Koli Forum 2021 - Forests for future generations
13-14 October 2021, Koli National Park, Finland
Koli Forum 2021, 13-14 October 2021
Koli Forum has established itself as the high level discussion platform for global leaders on sustainable use of natural resources bringing together business leaders, investors, policy makers, academia and civil society. The participants in this event will create a common understanding of the steps needed for the forest-based sector to become a true forerunner in sustainability.
In 2021, the Koli Forum seminar will focus on the role of forests in climate change mitigation and in rebuilding our society after the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, the engagement and role of the next generation in future bioeconomy will be emphasized. On-site participants of the event will jointly draft and adopt the so-called Koli Theses.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we are organising Koli Forum 2021 as a hybrid event. There is a limited number of seats offered to join us in person at Koli for the full programme. Our online participants will be able to join the Opening session and Sessions 1-4 as shown below in the programme.
We will also offer fieldtrips for both on-site and online participants — more information on those will follow!
Participation fees:
550 € / regular – register before 29.9.2021
300 € / online participation
Speakers
Programme
We are updating the programme as speakers are confirmed.
| 13 October 2021 | |
| 12.30 Coffee/tea | |
| 13.00-14.50 Opening session | |
| Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Finland Jari Leppä, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland Karl-Henrik Sundström, Climate Leadership Coalition, Chairman, Former CEO, Stora Enso Alina Lehikoinen, International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) Salla Ahonen, Neste: Sustainability as a driver for strategy |
|
| 14.50-15.30 Session 1: Forests, climate and the future | |
| Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Professor European forest resources, Wageningen University and Research: Climate Smart Forestry in Europe under increasing pressures from climate change Joss Blériot, Executive Lead Institutions, Governments & Cities, Ellen MacArthur Foundation: The Nature Imperative – How the circular economy tackles biodiversity loss |
|
| 15.30-16.30 Walk to the top of the Koli hill / coffee/tea | |
| 16.30-17.15 Session 2: Sustainable finance & nature-based solutions | |
| Karoliina Lindroos, Ilmarinen Liisa Rohweder, Secretary General, WWF Finland |
|
| 17.15-18.15 Session 3: Digitalization and forest information | |
| Fred Stolle, Global Forest Watch Josh Roberts, Forestry and Land Scotland Sverker Danielsson, Mistra Digital Forest Mikael Karlsson, Founder and CEO of MW Group |
|
| 19.30 — Dinner | |
| 14 October 2021 | |
| 9.00-10.00 Session 4: New products and technologies | |
| Antti Tahvanainen, Metsäteollisuus ry Janne Poranen, Spinnova Oğuz Buruk, Tampere University |
|
| 10.00-10.45 Panel discussion: Forests for future generations | |
| 10.45 Coffee/tea | |
| 11.00-12.00 Group discussions on the 2021 Koli Theses | |
| 12.00-12.15 Concluding words | |
| 12.15 Lunch |
|
| 13.30 Field trips will be offered both for on-site and online participants. We have a bus transportation to Joensuu, and those participants that choose not to join the excursion, will be dropped off at the railway station / city center. Online field trip will take our participants to Sweden with our members from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). You will get to hear more about user-oriented digitalization and innovation in forestry with examples from Sweden! |
Venue and practicalities
Our main venue is the auditorium located in the Ukko Heritage Centre a few meters away from the Break Sokos Hotel Koli.
Hotel reservations
Travel to and from Koli
Participants are expected to make their own travel arrangements. We will arrange a shuttle bus to and from Koli as described below.
There are direct flights from Helsinki to Joensuu, but they operate on a limited schedule. We recommend the following connections:
Helsinki-Joensuu Oct 12, 17:00-18:05 pm or 23:40 pm-00:45 am.
For more details on flights to and from Joensuu, please see https://www.amapola.nu/
Joensuu can be reached by train from Helsinki. Recommended connection: morning train departing from Helsinki at 6:57 am on October 13, arriving in Joensuu at 11:39 am.
Please see the website of the national railway company VR for timetables and ticket reservations: https://www.vr.fi/en
There will be a free shuttle bus organized by Koli Forum from Joensuu railway station to the venue at Koli on October 13 at 12:00 noon.
A free shuttle bus from Koli to Joensuu railway station and Joensuu airport will be organized on the 14th of October after the closing of the event.
Recommended connections to Helsinki: Train to Helsinki departing at 15:13 or 18:15, https://www.vr.fi/en or flight to Helsinki departing at 18:30, https://www.amapola.nu/
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @KoliForum and on Facebook for latest updates!
More info about Koli National Park
The view opening up from Ukko-Koli Hill to Lake Pielinen is one of the most iconic national landscapes in Finland.
