The first Helsinki Forest Talk took place on 23 May in Helsinki. Organised by the European Forest Institute (EFI), a partner of ForestPaths, in conjunction with the German and French embassies in Finland, the event focused on combating climate change through emission reductions through natural and technical solutions,

During the event, EFI’s Chief Scientist and ForestPaths’ coordinator, Dr Hans Verkerk, outlined forests' current and potential contributions to climate change mitigation and highlighted ForestPaths. Alongside Hans’ presentation, Prof Raisa Mäkipää from LUKE, HoliSoils’ coordinator and ForestPaths’ partner, discussed the actions currently being considered in Finland to mitigate climate change through forest-based activities, emphasising the significance of forest soils and peatlands.

Image: Dr Hans Verkerk, EFI Chief Scientist and ForestPaths coordinator, presenting insights on forests' role in climate change mitigation.

The Helsinki Forest Talks serve as a platform for an open and constructive dialogue between diplomats and scientists, focusing on pertinent issues related to forests. The first Helsinki Forest Talks explored how much forests can contribute to fight climate change and what technological alternatives are being developed.