Finnish forestry chief debunks industry perceptions

A Finnish forestry chief has expressed her astonishment at what she calls “extreme opinions and false perceptions” concerning the country’s forest industry.

Anne Brunila, executive director of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, said on Finnish forests internet portal forest.fi that contrary to some opinions there would be wood use and forest industry investment in the future.

Dr Brunila also predicted a large increase in demand for wood construction once the recession was over and suggested the importance of using wood for renewable energy production was overstated.

“One may hear often that, for example, the industry will not build any new capacity in Finland in the future, which is sort of bad news according to many,” she said.

But she said the industry continued to invest about €1bn every year.

“This shows that the industry carries on in Finland in the long run and trusts in its business environment.”

She acknowledged that high timber prices, salaries and electricity taxes created challenges but said the industry’s task was to show politicians in a concrete way what forest industry could offer for the country.

Dr Brunila also called for more progress on unifying European standards for wood construction.

“It is not totally in our own hands. Many things must be solved through decisions taken by politicians. The forest industry certainly carries its responsibilities, if it is given an opportunity to do it,”

Dr Brunila said renewable forest energy was often talked about as if it was the only future energy solution. “But it is not, not for the forest sector, nor for the country’s energy production.??

“Wood can be a significant solution only if we start to burn wood suitable for paper, cardboard and sawmilling production. And it would create large losses for the national economy.

“Side products must be utilised, of course, but mere energy production creates employment and value only in a minor way compared to the alternative, which is wood products production, recycling them after use and finally energy production out of the recycled material.”