Haarukkapaloja Finravinto 1997 -tutkimuksesta

Kirjallisuusarvostelu: Finravinto 1997 -tutkimus = The 1997 dietary survey of Finnish adults (Kansanterveyslaitoksen julkaisuja B8/1998) / Finravinto 1997 -tutkimuksen työryhmä. Helsinki, 1998

Optimal forest species mixture with carbon storage and albedo effect for climate change mitigation

Accounting for carbon storage and the albedo effect through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) or manda- tory offset permits aims to internalize the environmental externalities of forest management. This can shift the economically optimal rotation age, and incorporate rents for a wider range of ecosystem service offerings. A mixed stand economic optimization model was used to determine the optimal stand mixture and inter-species climate regulation trade-offs. Mixed forest dynamics between deciduous silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and coniferous Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) were evaluated. The sensitivity of our results to the absolute species-specific differences in albedo parameter values was also conducted. Results indicated that a synergistic climate regulation trade-off between the two species exists. The optimal rotation for the combined carbon stor- age and albedo effect was equivalent to that of the carbon storage only case. Differences in absolute albedo im- pacts were most sensitive at high discount rates, for ‘climate only’ management, and over increasing offset prices. These results demonstrate the importance of parameter certainty in the promotion of PES in forestry. They also show that mixed stands can promote more efficient trade-offs between forest ecosystem service offerings and provide a basis for diversifying between ecosystem functions.Peer reviewe

Forest owners’ views on storing carbon in their forests

Given the high percentage of private forest ownership in Finland, family forest owners have an important role in mitigating climate change. The study aims to explore Finnish family forest owners' perceptions on climate change and their opinions on increasing carbon storage in their forests through new kinds of management activities and policy instruments. The data consists of thematic face-to-face interviews among Helsinki metropolitan area forest owners (n = 15). These city-dwellers were expected to be more aware of and more interested in climate change mitigation than forest owners at large. Forests as carbon fluxes appear to be a familiar concept to most of the forest owners, but carbon storage in their own forests was a new idea. Four types concerning forest owners' view on storing carbon in their forests could be identified. The Pioneer utilizes forestland versatilely and has already adopted practices to mitigate climate change. The Potential is concerned about climate change, but this is not seen in forest practices applied. The Resistant is generally aware of climate change but sees a fundamental contradiction between carbon storing and wood production. The Indifferent Owner believes that climate change is taking place but does not acknowledge a relation between climate change and the owner's forests.Peer reviewe

Social dimensions of a forest-based bioeconomy : A summary and synthesis

How perceptions of the forest-based bioeconomy differ across country contexts and social groups is important as it opens possibilities for the development of more inclusive, locally and socially relevant bioeconomy policies and strategies. Therefore, this special section explores the social dimensions of the forest-based bioeconomy by focusing on discourses and perceptions of different actor groups in Europe. We introduce six articles that range from review and discursive approaches to consumer studies. The section adds to the existing literature by focusing not only on political decision makers, stakeholders, and experts but also on the public, media and students. Patterns in the presented discourses and perceptions can be identified but more is needed to validate these and respond to the question of representativeness.Peer reviewe