Forest Fire Research in Finland

Effective wildfire suppression and diminished use of prescribed burning in forestry has clearly eliminated the role of fire in Finnish forest ecosystems as compared to pristine stands. The reintroduction of fire back to nature has therefore been suggested in various instructions, forest certification and forest conservation programmes. At the same time it is recognized that possible climate change might cause increased fire risk also in Finland in the future. Various interests to fire have led to remarkably increased fire research activities in recent years. Several national research organisations, Universities, Polytechnic schools and Ministry of Interior are working together with landowners, forest companies and other end-users despite of sometimes contradictory aims. At the same time, possibilities to fire prevention and minimizing fire risks and reintroduction of fire because of biodiversity aspects are being studied. The overall aim is to help in creating national fire use strategy and aim to controlled use of fire. This is a task that should be recognized also at European level. This overlook describes briefly part of the ongoing fire research in Finland that is connected to European level fire research.