Financing of the Forest Education in Finland Conference in Janw LubelskiMay 20th 2008Sirpa KrkkinenLiaisons ManagerFinnish Forest Association

ContentFinnish Forest AssociationCoordinationNetworksFinancing

Finnish Forest Association (FFA) established 1887Co-operative body for organisations in the forestry sector and closely related fieldsmission is to provide information on the potential of forests in solving societal problems and to promote the acceptance of a responsible use of forests. The main working instrument of the association is the arrangement of open and interactive communication between the forest sector and other spheres of society.

FFAMember organisations (60) Representing private forest owners organizations, forest industries, state forest enterprise, forestry workers unions, administration, research and education, forest related trade unions, non-governmental organizations (i.e. hunters, 4H, scouts, central outdoor association, teachers unions) Major teams and activitiesInternational communication and media contacts Forest in schoolsForest Forum for Decision-Makers (Forest Academy)Annual Forest Days for professionalsRecoursesca. 15 employees

Targets of the forest education in schoolsIn the document called Expedition in the Finnish forest FFA and the National Board of Education have defined the goals of forest and wood education Basic goals in the basic curriculum are: pupils learn to understand sustainable use of natural recourses andget familiar with different elements of forests: ecosystem, protection, silviculture and use of forests, forest industry, recreation and culture

Goals are reached through a wide co operation network

CoordinationFFA is in charge of coordination of all activities and cooperation in forest sector (e.g. private forest owners organization, big companies, state forest organizations) and with school authorities, teachers organization and other stakeholders

Level 1: National steering committee

Members: Associations of Biology and Georgaphy TeachersAssociation of Grade School TeachersAssociation of Kindergarten TeachersNational Board of Education

National steering committee

Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest OwnersFinnish Forest Industries FederationFinnish Forest Research InstituteForest CentresForestry Developement Centre TapioMetshallitus State Forest Enterprise

National steering committeemembersHunters Central OrganisationCentral Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor ActivitiesRepresentatives of Environmental EducationThe Association of Finnish Wood Industry Technicians and EngineersThe Finnish 4H Federation

Level 2: Local networks

Members: Forestry professionals from companies and organisationsForest, wood and nature -tourism enterprisesHuntersEnvironmental organisationsOutdoor recreation and fitness enthusiastsTeachers

Local networkshave made a local programme to increase the knowledge of forests among children and youngsters have decided the targets and the actions on the local level

Activities for schools are free of charge Activities for schools forest days for individual school classes and schools forest weeks for schools of individual towns, municipalities excursions to the forests and factories

Activities for teachers forest courses courses in forestry for students studing in the Faculty of Education

Financing sources for forest education in schools in Finland

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (1)supports:co ordination ( FFA, 4H youth organisation)

web pageall the materials (books, CDs, games, DVDs, best practices) are collected on the website: www.oppimispolku.fi

Project Financing (2)The Finnish Forest FoundationThe Forestmens Foundation

National Board of Education, Ministry of the Environment EU programmes Comenius, Leonardo...

The Finnish Forest FoundationThe aim is to increase awareness both in Finland and abroad of Finnish family forestry.

Voluntary funding is provided by forest owners, the forest industry, private sawmills and the Finnish Forest and Park Service.

The main source of financing is the voluntary sales promotion fee, which is paid in connection with timber trade.

The Finnish Forest FoundationThe seller and buyer of timber both contribute the same sum, which is 0.2 % of the value of the saleThe decision to make a contribution is taken by the seller. In so doing, the seller also obligates the buyer to make an equal contribution. The sales promotion fee is deductible in the taxation of timber sale proceeds.

Input of the members of the networks (3)For example labour (planning, presentations, lectures ect) bus transpotation food and drink materialsVoluntary work for individuals and organisations ( foresters are not under any obligation of teaching)

Input of the members of the networksPart of companies and organisations communications and public relationsTeachers and the young generation is an important target groupTo promote forest industry and forestryNeed of labour

Case Forest Quiz

Case Forest Quiz

Metsvisa the Forest Quiz organized yearly since 1982 participation about 70 % of age classsince 1982 one million Finns have participated in the Quiz (20 % of population)

Case Forest QuizeThe questions are prepared by a national working group appointed by the Association of Biology and Geography Teachers Input is labourForestry Development Centre Tapio translates the questions into Swedish- input is labour Metsliitto Cooperative, Stora Enso Forest, Metshallitus, UPM Forestdonate the prizes - Input is moneyhold a lesson and in some cases also to organise a field trip for the class. - Input is labour and money

Case Forest Quiz

regional level is organized by the Regional Forestry Centres input is labour

The best pupil of the region is rewarded by Nordea Bank Finland. - input is moneyThe finals The field competition is organized by the Association of Biology and Geography Teachers group input is labourThe travelling and accommodation costs are paid by Nordea Bank Finland. - input is moneyThe Finnish Forest Industries Federation donates the prizes for the winners of the finals and also the bus transportation during the two day competition - input is money

Case Forest QuizeThe Finnish Forest Foundation supports financially the Finnish Forest Association tocoordinate the Forest Quiztake care of the entries for the Quizorganize the first level of The Quiz and the finals in cooperation with the teachers group do the marketing to do the media follow up