| THE LATEST NEWS |
Members of the SNS board have expressed their views of Nordic Forestry Cooperation.
Members of the SNS board have during 2008 expressed their views of Nordic Forestry Cooperation in Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research in News and Views pages.
SNS stands for Nordic cooperation. But why is Nordic cooperation important? Mats Hannerz asked members of the SNS board. Here are the responses
Kari Mielikäinen, chairman of the SNS board
Professor in Growth and Yield, Metla, Finland.
The aim of Nordic co-operation in forest research is to connect researchers, their ideas and databases to gain so-called ”Nordisk Nytta”, i.e. better understanding of issues related to Nordic forests and forestry. Combining the best expertise at the Nordic level strengthens us, and increases our ability to broaden our outlook to European or global scales. Discussion between researchers, decision-makers and politicians is also highly important in international decision-making regarding the sustainable use of forests. Due to our common roots and history, Nordic co-operation is also a great pleasure.
Liisa Saarenmaa
SNS board member from Finland. Senior adviser to the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
“The forest industry is an extremely important sector in the Nordic countries, while it is a minor branch in many other European countries. Our challenge is to raise the priority of forestry issues on the EU agenda, both as an industrial sector and as a means to meet the challenges of global warming. The individual countries cannot do this, since we are easily brushed aside by the big players like France and Great Britain. However, we can become a stronger force if we speak with a common voice. Therefore, Nordic cooperation is very important.”
Niels Elers Koch
SNS board member from Denmark. Professor and Director General of Forest & Landscape Denmark, Vice President of IUFRO.
“There are increasing demands for the multitude of goods and services provided by the forest, and at the same time the research and development problems in the forest sector are becoming increasingly complex. The need for a strong, effective SNS has therefore never been so great, because the forests are “the green gold of the Nordic countries”. Since we share the same cultural background, the same ecosystems and the same challenges, Nordic cooperation and division of work creates a lot of synergy at the Nordic level.”
Tróndur Leivsson
SNS observer from the Faroe Islands, Umhvørvisstovan, Viðarvøkstur
Small regions find it difficult to make their voices heard in the EU, but they still may provide expertise and experience of great value to the international community. The Faroe Islands offer extreme conditions for testing trees and bushes in a harsh climate. The experience gained can be used both by us [Faroe Islanders] and people in other countries who wish to extend their knowledge. The cooperation within the Nordic region is generally very smooth, since we share many common values, and it enables us to communicate the results to a wider audience.
Mikael Sandvik
SNS observer from Åland and Director of Forestry Section, The Government of Åland
The Åland Islands is a small archipelago with more than 6.700 islands and skerries. Approximately 40 % of the area consists of productive forest land. The forestry is similar to the forestry in Finland and Sweden, but we don t carry out any forest research by our own. Therefore, Nordic cooperation is very valuable and offers us important contacts in the Nordic countries. Furthermore a united voice from the Nordic countries can make a great impact on the international scene.
Aðalsteinn Sigurgeirsson
SNS board member from Iceland, Director Iceland Forest Research: “Nordic cooperation, a necessity”
Iceland is a small country where forestry is marginal and forest research is a minor activity. We have learned the necessity of co-operating internationally, and SNS is an important bridge to research networks in Europe and the Nordic countries. The Nordic meetings are often more profitable to attend than many European meetings. Being the leader of an institute with just 6-7 researchers, it is difficult to make one’s voice heard at an EU-meeting, where other leaders may represent 500–1,000 researchers.
Jón Loftsson
SNS board member from Iceland and Director Iceland Forestry Service (Skógrækt ríkisins)
Nordic cooperation in the field of forestry research has been priceless for Icelandic foresters. We have been able to participate in research projects with world class scientists. Because of that, we have taken part in both Nordic and European research projects where we have been valid members. Although no other country in Europe is as poor of forests as Iceland, the country offers other nations a desirable environment to research changes in ecosystems caused by the greenhouse effect. Therefore, we have been considered valid and desirable candidates for all kinds of cooperative projects related to the forest’s ecosystems.
Josh Kolltveit
SNS board member from Norway and special adviser at the Research Council of Norway.
