Trip to Finland from 04 to 11 September 2022

Practical training content

Finland is one of the most forested countries in Europe, with 75% of its territory covered by forest. The forestry and wood industry accounts for a fifth of the country's exports and employs 74,000 people.
Finnish sawmills and paper mills have state-of-the-art plants and have invested heavily in wood chemistry.
This trip will introduce you to Finland's forests. How are they managed? What are Finnish foresters planning to do to meet the challenges of climate change?
We will also visit two of the country's most modern plants, the Äänekoski biorefinery and the Stora Enso sawmill/panel factory in Varkaus.
To enjoy the magnificent Nordic scenery, we'll have the opportunity to take a cruise on Lake Saimaa and walk through the Lake Päijänne nature park. We'll also visit the world's largest wooden church in Kerimäki.
The language of communication with local representatives will be English.

Despite the tense international situation, we decided to go ahead with the trip. Together with our Finnish colleagues, we have taken every precaution to limit the risks to a minimum. In the unlikely event of an escalation of tensions in the region, if the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travel to Finland, the trip will be cancelled and you will receive a full refund.

Members of the Groupement des Sylviculteurs du Luxembourg - Lëtzebuerger Privatbësch are also invited.

Programme

Monday 05 September

In the morning, in Helsinki

• Presentation of the Finnish forestry context with MTK (private forestry lobby organisation) and the Finnish State Forestry Service.

Afternoon departure for Lake Paijanne National Park

• Visit a private forest and learn about traditional Finnish forestry.

Dinner and overnight in Vääksy.

Tuesday 06 September

• Visit to the Lake Päijänne Nature Park.
• Forest visit focusing on natural regeneration and mix management at Padassjoki, then transfer to Jyvaskyla.
  jyvaskyla.fi

Wednesday 07 September

• Visit Finland's most modern biorefinery, the Metsä plant in Äänekoski (wood chemistry).
  metsaboard.com
• Visit to a private forest managed by the largest group of owners in the country, Mhy Keski-Suomi.

Dinner and overnight in Jyväskylä.

Thursday 08 September

• A visit to a timber construction site.
• Visit to a nursery near Lake Saimaa (production 20 million plants/year).
• Visit to the Stora Enso sawmill and paper mill in Varkaus.
• Visit to a logging site in the forest, discussions on the types of felling and the organisation of sites.

Dinner and overnight in Savonlinna.

Friday 09 September

• Visit to the Mount Punkaharju region, an esker (an elongated mound of glacial origin, a sort of moraine ridge) covered in pine trees.
• Visit to the forest museum (Lusto museum).
  lusto.fi
• Visit to the Natural Resources Institute, promoting the bioeconomy and sustainable use of natural resources.
  luke.fi
• At around 15:30, a cruise on Lake Saimaa takes us back to Savolinna at around 18:00.
  visitsavonlinna.fi

Dinner and overnight in Savonlinna.

Saturday 10th September

• Visit Kerimaki and its famous wooden church, the largest in the world.
• Visit a private property with its owner.
• Afternoon drive to Karelia, stopping off at Puumala.

Dinner and overnight in Imatra.

Sunday 11th September

• Route to HelsinKi airport.
• Stop in Porvoo and visit the old town, lunch

Around 14:00, arrival at Helsinki airport; 16:40 departure of flight AY1545 to Brussels.

Practical information and prices

Return journey Belgium-Finland
Please note that the trip to Belgium and Finland is not covered. Participants are responsible for organising their own travel arrangements.
The meeting point for the start of the trip will be at 19:00 on Sunday 04 September at the Sokos hotel presidentti, Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4, 00100 Helsinki.

Direct flights from Brussels are available with Finair :

• Departure: Sunday 04 September at 11:40, arrival in Helsinki at 15:15

For the return journey, the coach will drop us off at Helsinki airport at 2pm on Sunday 11 September. A flight via finair leaves helsinki at 4.40pm.

• Return: Sunday 11 September at 16:40, arriving in Brussels at 18:15

Date
The event will take place on Sunday 04 September at 7pm at the Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4, 00100 Helsinki.
Return to Helsinki airport on Sunday 11 September at 2.00 p.m.

Rates
Transfer to be made to the SRFB account : BE71 3100 4375 5069 with free communication: Name + first name + study trip 2022
Once we have received your registration form and payment, we will send you a confirmation letter with the itinerary for the first day one week before the departure date.

Price :

• single room: €2,190/pers.
• double room: €1750/pers.

To confirm your registration, please transfer the amount of your registration to the SRFB account - IBAN: BE71 3100 4375 5069 - with the words ‘’- Name - First name - Study trip 2022’’ in the space provided.’

These prices include : local coach travel, hotel accommodation and meals.

Cancellation policy :

If you cancel your participation in writing and only in the event of force majeure, the SRFB will reimburse you as follows: 15 days before the start date of the trip, the reimbursement will be 90% of the price of the trip. After this deadline, the flat-rate refund will be €100/person. If you propose someone to replace you, this must be approved by the SRFB.

In all cases, the SRFB will be reimbursed after the intervention of your insurance company and cannot result in a total reimbursement (insurance and SRFB) greater than the amount paid.

Cancellation insurance : SRFB has not taken out any cancellation or other insurance. If you do not have any, please consult your insurance broker.

Covid-19 : It is the responsibility of each participant to comply with the rules in force in Finland on the date of the trip. Take your Covid European Digital Certificate with you.

In the event of cancellation of the trip by SRFB before departure for reasons of force majeure (Covid, flooding, etc.), the refund will be 100% less €10 per person for administrative costs.

Registration form : complete one form per participant. Please register via the website. A confirmation letter will be sent to you at a later date with more details about the organisation and the list of participants so that car pooling can be organised.

Registration

Registrations are closed