Cooperation networks are one of the 14 measures of the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO. The function of the cooperation networks is to reconcile the protection, management and other uses of Finnish forests. The networks are founded on collaboration among forest owners with the aim to enhance forest biodiversity and develop enterprise related to its utilisation.

The Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry opened the application process for cooperation network projects in February 2009. A total of 15 applications came in, of which the following seven projects were selected for financing:

1. Climate change in forests – Great Crested Newt as top model, METSO as safety network (Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Karelia)
2. Siberian Jay diversifies the protection of forest nature (Finnish Association for Nature Conservation)
3. Nature management with fire (Forestry Centre for Southeast Finland)
4. Master planning of nature management in forestry (Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Varsinais-Suomi)
5. Pine woods and shore willows – Cooperation Network of Central Finland (Forestry Centre for Central Finland)
6. Cooperation on Sipoonkorpi forest (Forestry Centre for the Coastal Regions)
7. From Tahkovuori Hill to Kinahmi herb-rich forest – centre for herb-rich forests as a tourist attraction in Tahko region (Forestry Centre for North Savo)

Besides biodiversity the selected projects promote economic and/or social sustainability and/or develop new operative models and cultures. The projects got started in autumn 2009 and they will end in 2011-2013. The projects are financed jointly by the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The total funding per network varies between 49,000 and 99,000 euros.

”Pine woods and shore willows" protecs entities that are interconnected with each other and promotes nature tourism. Tourism is also the focus in "From Tahkovuori Hill to Kinahmi herb-rich forests", where the biodiversity objective is to preserve the nature values of areas with herb-rich forests, mires and brooks. The aim of ”Nature management with fire” is to manage sunlit slopes of sandy esker ridges and promote nature management services concerning prescribed burning.

Comprehensive planning for specific catchment areas is developed in ”Master planning of nature management in forestry". ”Cooperation on Sipoonkorpi forest" develops a model area for collaboration among forest owners. ” Climate change in forests – Great Crested Newt as top model, METSO as safety network" protects wooded areas with wetlands and small water bodies which are common habitats for Great Crested Newt and other wetland species. Siberian Jay and other species of spruce forests are the focus in "Siberian Jay diversifies the protection of forest nature".

Further information:

Katja Matveinen-Huju, Planning Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. 358 (0)9 160 52418 or (0)40 179 7909, katja.matveinen-huju(at)mmm.fi