Webinar series: Forestry in Finland and northern US

In each 1-hour session, the speakers from all three locations (Finland, Maine and Michigan) will speak about the topic from their own locality specific perspective. At the end of the session, there is some time for questions and open discussion. The speakers are not only from the universities, but also from other institutes like Finnish Forest Centre, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Maine Forest Products Company and Michigan Department of Natural Resources, to be mentioned.

See below full programme of the webinar series and register each of them separately.

• Webinar 1: Institutions, policy and actors – Thursday 27 January, 9 am - 10 am EST / 4 pm - 5  pm EET.
• Webinar 2: Ecology and management – Thursday 24 February, 9 am - 10 am EST / 4 pm - 5 pm EET. Please register by 20 February 2022.
• Webinar 3: Economics, forest operations and technology – Thursday 24 March, 9 am - 10 am EDT / 3 pm - 4 pm EET. 
• Webinar 4: Current issues and opportunities: a look towards the future – Thursday 28 April, 9 am - 10 am EDT / 4 pm - 5 pm EET. The webinar recording is available until 17 May 2022. Link to the webinar recording

Webinar 1: Institutions, policy and actors – Thursday 27 January, 9 am - 10 am EST / 4 pm - 5 pm EET

The first webinar is about the role of different institutions and actors in the forestry sector as well as law and regulation policy for forestry and wood-based products. The speakers are Leena Leskinen (Finnish Forest Centre), Mike Smalligan (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) and Patrick Strauch (Maine Forest Products Council).

Speaker biographies

• Leena Leskinen, Business Manager, Finnish Forest Centre, https://www.metsakeskus.fi/en
• Mike Smalligan, Forest Stewardship Coordinator, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/
• Patrick Strauch, Executive Director, Maine Forests Products Council, https://maineforest.org/

Webinar 2: Ecology and management – Thursday 24 February, 9 am - 10 am EST / 4 pm - 5 pm EET

In the second webinar, the discussion is more about ecology and management. Which species and forest types are the most important to each location and what kind of general management regimes exists? The speakers are Kari T. Korhonen (Natural Resources Institute Finland), Mike Walters (Michigan State University) and Ian Prior (Seven Islands Land Company).

Speaker biographies

• Kari T. Korhonen, Principal Scientist, Natural Resources Institute Finland, https://www.luke.fi/en/
• Mike Walters, Associate Professor of Forest Ecology, Michigan State University, https://www.canr.msu.edu/index
• Ian Prior, Inventory Analyst, Seven Island Land Company, https://www.sevenislands.com/

Please register by 20 February 2022.

Webinar 3: Economics, forest operations and technology – Thursday 24 March, 9 am - 10 am EDT / 3 pm - 4 pm EET

The third webinar deals with economics, forest operations and technology, including the journey from logging to the value product examples via mechanization and machine operations. The speakers are Kalle Kärhä (University of Eastern Finland), Charlie Becker (Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands) and Dana Doran (Maine Loggers Association).

Speaker biographies

• Kalle Kärhä, Professor of Forest Technology, University of Eastern Finland, https://www.uef.fi/en/unit/school-of-forest-sciences
• Charlie Becker, Chair, Michigan Timber and Forest Products Advisory Council and General Manager, Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands
• Dana Doran, Executive Director, Professional Logging Contractors of Main, https://maineloggers.com/

Webinar 4: Current issues and opportunities: a look towards the future – Thursday 28 April, 9 am - 10 am EDT / 4 pm - 5 pm EET

The fourth and the final webinar considers the current issues and opportunities in research, development and innovation sector, as well as economics and markets not forgetting climate change and the maintenance of biodiversity. The speakers are Jyrki Kangas (University of Eastern Finland), Raju Pokharel (Michigan State University) and Bri Bowman (FOR/Maine). At the end of the fourth webinar, there is a closure for the webinar series.

Speaker biographies

• Jyrki Kangas, Professor of Forest Bioeconomy and Leader of UNITE-Flagship programme, University of Eastern Finland, https://www.uef.fi/en/unit/school-of-forest-sciences, https://uniteflagship.fi/
• Raju Pokharel, Assistant Professor of Forest Resource Economics, Michigan State University, https://www.canr.msu.edu/index
• Bri Bowman, Program Director, FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity Roadmap) Coalitio, https://formaine.org/

The webinar recording is available until 17 May 2022. Link to the webinar recording