Information intensifies forest management
Forest owners in Finland have access to advisory services, but the use of information could be diversified by developing electronic services for forest owners.
Forest owners in Finland have access to advisory services, but the use of information could be diversified by developing electronic services for forest owners.“Good-quality data on forest resources can help forest owners to be proactive when it comes to forest management and ensuring biodiversity,” says Senior Officer Anna Rakemaa.The Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla produces reliable information on Finland’s timber resources in the recurring National Forest Inventories. Forestry centres also produce regional data on forest resources for the forest sector. Data on logging and changes in land use are entered into a regional resource database which is also used for monitoring the veracity of forest use declarations and for providing forest owners with advice.
Forest owners can access the data on their holdings in the database on forest resources, and they can also order a forestry plan and maps from the organization of their choice.
"In addition, we get almost 100,000 different types of requests every year, so an e-service application would make our work significantly easier."
In future, it might be possible for land owners to update the information regarding forest management activities on their holdings themselves, to order a forestry plan, or to use other services. They might also be able to authorize a company drawing up a forestry plan or the holder of logging rights to use their data.
New way of acquiring information
Methods of acquiring information will be updated alongside the geographic information services. For the main part, new technology such as laser scanning and interpretation of aerial photographs are replacing the laborious task of collecting data on the growing stock and on growing sites, which once had to be carried out in the field.“It is still, however, necessary actually to go into the forest in order to carry out in-depth analyses on vegetation, or to compile forestry plans for individual estates,” explains Rakemaa.
Even though forest resource data has, up to now, hardly been used across national borders within the EU, Anna Rakemaa believes that in future there will be increasing potential for shared use.
“In order to predict the impact of global warming, information is also needed on the characteristics of forests in order to try and prevent damage caused by storms with the help of forest management.”
BY LIISA-MAIJA AUKIA
PHOTO BY ERKKI OKSANEN/METLA
