Joensuu and North Karelia got to show their versatile forestry expertise when Business Finland and its partners brought guests from Canada and the United States to the province. Several destinations from different parts of Finland were visited during the trip, which lasted about a week.
In the North Karelia region, the program included a visit to the Valtimo forest machine training school and Koli National Park. In addition, the group observed the harvesting of energy trees and heard about the basics of Finnish forest management on a forest walk.
The Joensuu region is number one in Europe in terms of forestry know-how, research, technologies and industry.
– The program focuses especially on the management and utilization of forests and wood-based products. Several local forestry companies will also present themselves during the visit, says Risto Huhta-Koivisto from Business Finland.
The group’s goal is to collect best practices from forest management and forestry, but also from sustainability and biodiversity. Joensuu was selected as a destination especially due to its strong and versatile expertise.
– We believe that this is where the visitors get the best information about several different topics. The Joensuu region is number one in Europe in terms of forestry know-how, research, technologies and industry, Huhta-Koivisto states.
Ideas for training experts
Canadian Geoff M. Clarke leads sustainable and economic development processes at the Port Hawkesbury paper mill in Nova Scotia. He says that he last visited Finland ten years ago.
– This trip has been a great update on the current state of forestry in Finland. I wanted to see where we are going with companies, research, education and RDI activities. I have gained a lot of new information about how to respond to the current megatrends in forest bioeconomy, Clarke states.
Clarke thanks the organizers for a successful travel program. He is particularly impressed by the activities of Valtimo forest machine training school to meet the labor needs of the industry.
I have gained a lot of new information about how to respond to the current megatrends in forest bioeconomy.
– At Valtimo, we saw how the necessary expertise is successfully built both in theory and in practice. For example, using simulators gives practicality and playfulness to studies. This model would be great to take to Canada, he plans.
According to Clarke, there are currently a few particularly important themes in the discussion related to forests, which he would like to take deeper into practice, following the example of Finland.
– Modern forestry, which combines the efficiency and sustainability of forest management, is currently one of the big questions in the industry. In addition, know-how and training as well as the forest-based products of the future are important topics. On this trip, I have gained a lot of information about how the company can differentiate itself and expand its operations to new wood-based products, says Clarke.
Balance of economy and sustainability
Kristine Reeves from Federal Way, Washington state, looks at the discussion related to forests through the eyes of a public actor.
– The state of Washington owns about two million hectares of forest. In my work, I am deciding how to manage these forests, he says.
– I would like to combine goal-oriented forest management, but also take into account the economical side. This trip has proven that we still have a lot to learn from the Finns, Reeves states.
This trip has proven that we still have a lot to learn from the Finns.
During the day spent in the forest sites of North Karelia, Reeves has noticed, among other things, the strong cooperation of the region.
– This has been a great practical demonstration of a functioning cooperation network. We need the right experts with the right skills and companies that refine the products forward.
According to Reeves, Finland is a forerunner in combining climate issues and forestry.
– We could adopt some of the best practices of how to create a common understanding between climate and forest issues. That way, it is possible to move towards sustainable forestry, which acts as one solution to the problems caused by climate change, she concludes.