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Outputs
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Experiences received suggest that the Forest Academy for Decision-Makers has genuine demand among decision-makers. Willingness to participate in the forums has been excellent.
Forest Academy has been an effective means of public relations for the Finnish forest sector. Among decision-makers outside the forest sector, the Forest Academy has succeeded to increase both knowledge and interest in forest issues — factors, which are necessary for making good decisions.
In particular, the participants have acknowledged the openness of communication and the way in which forest issues have been dealt with from a variety of angles, leaving the conclusions to the participants to make. This type of opening up increases trust and credibility of the forest sector, and reduces conflict potential among participants representing different types of interests. It also helps open up new opportunities for increased involvement and integration of the forest sector in society, and promote forest-based new development options for society (e.g. rural development, wood products, and wood energy).
Forest Academy has been actively involved in dialogue related to the Finnish National Forest Programme during its preparation in 1998, subsequent implementation, and revision process beginning from 2005. The Forest Academy has also activated scientists to reach out towards policymakers for communication about research needs and findings.
Moreover, the network of personal contacts created at the Forest Academy has opened up channels for traditional ways of influence. Accordingly, activities of the Forest Academy are not in any competition with traditional lobbying. Instead, by increasing the decision-makers’ interest and receptiveness to forest-related information, and by helping create contacts, it prepares a good ground for it.
Although it is, of course, difficult to point out that a certain decision in forest or other policy has been induced by the Forest Academy, the forest sector has been convinced that the results have been worthy of the input. Owing to its input in forest sector development, Forest Academy has received several valued acknowledgements from Finnish forest sector organizations.
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