1. Building a Biosphere Reserve in North Karelia, Finland
Dr. Timo J. Hokkanen
Centre of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Karelia/
North Karelia Biosphere Reserve
Scotland

2. Contents North Karelia and North Karelia BR
Research and development projects
Steering committee and BR strategy
Future projects – extensive approach
Role of the BR
North Karelia and NK BR
Established on projects
Levels of acivity
local, regional, national, international
Regional priorities vs BR priorities
Steering committee and BR strategy
Future projects – extensive approach
National Park Koli – International Model
Green Belt of Fennoscandia
RoK-FOR – European partherships
Partnership organisations and enterprises
Participation in existing processes – Climate Change
Role of the Biosphere Reserve

3. Questions asked How you engage with public agencies?
How you engage with communities?
How you manage the landscapes?
How regional strategy has been developed?
Where the biosphere reserve fits in?
The long term view?

4. North Karelia and NK BR Living in the North Missä – kartta
Millaista – talvi, kesä, metsät, suot
pienet kaupungit, kylät, haja-asutus
Suojelua suhteellisen paljon
Elinkeinorakenne polaarinen: yliopisto, koulutus >< pienet kunnat heikoilla
Mitä tarvitaan keken ylläpitoon?

5. Karelia,
Eastern Finland

6. Ice ages

7. North
Karelia
-province

8. Total area ha
Forests ha
48 %

9. Total area ha
Forested Mires ha
19%
Forest

10. Forest, mires and lakes Total area 2 158 400 ha
Natural Mires ha
6 %
Forest
For.
Mire
6 %

11. Total area ha
Inland waters ha
18 %
Forest
Nat.
mire
For.
Mire

12. Total area ha
Other ha
Forest
9 %
Inland
waters
Forested
mire
Nat.
mire

14. North
Karelia
RUSSIA
Joensuu NK
Joensuu –

15. North Karelia Forestry, metal industry, hi-tech Forest research
University of Eastern Finland (13 000)
European Forest Institute
Finnish Forest Research Institute
Bioenergy: 65 % of energy consumption
Kokonaisala ha
Maa-ala ha
Metsät ha
Suot > ha % ojitettu
Vesistöt ha
Kokonaispinta-ala21 584,41 km² 4:nneksi suurin 2010 [1]– maa17 763,31 km²– sisävesi3 821,10 km²Väkiluku165 888 14:nneksi suurin   [2]– väestötiheys9,34 as/km² ( )MaakuntalauluKarjalaisten lauluNimikkolajit - lintuKäki- kalaJärvilohi- kasviKarjalanruusu- kiviVuolukivi
Vuoden 2003 tilastojen mukaan maakunnan 62 000 työpaikasta 5 000 on alkutuotannossa, 16 000 jalostuksessa ja 41 000 palveluissa.lähde? Työpaikkojen kokonaismäärä on kasvanut sekä verrattuna 1990-luvun lamaa edeltäneeseen aikaan että luonnollisesti sen jälkeen.
Alkutuotannossa maatalouden lisäksi merkittävää on metsätalous. Teollisuuden toimialoista suurimmat ovat metalli- ja muovituotteiden valmistus sekä metsäteollisuus. Palvelutyöpaikoista merkittävä osa on julkisia palveluita.
Työttömien osuus työvoimasta vuonna 2004 oli 17,1 % (koko maa 11,1 %).lähde? Suurinta työttömyys oli Enossa (23,7 %) ja pienintä Kontiolahdella (11,6 %).lähde?

16. North
Karelia BR
Lieksa
Ilomantsi
Joensuu

17. NK biosphere reserve Established 1992, extended 2009
Total area: ha
Population:
Core areas: ha
Buffer zone: ha
Main activities
forestry, tourism, services

19. KALEVALA – the national epic of Finland

20. Slash and burn agriculture

22. Taiga forest

23. Patvinsuo National Park
Photo:

24. Forest, mires and lakes
Koli National Park
Photo: Markku Tano

25. Sonkaja Village

27. ”Biosphere Reserves
– Connecting people” 27

28. Numerous background projects
Forestry, planning and protection
Forest grazing of cattle
New rural livelihoods
Nature and culture tourism
Restoration and building of cultural milieus
Restoration of springs
Large carnivores
Ticks
Giant hogweed

