Sustainable wood mobilisation in the Arctic: ROSEWOOD partners visit best practices of the network’s in Finland

ROSEWOOD international partners had the chance to get a unique insight into forestry and wood production operations in this northernmost part of Europe with the occasion of a project meeting held in Rovaniemi on 3rd and 4th of September. While visiting Keitele group’s sawmill in Kemijärvi, a forest thinning site of Metsähallitus and one of Europe’s largest wood terminals in Rovaniemi, the partners could witness arctic efficiency in wood mobilisation and processing. The field trip was organized by the Lapland University of Applied Science, which partners in the ROSEWOOD network of Regions on Sustainable Wood Mobilisation and forms together with LUKE the network’s North Europe Hub.

Forest and wood industry – a ‘collar beam’ to Lapland’s economy

Forests as far as the eye can see. This is a usual sight in Lapland, Northern Finland, which is only disrupted by meandering rivers, strolling reindeers and small villages and towns. Despite long transportation ways, the region’s rich forest resources are well used, accounting for € 1.4 Bn. of Lapland’s economic turnover. Annually, about 60 million cubic metres of wood are cut in the whole of Finland, thereof, a significant amount in the country’s vast northernmost parts. Finnish forest industry is not only among the largest in Europe, it is also a front-runner in sustainable wood mobilisation and utilization.

The best practices visited by ROSEWOOD partners with occasion of the network’s international meeting in Rovaniemi, demonstrate what sustainable wood means in arctic/Finnish terms and what other European stakeholders can learn from that. For the upcoming three weeks, ROSEWOOD will feature stories and videos captured during the ROSEWOOD partners’ field trip.