Everyone’s Right to Forest Science

IUFRO World Day 28 – 29 September 2021 content:

Everyone’s right to forest science – Open access publishing in forest sciences (a Powerpoint slideshow)

Everyone’s right is a customary right in Nordic Countries, which ensures open access to forests for all. The right includes, e.g. camping, berry picking, and enjoying the nature. In the spirit of this millennial tradition, we in the Finnish Society of Forest Science think that access to forest science should not be restricted by pay-walls but be open to everyone. Today, our journals Silva Fennica and Metsätieteen aikakauskirja are open with CC BY-SA 4.0 license (Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International), including archives back to 1913.

According to the CC BY-SA 4.0 license you are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
  • for any purpose, even commercially.

The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
  • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

The journal publishing doctoral dissertations, Dissertationes Forestales, has the more restrictive CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International). It gives you full freedom to read, copy and distribute the work, provided that you adequately credit the author. However, commercial use and modifications are prohibited.

Remember licencing also when you publish your own research as Open Access.

Read also the materials from our Open Forest Science Seminar on 7 May 2018.

Check also the recordings of the webinar Open data in forest sciences – benefits, problems and future on 10 December 2020 (in Finnish).