29. 1. Forest studies Extensive entities High-quality research
Forests important: economy, biodiversity, recreation
Joensuu is a forestry centre in boreal zone
Co-operation with Russia

30. UAV at Mekrijärvi Research Station
Hand launch
Flies on its own
Images in 20 minutes

33. Continuity of old growth forests in the border area
between Finland and Russia
(Lopatin, Kolström, Hokkanen 2009, manuscript)
webserver: mekri.joensuu.fi/gap_karelia 33

34. Predicted number of OGF indicator species (aphyllophoraceous fungi, mosses)
Lopatin et al. 2006 34

35. Natural connectivity at the border
In Russia: large untouched ecosystems should be protected
In Finland: need to create corridors connecting Russian and Finnish forests

36. Joint plan?
Development?
Protection?
Costs?
Time?

37. 2. Restoring cultural mileus and traditional landscapes
Local targets
Studies in local history
Using traditional methods
Employing local people
Co-operation with a school and local activists
Developing tourism

38. 1939

39. 1923

40. Aaron Piha 1997

44. Aaron piha 2003

45. Sonkaja chapel

46. 3. Ticks and Giant hogweed
Border area
Research and environmental awareness
Health
Value of land
Extensive co-operation

47. Ixodes persulcatus

48. Ixodes-species & tickborne encephalitis
Distribution
Climate change
Environmental change
Mistä punkki on joutunut Kokkolaan? 48

49. Heracleum mantegazzianum
Giant hogweed
Heracleum mantegazzianum 49 49

50. A bit escaped 50

51. Burns…
Photos: Michigan Dept Agriculture 51

53. Biosphere
reserve

54. North Karelia Biosphere reserve and its activities
Kainuu
Kostamus District (Russia)
Mujejärven District (Russia)
Suojärven District (Russia)
Karelia Ladogendis (Russia)
NKBR

55. Creating BR strategy Background projects
Leading = creating significancies
BR needs to create and point out significancies which promote sustainable development

56. Building a school

57. Building a Biosphere Reserve
Building a school
What is a school needed for?
Background > planning > building > teaching > producing learning and wisdom
Building a Biosphere Reserve
What is a BR needed for?
Background > planning > ”building” > working > producing …
For What > Future?

58. Involvement in BR projects
Local
Regional
National
Inter-national
Forestry
Administration
Researchers, Administration
Cultural
milieus
Workers,
Teachers
Ticks
Local people,
Researchers,
Businesses
Researchers
Giant
hogweed
Administration, Businesses
Level

59. Number of involved people
Involvement spheres
International
UNESCO
International actors (e.g., EU), businesses
National
National MaB committee
National structures, businesses, administration
Regional
BR committee; administration
institutions; businesses
Local
All local structures and involved people
Number of involved people

60. Ingredients of a biosphere reserve: From knowledge to change
Information/”knowledge”
Research
Information + context => Awareness
Info dissemination
Awareness + resources + commitment => activity
Work
Activity + continuity => change
Monitoring

61. Role of BR in projects Local Regional National Inter-national Project
Forestry
Communicator
Initiator,
Actor
Communicator,
Connector
Cultural
milieus
Facilitator,
Connector,
Initiator, communicator, connector
Ticks
Researchers,
Connector, Communicator,
Giant
hogweed
onnector, Communicator,
Connector, Communicator
Level

62. BR Extension 2008 Delineation 1992 350 000 ha 14 500 ha core areas
Lieksa
Delineation 1992 ha
ha core areas
1900 inhabitants
Delineation 2008 ha
ha core areas
ha buffer zones
inhabitants
Ilomantsi
Tuupovaara
Part of Joensuu City included 62

63. Biosphere reserve Economically viable unit (population > 20 000)
The main main actors of the province included
Visibility and profile in topical sustainable development issues (e.g., bioenergy, mitigation of and adaptation into climate change)
Joensuu City as a border area town
National and international activities 63

