youth and students into international cooperation in forestry field needs more concrete and accessible possibilities. Now many students lack resources, time and knowledge on how to expand their studies and career paths abroad. This development requires active integration of students with varied backgrounds into research (PhDs, Master's thesis, trainings), practical projects and international trainings (NGO programmes, Junior Professional Officer, UN Volunteer, etc.). Finnish forestry education needs to provide more courses on tropical forests and development field for students to broad their possibilities through education. Finnish forestry expertise is well appreciated globally, and we should market us in that way!

This seminar was organized by FFD together with The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), Ministry For Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Keskitie foundation, Siemenpuu foundation, Fingo and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). The seminar featured presentations and speeches by forestry experts from Finland and internationally: World Bank, FAO, DAFC and NICFI.

We want express our gratitude for all partners and seminar participants for their contribution and effort to this seminar, thank you!

Landsbygdens Folk (26.4.2024) article:
Framtidens behov i utvecklingssamarbetet i brännpunkten på FFD:s skogsseminarium