Hybrid: 495 Hodson Hall and Zoom (Join us on Zoom; registration not required)
This hybrid event is part of the Natural Resources Science and Practice Seminar Series hosted by the Department of Forest Resources.
Join us for a social starting at 4 p.m. The talk begins at 4:15 p.m. (Zoom link for remote participants.)
Title: Eastern Finnish Approaches to Address Global Forest Bioeconomy Challenges
Abstract: The operating environment in forestry both in Europe and the U.S. is facing various ecological challenges. Concurrently, landowners’ and society’s views on forests are changing. Timely European forestry topics include, for example, Nature Restoration Law and Deforestation Regulation. Several market-based instruments, such as carbon and biodiversity offsetting and trading mechanisms, are explored to complement public policies.
With the above framing, this presentation given by UMN’s guests from Finland dives into some topical processes in the science-policy-practice interface of forest bioeconomy. Those include a competence center for forest-human-machine interplay; strategic research on just systemic transition of forestry; strong sustainability forestry services and forest planning; and a new EU-wide coordination and support action pursuing enhanced forest advisory skills and practices.
The presentation also features introductions to European Bioeconomy University, Finnish–American Innovation Research and Innovation Accelerator, and the new International Bachelor Program of Sustainable Forest Bioeconomy at the University of Eastern Finland.
Speakers:
- Teppo Hujala, Professor of Forest Bioeconomy Foresight, University of Eastern Finland (UEF)
- Satu Helenius, Project Coordinator, Finnish American Research and Innovation Accelerator (FARIA)
- Veera Tahvanainen, Postdoctoral Researcher, UEF
- Nataša Lovric, Senior Researcher, International Forest Bioeconomy and Governance, UEF