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Nova Scotia and Finland boost forest sector collaboration

The action plan on closer co-operation on forests and the bioeconomy between the province of Nova Scotia  and Finland was signed in Helsinki on April 26. The parties to the five-year action plan are the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland and the Department of Natural Resources of Nova Scotia.

There is a long tradition of forest sector co-operation between Canada and Finland and the forest sectors of Nova Scotia and Finland share many similarities. What Finland has to offer is expertise that supports the efforts to improve the efficiency of forest and bioeconomy sectors and to promote the clean transition. The areas for co-operation include forest management practices, digital solutions for the forest sector, forest technologies and education. Collaboration is also sought for the industry and research. The action plan will improve the conditions for commercial cooperation as the forest and bioeconomy sector of Nova Scotia offer promising opportunities for Finnish companies.

Forest-based bioeconomy is a central theme of the action plan

New wood-based products have been developed in the past few years, some of them based on new production technologies and some on more efficient utilisation of materials such as forest industry side streams. In the cooperation between Finland and Nova Scotia the aim is also to increase contacts between the research, development and education sectors of the two countries.

“Canada is an important strategic, northern and like-minded partner for Finland. I am very happy that cooperation between Finland and Nova Scotia will become even stronger, thanks to the action plan we have signed today,” Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah said.

“Finland and Nova Scotia are facing very similar challenges related to forests. Our approaches may differ to some extent, but I believe that through this cooperation we can find solutions to mitigating climate change, preserving biodiversity and preventing forest damages. Both parties wish to invest in the growth of the bioeconomy and create opportunities for companies in the sector,” Essayah added.

Nova Scotia warmly welcomes the increased co-operation

On behalf of Nova Scotia, the action plan was signed by Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions of Nova Scotia.

“We are transforming how we do forestry in Nova Scotia and there is much we can learn from our colleagues in Finland to help reach climate change goals and grow our green economies,” said LeBlanc, on behalf of Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables.

“We’ve had many productive conversations and visits to further our joint efforts for healthy forests and to take full advantage of the valuable resource we have in sustainably harvested biomass. This action plan cements our good relationship and we look forward to this continued collaboration”

Another indication of the good and even closer forest co-operation between Finland and Canada is the collaboration agreement with the province of British Columbia.