Improving the knowledge base
Research on commercial forests under the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland METSO is supported by the joint research funds of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The studies aim to produce the necessary basic information in support of the objectives of the programme and data for the follow-up and development of the measures.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry launched the project application process in March 2009. Project topics on which research should be conducted are: impacts of nature management in commercial forests, reconciliation of forestry, safeguarding biodiversity and other uses of forests, and collection of information on harvesting that imitates the natural disturbance dynamics. A total of 14 project applications came in, of which the following five were selected for funding:
- Impacts of the harvesting of energy wood on the abundance and diversity of wood-decaying and mycorrhizal fungi 5 and 10 years after harvesting (accountable director Janne Kotiaho / University of Jyväskylä)
- Cost-efficient protection of forest biodiversity at the regional level (accountable director Mikko Mönkkönen / University of Jyväskylä)
- Reconciliation of forest ecosystem services in cooperation networks (accountable director Paula Horne / Pellervo Economic Research Institute PTT)
- Learning networks in the management of forest biodiversity (accountable director Yrjö Haila / University of Tamper
- Disturbance dynamics in the treatment of commercial forests (accountable director Timo Kuuluvainen / University of Helsinki)
The projects got started in autumn 2009. The two projects conducted at the University of Jyväskylä are concerned with the ecological, economic and social impacts of nature management in commercial forests. The study directed by Janne Kotiaho investigates the impacts of the harvesting of energy wood on the abundance of wood-decaying and mycorrhizal fungi. The project steered by Mikko Mönkkönen includes research on cost-efficient combinations of nature management and protection measures.
The studies conducted by the Pellervo Economic Research Institute PTT and the University of Tampere are concerned with reconciliating forest biodiversity, forestry and other uses of forests. Both projects support the METSO cooperation networks. The study by Paula Horne assesses various models of cooperation among landowners for producing ecosystem services The project directed by Yrjö Haila aims to activate forests owners and other actors as members of cooperation networks.
The study conducted by Timo Kuuluvainen at the University of Helsinki collects information on the impacts of harvesting that imitates the natural disturbance dynamics and examines the possibilities to apply disturbance dynamics in the Finnish conditions.
Further information: planner Katja Matveinen-Huju, +358 (0)9 1605 2418, forename.surname@mmm.fi