Who we are
We are a team of project developers and researchers working within the School of Forest Sciences of the University of Eastern Finland in areas related to bioenergy, societal aspects of forests, and forestry education. While the core group is currently formed by Dr. Sari Pitkänen, Dr. Javier Arevalo, Dr. Yohama Puentes, and Dr. Sabaheta Ramcilovik-Suominen, we collaborate (across disciplines and institutions) with researchers across the School of Forest Sciences, other units of the University of Eastern Finland, as well as our numerous international partners. For more information please click in the link Who we are.
Projects
Current projects related to bioenergy are:
- BIODEV: Building Biocarbon and Rural Development in West Africa (2013-2016 project coordinated by the World Agroforestry Center)
- Developing Bioenergy Governance (2011-2014 project led by Prof, Jarmo Kortelainen and funded under the Call for Innovative Research of the University of Eastern Finland)
- Contested Bioenergy Governance (2012‐2015 project led by Prof, Jarmo Kortelainen and funded by the Academy of Finland)
- Coordinating the project Hajautetut biojalostamot./ Decentralized biorefineries 2011-2014 (link in Solecris)
Current projects related to forestry education are:
- Strengthening Forestry Education in Kenya (2013-2015 HEI-ICI project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs)
- Supporting Kenyan Forestry Education through North-South Mobility (2014-2015 NSS project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs)
- Improving Forestry Education in Venezuela (2013-2015 HEI-ICI project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs)
- Support for Vocational Training in Sustainable Forestry (2013-2015 EU/Tempus project coordinated by University of Lleida)
Past projects include:
- Baltic Landscapes in change: - innovative approaches towards sustainable forested landscapes (2012 - 2014), EU project from Baltic Sea Region Program 2007 - 2013
- Improving Forestry Education in Kenya (2011-2012) HEI-ICI project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs)
- Development of education and networking of the University of the Andes (2009)
- Inter-institutional cooperation on improving forestry education in Kenya (2009)
- Coordinating the project METSÄENERGIA/Forest energy 2008-2010 (link in Solecris)
- Development of vocational continuing education in the Russian forest sector 2002 - 2004
Networks
- Co-Secretariat of the International Partnership for Forestry Education (IPFE)
- Focal point of the European Academic Network for Forest Sciences SILVA Network
- Participation in the Institute for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (LYY)
- Participation in the Finnish University Partnership for International Development (UNIPID)
Other involvements
- Board member in UniPID (Finnish University Partnership for International Development) since 2009
- Participation in the Bioenergy Corridor Research Blog
- Planning, coordinating and organizing a two year vocational education training "Current environmental law" (University of Joensuu, Adult Education) in 2003 - 2008
- FTP Education Group, Chair in 2009 - 2012
Publications
A selection of our recent publications can be seen below. For a complete list, please click in the link Publications
Arevalo, J. Ochieng, R., Mola-Yudego, B. & Gritten, D. 2014. Understanding bioenergy conflicts: case of a jatropha project in Kenya's Tana Delta. Land Use Policy, 41, 138-148. DOI:10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.05.002 Available here
Arevalo, J., Halder, P., Kortelainen, J. & Mola-Yudego, B. 2014. Bioenergy: from local conflicts to global governance. OGEL Journal (in press) Advance copy here
- Arevalo, J., Pitkänen, S. & Kirongo, B. 2014. Developing forestry curricula: experiences from a Kenyan-Finnish project. International Forestry Review, 16 (1) 78-86(9) Available here, HEI-ICI Kenya project
Halder, P., Arevalo, J., Tahvanainen, L. & Pelkonen, P. 2014. Challenges and opportunities associated with the development of forest-based bioenergy sector in India: Results from an expert survey. Challenges 5(1), 100-111 Available here
- Arevalo, J., Mola-Yudego, B., Pelkonen, P., & Qu, M. 2012. Students’ views on forestry education: a cross-national comparison across three universities in Brazil, China and Finland. Forest Policy and Economics 25, 123-131 Available here
- Leskinen, P., Kähkönen, T., Lähtinen, K., Pasanen, K., Pitkänen, S., Sironen, S., Myllyviita, T., Sikanen, L. & Asikainen, A. 2012. Moniulotteinen kestävyyden arviointikehikko puuenergian tuotannolle. Suomen ympäristö 9/2012
- Qu, M., Pelkonen, P., Tahvanainen, L, Arevalo, J, & Gritten, D. 2012. Experts' assessment on the development of wood framed houses in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 31, 100-105 Available here
- Sikanen, L. and Pitkänen S. (eds). 2011. Joensuu Forestry Networking Week 2011 - Forests and Energy, Final Report. www.forestenergy.org. Forest Energy Observer
- Arevalo, J., Pitkänen, S., Gritten, D. & Tahvanainen, L. 2010. Market-relevant competencies for professional foresters in European graduate education. International Forestry Review 12 (3) 200-208 Available here, IPFE