64. North Karelia BR Steering Committee (2008-2011)
Prof. Paavo Pelkonen (chair) Univ.Eeastern Finland, forestry
Prof. Taneli Kolström UEF, Mekrijärvi Res. Station
Mayor Markku Lappalainen Ilomantsi municipality
City clerc Jari Horttanainen Joensuu city
City clerc Matti Taponen Lieksa city
Park Superintendent Kyösti Tuhkalainen Metsähallitus
CEO Tiina Tolvanen NK Chamber of Commerce
Prof. Ari Lehtinen UEF, geography
Planning director Risto Poutiainen NK Regional Council
Leading researcher Raimo Heikkilä Finnish Env. Instutute, Joensuu
Prof. Erkki Sutinen UEF, computer science
CEO Markku Litja Karelia-Expert OY (tourism)
Co-ordinator Timo J. Hokkanen (secretary)
Centre of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Karelia 64

65. Regional development priorities taken into account
Funding
Minimal funds earmarked for environment compared with those for development
Influence - also in environmental issues
Better sitting at the tables where the decisions are being done

66. North Karelia BR mission statement
North Karelia biosphere reserve activities aim at creating regional sustainable development solutions for good economy and environment

67. BR main task: facilitation
Sustainable development
Conservation
Ideally, fully functioning biosphere reserves perform three main roles:
- conservation in situ of natural and semi-natural ecosystems and landscapes, as well as the diversity there within;
- the establishment of demonstration areas for ecologically and socio-culturally sustainable (land and) resource use; and
- the provision of logistic support for research, monitoring, education, training and information exchange related to conservation and sustainable development issues.
More information on:
Support, training etc 67

68. Strategy BR main ”windows” Extensive co-operation Energy Tourism
Environmental awareness
Extensive co-operation
Benefits

69. ”Bioenergy window”
Energy important for all human activities in the area
Bioenergy has great influence on local life but also direct global influences
Bioenergy is easily understandable by everyone
Bioenergy is economically important and politically ”hot”
Local and regional background strong
Environmental aspects not at all easy

70. ”Tourism window”
Nature and culture tourism is considered to grow in importance and volume
Nature and culture tourism makes use of all environments and important culture objects
Tourism and energy use are tightly coupled
Easy to find local and regional support

71. Landscapes Significance of landscapes Economy Ecology Communities
Culture

72. Traditional landscapes

73. Awareness = key to change
Information/”knowledge”
Research
Information + context => Awareness
Info dissemination
Awareness + resources + commitment => activity
Work
Activity + continuity => change
Monitoring
Leadership 73

74. Projects and future Clear priorities Ambitious goals Visibility
Results required
”Think globally, act locally!”

75. Projects and processes
ROK-FOR project: sustainable foresty & bioenergy, sustainable construction & biobased products
Regional Partnership Programme
Koli Guiding and Culture Centre
Initiation of and participation in processes
Green Belt of Fennoscandia
Regional Climate Change activities

76. RoK-FOR Sustainable forestry providing bioenenergy, sustainable construction and biobased products
EU FP M €
Large consortium – regions in focus

77. ROK-FOR consortium Centre for Development,
Transport and the Environment
for North Karelia
Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet
Freiburg
EFI Atlantic
Forest Research Centre
Jastrebarsko
Centre Tecnologic Forestal
de Catalunya 77 77

78. RoK-FOR Objectives
Target areas: sustainable forestry > bioenergy, biobased products and sustainable construction
Actions: We will identify and start strong trans-national and inter-regional co-operation between research-driven, forestry-based clusters
Results
Joint action plan
New joint actions during the second half of the project
Increased innovativeness and competitiveness with help of the metacluster

79. GREEN BELT OF FENNOSCANDIA
geology
bedrock, ice age
biodiversity values
indigenous species
ecological corridor
cultural heritage
transboundary co-operation

80. Nature
reserves

82. Research and development
Research units
Climate change
Environmental
change
Sustainable development practices 82

83. Koli Guiding and Culture Centre International sustainable development model for Biosphere Reserves?
~ 40 M € investment

85. Koli Sustainable Development Platform
MaB programme
National Park
Green Belt of
Fennoscandia
K o l i
Culturum
Koli Village
National &
International
Contacts
Sustainable
Development
In Centre
North Karelia
province
Technology
Programme

86. BR Partnership organisations and enterprises
Dynamic approach
Sustainable development
Commitment for future
Co-operation between partners
Background: Sustainable Development Network for North Karelia

87. Questions asked How you engage with public agencies?
How you engage with communities?
How you manage the landscape and the type of landscapes you have?
How regional strategy has been developed?
Where the biosphere reserve fits in?
The long term view?

88. Rosa acicularis – Carelian rose