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Finnish forest expertise in demand at the World Bank

(14.02.2012)

 

Finnish forest expertise in demand at the World Bank

Published 13.2.2012

Stig Johansson (Dr.Sc. Agriculture and Forestry), Regional Director of Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services Southern Finland, has been appointed to the position of Senior Forestry Specialist at the World Bank in Washington. The appointment further confirms the reputation of Finnish expertise in the field of global environmental and forestry policy-making. 

Forests can play a highly significant role in reducing global poverty. More than 500 million people living in extreme poverty obtain their livelihood directly from goods obtained from forests. Developing countries account for 20% of global trade in forest products. Also more than 80% of the biodiversity of the Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems is found in forests.

Stig Johansson. Photo: Metsähallitus / Jari Kostet– Forests are central to the World Bank’s goal of eliminating poverty. They can help us to promote green economic growth while supporting and conserving the vital ecosystem services that forests provide, says Johansson. – I have worked for almost 20 years with these issues, including 10 years of fieldwork in Africa, so I’m well aware of the challenges, especially from the perspectives of developing countries.

The World Bank strives to promote the conservation and sustainable use of forests by influencing global forestry policies and to develop lending operations to meet related objectives. Measures to mitigate climate change and facilitate adaptation are also playing an increasing role in the implementation of the World Bank’s forests strategy and operational policy.  Further,  the World Bank is actively devising ways to account for natural capital in the bank’s own procedures and in national accounting.

Johansson will serve as the Senior Forestry Specialist within the Agricultural and Rural Development Department of the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Network. He will work together with the rest of the bank’s Forestry Team to facilitate the implementation of programmes and initiatives that promote sustainable forestry. He will also lead the team’s work on protected areas and the conservation of biodiversity in close collaboration with the World Bank’s Environment Department. These tasks will involve close collaboration with experts from donor and recipient countries on both policy and technical matters.

The Forestry Team also coordinates the World Bank’s Forest Investment Programme and provides expert support for the bank’s other departments and thematic programmes.

Johansson will serve in his new post for two years, located in Washington DC while on secondment from Metsähallitus.

For more information:
Stig Johansson, regional director, Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services Southern Finland:  stig.johansson(at)metsa.fi, tel. +358 40 545 7315

The World Bank in brief:

  • The World Bank comprises the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).
  • The World Bank’s main objectives are to promote sustainable development globally by reducing poverty and working towards the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. The bank also aims to assess and improve the effectiveness of assistance provided for developing countries.
  • The World Bank has 186 member countries. Finland is represented in its Board of Governors by finance minister Jutta Urpilainen, with international development minister Heidi Hautala as deputy.
  • The World Bank’s Board of Directors, which includes 25 executive directors, has been chaired since 2007 by the World Bank Group President Robert. B. Zoellick
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Source: http://www.metsa.fi