Education

Forestry education in Finland began with the growing importance of forests as a source of raw material and income. More attention was paid to the extensive exploitation of forest resources and the current management practices. In the Forest Act of 1851 first regulations and orders were included to bind peasants to better manage their forest lands. Lars Gabriel von Haartman, who is also called father of Finnish forest economics, promoted energetically the establishment of a forest bureau, which would take care of the state's "crown parks". They should be used to demonstrate good forestry practice for private forest owners. The proposal resulted in the foundation of the Finnish forest administration in 1859. In 1858 the Senate issued a proclamation for the establishment of the Evo Forestry Institute (Today Häme Polyctechnic Evo). In 1862 the Institute opened its gates for the first students.

In 1878 The Forest and Park Service (Metsähallitus) employed two forest management advisors, one working in the western, the other in the eastern part of Finland. This had been suggested by the Forest Committee in the year 1873. Forestry education continued to gradually increase under the auspices of the Forest and Park Service. In 1877 the Finnish Forest Management Association was founded. It's main goals were to develop forestry science, disseminate the knowledge / information on forest management, and provide practical measures for improving forest management.