New pathways to climate-resilient forest management

The slowdown in the growth of Finland’s forests and the weakening of carbon sinks highlight the need to strengthen climate-resilient forest management. In the new project, we address this challenge by bringing together knowledge, stakeholders, and learning.

There is a growing need in Finland to strengthen forest growth and carbon sequestration. According to the Climate Plan for the Land Use Sector, climate measures are expected to significantly increase carbon sinks by 2035. At the same time, demand for wood and logging levels have remained high, while forest growth has been observed to slow down. In 2022, the land use sector turned into a net source of emissions for the first time overall.

These challenges are addressed by the Future Forest – Pathways to Climate-Resilient Forest Management project, in which we strengthen the expertise of forest owners and forestry professionals in climate-resilient forest management, while also enhancing dialogue and peer learning among different forestry stakeholders.

The project will develop an interaction and knowledge-sharing model that can be scaled nationwide, bringing together solutions for climate-smart forest management in a clear and easily accessible format.

“In the project, we share knowledge in a diverse and practical way through field-based learning, digital environments, and joint dialogue,” says HAMK Project Coordinator Sara Syvälahti.

Climate-resilient forest management will be communicated through various formats such as blogs, animations, and podcasts. The content will be designed to be clear and easy to understand for target groups using information design methods, ensuring effective transfer of knowledge into practice.

In addition, we will create forest management trails at HAMK’s Evo and Mustiala campuses as well as in the forests of the South Karelia Education Consortium Sampo to demonstrate different forest management options and their impacts on forest resilience, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. Virtual versions of these physical trails will also be produced, enabling their use in both remote learning and field settings.

A key component of the project is interaction and participation. Forest owners and other stakeholders will be actively involved in the development work. Dialogue workshops and peer meetings will be organized to share experiences and learn together.

The project is part of the action package for strengthening forest growth and carbon sinks, implemented during 2025–2027.

HAMK acts as the main coordinator of the project, with LAB University of Applied Sciences, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, and Saimaan ammattiopisto Sampo as partners.

This is what it’s all about

Project: Future Forest – Pathways to Climate-Resilient Forest Management

Duration: 1 May 2026 – 30 September 2027

Implementers: Häme University of Applied Sciences, LAB University of Applied Sciences, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, and Saimaan ammattiopisto Sampo

Funder: Lapin elinvoimakeskus

Budget: €468,065