Co-Chairs’ Summary: 4Fs Field Dialogue in Finland

The Forests Dialogue (TFD) convened a four-day field dialogue on Food, Fuel, Fiber and Forests (4Fs) in Finland in collaboration with Metsäteollisuus, Stora Enso, UPM, Metsä Group, MTK, WWF, Metsämiesten Säätiö, Finnish Forest Foundation, Metsähallitus, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). 

30 participants from 19 countries and 23 key stakeholders in Finland (see page 13 for a list of participants) participated in the dialogue with the objectives to:

• Share experiences from Finland on land-use decision-making and practices in a landscape dominated by productive forests;
• Develop deeper understanding of how Finnish stakeholders balance demand for bio-energy, timber, pulp & paper products and eco-system services in this landscape;
• Synthesize lessons learnt from Finland that can inform land-use decision-making and practices internationally.

Participants in the Finland Dialogue spent the first two days visiting pulp and paper mills, wood-based bio-energy refineries and forest holdings owned by local families as well as companies in the southeastern part of Finland. Participants had the opportunity to discuss issues with local land owners, as well as representatives from forestry industry, government and NGOs. Based on the observations and learnings from the field and outcomes from previous dialogues under this initiative, participants engaged in a day and a half of discussions in plenary and small working group settings.

This summary aims to capture key dialogue discussions and reflect on key lessons learnt from Finland that can inform land use decision-making and practices internationally.  More details about the field trip and presentations during the dialogue can be found at the 4Fs Field Dialogue in Finland webpage.