Forest NB 2024 Finland Delegation
October 19-27, 2024
Finland is celebrated as a global leader in forestry for its exceptional balance of sustainable practices, cutting-edge forest management techniques and technologies, and a deep-rooted cultural respect for forests. Our focus is on on creating new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and innovation to shape the future of forestry in Atlantic Canada.
How can we create new opportunity in the Atlantic Provinces?
Growing a future for our communities through forestry.
Engagement with European leaders in sustainable forestry can significantly benefit the sector in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through innovative forest management practices, state-of-the-art technology, and precision-driven approaches supported by advanced information systems. By emphasizing environmental responsibility and carbon neutrality, we can strengthen forestry as a key sector for the provinces' social and economic well-being. We will explore opportunities for learning, engagement and creating mutual opportunities for investment and trade with the Finnish forest sector while advancing shared goals in sustainable practices and green economies.
Check back for daily updates throughout our visit.
Why Finland?
Finland is a global leader in sustainable forestry. Recognized as a ‘timber giant’ in Europe, Finland’s success can be attributed to detailed monitoring, state-of-the-art technologies, precise management objectives, constructive stakeholder engagement and strong social license resulting from transparent communication between industry, government and the public around forest assets.
Forests cover more than 74% of the land area in Finland with total volume of about 2 billion cubic metres, and for decades has exceeded harvest volumes and natural drain supply. Roughly 60% of Finland’s forested lands are privately owned and managed, with the average plot size of 30 hectares. Similar geography, climate, and land tenure make New Brunswick’s sector comparable with Finland. Because Finland also has a nearly 40% share of renewables in its energy mix, it also leads the world in transitioning its energy sector to a low-carbon future. Canada has recently recognized biomass technologies as necessary to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, making this an opportune time for New Brunswick to engage with a world leader in bioenergy.
Additionally, Finland ranked first in Robeco’s country sustainability rankings in 2021. Strong environmental protection policies have been effective at reducing pollution, promoting natural conservation and safeguarding biodiversity, proving that sustainably managed forests support sustainable development goals.
The 2024 Forest NB Finland Delegation is made possible through the support of:
A.L.P.A. Equipment Ltd. is a family-owned company serving Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec. Each location offers full service for forestry and construction equipment, with field technicians offering service on-site. A.L.P.A.'s extensive parts inventory has all the essential parts, with a 24/7 emergency parts ordering system and customer support representatives dedicated to keeping equipment running. Their training department helps get new operators up and running and provides experienced operators with the latest information on new technologies and they have also partnered with the NBCC "mechanized forest equipment operator program," offering the latest forestry equipment and simulators.
Ponsse is a globally recognized Finnish company specializing in the development and manufacture of cut-to-length forest machines and related services. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Vieremä, Finland, Ponsse has grown into one of the world's leading manufacturers of forestry equipment, known for its innovation, quality, state-of-the-art technology and information systems, training systems and simulators, and customer-centric approach. The company emphasizes sustainability by developing equipment that minimizes environmental impact through fuel efficiency and reduced soil disturbance.