Forest Sciences’ Day 2026 – NOTE: call for presentations for the afternoon sessions is now open, scroll down this page for links.
Place: Viikki Campus of the University of Helsinki, Forest Sciences’ Building, Latokartanonkaari 7 and remote connection with Zoom
Time: Wednesday 21 October 2026, whole day
The traditional Forest Sciences’ Day of the Finnish Society of Forest Science will be organised this year for the 34rd time. This event has become the main forum for Finnish forest scientists and and all those interested in scientific knowledge and its application on forests and forestry to come together and network, with ca 300 participants attending on the spot or remotely.
The theme of this year’s Forest Sciences’ Day is the international dimension of Finnish forest use and forest research. The international dimension of Finland’s forest sector has a longer history than our independence, but its emphases have shifted over the decades, and today it looks quite different from what it did, for example, in the 1990s. In addition to the development of our expertise, global trends have strongly influenced these changes. The Forest Sciences’ Day will explore, among other things, what we can learn from others and what we can contribute to the rest of the world.
Programme
9:00 – 12:00 Morning plenary session, Auditorium 110
| 9.00-9.10 | Opening of the Forest Sciences’ Day | Vice-chair Jori Uusitalo, Finnish Society of Forest Science |
| 9.10-9.30 | Global market for forest mathematics | Ph.D Tuomo Kauranne, Arbonaut |
| 9.30-9.50 | 40 years of Finnish rainforest research in Amazonia | Professor Ilari Sääksjärvi, University of Turku |
| 9.50-10.10 | Current prospects of pulp investments in South America | Professor Markus Kröger, University of Helsinki |
| 10.10-10.40 | Coffee Break | |
| 10.40-11.00 | Central European lessons to Finnish silviculture: what will be the effects of changing climate and continuous-cover forestry | Professor Pasi Rautio, Natural Resources Institute Finland |
| 11.00-11.20 | The importance of science communication and environmental education in the changing world | Associate professor Carita Lindstedt-Kareksela, University of Helsinki |
| 11.20-12.00 | Common discussion | Morning speakers |
13:15 – 16:00 Afternoon parallel sessions
In the afternoon, we call you to speak on your research results or applications of science in the parallel sessions of the six science clubs of the Finnish Society of Forest Science. There is an open call for presentations till 23 August 2026. You will find more information and advice on each parallel session by clicking the session name in the website of the Forest Sciences’ Day or by sending e-mail to the session contact person.
- Finnish forest biodiversity and research in a global context (Forest Biology Club), Hannes Pasanen (hannes.pasanen [] uef.fi)
- Global perspectives in forest economics research (Forest Economist Club), Jussi Lintunen (jussi.lintunen [] luke.fi)
- Globalization in Forest Management (Forest Management Club), Heli Viiri (heli.viiri [] upm.com); Antti Sipilä (antti.sipila [] hamk.fi)
- Values, agency and temporal and spatial dimensions: The influence of human-forest relationships in the global world (Human-Forest Relationship Research Club), Jenni Simkin (jenni.simkin [] luke.fi); Panu Runko (panu.runko [] luke fi)
- International Activities of Finnish Forest Mensuration Specialists in the 2020s (Forest Mensuration Club), Sanna Sirparanta (sanna.sirparanta [] metsakeskus.fi)
- Wood Procurement in Transition: Sustainability Challenges and Regulatory Change (Forest Technology Club), Tuomas Niinistö (tuomas.niinisto [] luke.fi)
6:15 – 17:00 Afternoon plenary session, Auditorium 108
- Scientific recognitions of the Society
- The connection between science and art, presentation with photos
- Final words of Forest Sciences’ Day
17:15 – 20:00 Buffet dinner of Forest Sciences’ day
Restaurant Viikuna, Building EE of Viikki Campus, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2
Registering starts in the latter part of September.
Organising Committee
In addition to the science clubs’ contact persons above, the organisation committee in 2026 includes:
Finnish Society of Forest Science: Jori Uusitalo, Vice Chair (jori.uusitalo [] helsinki.fi) and Reija Haapanen, Executive Manager (reija.haapanen [] metsatiede.org)
Forest Economist Club: Anu Laakkonen
Forest Technology Club: Kari Väätäinen
Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation has recognised Forest Sciences’ Day worth of funding.