Forestry is an important industry branch in the Nordic region as a base for creating values and employment on an individual level as well as for delivering goods and services to the society. The forest and forestry has also an important role for energy production and the environment. A steadily increased knowledge about the forest is a prerequisite for growth and increased value in our countries.
Increased international cooperation is a necessity for the development of the forest sector. Most of the innovative research is done at the international scene, but the applications must be developed on a national level. Joint Nordic research projects help us to compete internationally, and make us an attractive partner for cooperation in European projects. We are small countries, but we share many climatic, geographic and economic conditions. The Nordic countries therefore have a great advantage of cooperation and share of resources. Therefore SNS is needed.
(Josh text in Norwegian:)
Skogbruket er en viktig næring i Norden både som grunnlag for verdiskaping og sysselsetting i distriktene og som leverandør av miljø- og fellesgoder til samfunnet. Skogen og skogbruket har også en viktig rolle i energi- og miljøpolitikken. Økt kunnskap og evne til fornyelse i forskningen er nødvendige forutsetninger for vekst og økt verdiskapning i samfunnet.
Internasjonalt forskningssamarbeid bidrar både til fornying og kvalitet i nordisk forskning, og er spesielt viktig for inntak av ny kunnskap. Økt internasjonalt forskningssamarbeid er derfor en forutsetning også for å videreutvikle skogbrukssektoren. Det meste av den grunnleggende kompetanseutviklingen skjer internasjonalt mens anvendelsen må reflektere nasjonale forhold.
Gjennom nordisk skogforskningssamarbeid kan vi skape sterkere kunnskapsmiljøer som kan hevde seg i internasjonal konkurranse og samtidig styrkes ytterligere gjennom et bredt europisk samarbeid.
Felles innsats i nordisk skogforskning vil gi en bredere kunnskapsbase og større konkurransekraft på det internasjonale markedet, ikke minst for våre små land. Med samme klimatiske, geografiske og økonomiske forhold vil de nordiske landene få stor nytte av samarbeid og arbeidsdeling innen skogforskningen. Derfor trengs SNS.
Hans-Örjan Nohrstedt
SNS board member from Sweden, Head of strategy and analysis, The Swedish Research Council Formas
Why Nordic co-operation in forest and forestry-related science?
There are many good reasons for funders of research to promote Nordic co-operation in forest- and forestry-related sciences. International co-operation in general is decisive for the continuous ambition of research to be at the forefront in relation to scientific issues and methods. In the long-run it is a necessary prerequisite for a wise use of resources in shortage, i.e. skilled people and money. The three most popular countries for co-operation among Swedish scientists within environmental and agricultural sciences are UK, USA and Germany, thus two EU-countries. Is then Nordic co-operation not a dead-end road, in a time when much political effort is focussed on EU´s framework program? Absolutely not! There are many forest-related conditions common for the Nordic countries that are not shared by other EU member states, e.g. climate, bedrock and soils, land use and major vegetation types, and population density. These common conditions imply a unique Nordic societal need for knowledge. A joint Nordic research area give scientists a fruitful common access to a scientifically interesting ecological gradient, to larger datasets and other infrastructure, and to unique personal and institutional competences. There are also several examples that co-operation may create a strong position for joint Nordic groups in the competition for EU funding.
Håkan Wirtén
SNS board member from Sweden, Vice director-general, Swedish Forest Agency
The Nordic countries constitute a small corner of Europe and the word, and our share of the global population is very minor. However, we possess important forest resources and a first-class forestry. The countries have much in common: culture, language (at least partly), history, common values and similar approaches on forest management. It is therefore natural and necessary for us to cooperate, back-up each other and assemble our strengths. I believe that forest research is one of the areas which benefits most in Nordic cooperation.
(Håkan in swedish:)
Norden är ett litet hörn av Europa och världen. Vi utgör en liten, liten del av befolkningen men har en hel del skogsresurser och ett framstående skogsbruk. Vi har mycket gemensamt; kultur, språk (delvis), historia, delvis liknande skogsbruk, ofta samstämmiga synpunkter etc. Det är därför naturligt och nödvändigt att vi samverkar, hjälper varandra och kraftsamlar och drar nytta av våra olika styrkor. Jag tror skogsforskning hör till de områden där detta äger störst giltighet.