Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI)

The Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI) that forms part of the Department of Forest Sciences provides academic training and carries out research on forests and related natural resources in tropical and developing countries. VITRI staff also undertakes national and international assignments related to tropical forest management as well as environmental and forest policy.

VITRI tiedotusvälineissä - VITRI in media

 

NEWS

 

27.01.2012

Field study opportunities in Sudan and Ethiopia

The ESUFI project, which is funded by the CIMO N-S-S programme, announces the availability of funding for four students for field studies in Sudan and Ethiopia. The funding of mobility of students among partner institutions is one of the main activities of the ESUFI Forest project. The funding covers the necessary travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs for three months. Priority will be given for VITRI students

The deadline for submission of the application is 15th of February, 2012. Applicants should fill in the application form and send it to the indicated address. Here you can download the announcement and the application form

 

02.12.2011

Finnish Ministry of the Environment nominated the members for the National Climate Panel

The Finnish Ministry of the Environment just nominated the 13 members for the National Climate Panel. The University of Helsinki has 4 representatives including Prof. Markku Kanninen (VITRI Director) and Prof. Markku Ollikainen, both of them from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

The panel will function as advisory unit for Ministry in issues related to national and international climate policy as well as climate science. Additional information [suomeksi]

 

09.11.2011

Guest lecture on Biogeography and doctoral thesis defense

Dr. Kimberly E. Medley, Professor at the Department of Geography, Miami University,Oxford, Ohio will give a guest lecture titled “Biogeographical Patterns of Diversity for Collaborative Conservation Planning at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya” on Thursday 24th November 2011 from 14:15-16:00, at Viikki campus, in auditorium 2, C-building, address: Latokartanonkaari 5.

Hosts: Professor Petri Pellikka and the North-South Teaching & Research Network.

On Friday 25th November Dr. Medley will act as the opponent at Nina Himberg´s doctoral thesis defense at 12:00, at University Main Building, auditorium XV.

 

08.11.2011

Bella Bird, World Bank Country Director for Sudan and South Sudan visited ICRAF

Maailmanpankin Sudanin ja Etelä-Sudanin aluetoimiston uusi johtaja Bella Bird (2.oikealta) tutustumassa VITRI:n toimintaan ICRAF:issa. Muut kuvassa (vasemmalta): 
ICRAF:in tutkija Daniel Ofori, Olavi Luukkanen, ICRAF:in varapääjohtaja prof. August Temu sekä VITRI:n juuri kenttätyöstä Etelä-Sudanista palannut tutkija Loice Omoro. Kuva: Sherry Odeyo/ICRAF.

The new World Bank Country Director for Sudan and South Sudan, Bella Bird (2nd from right), on a visit to ICRAF for gaining information on VITRI activities in those countries. Others in picture (from left): ICRAF Researcher Daniel Ofori, Olavi Luukkanen, ICRAF Deputy Director General Prof. August Temu and VITRI researcher Loice Omoro. Photo: Sherry Odeyo/ICRAF

 

04.11.2011

VITRI Eastern Africa Office established at ICRAF, Nairobi

Olavi Luukkanen has in October moved to Nairobi, where the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has offered him facilities to take care of his duties as Professor of Tropical Silviculture. This arrangement, planned to continue until April 2012, will greatly help VITRI in the management of ongoing research and development projects now carried out in such countries as South Sudan, Sudan and Ethiopia.

At the same time, ICRAF will benefit from having a “VITRI Eastern Africa Office” at its Headquarters, since new openings are now underway to establish a stronger ICRAF presence in those very countries. For ICRAF, VITRI projects will offer a convenient channel for new research and development activities.

Read more (suomeksi/in Finnish)

 

26.10.2011

Call for papers: ETFRN News 53 - Enhancing forest related governance for development-

The European Tropical Forest Research Network is kindly inviting you to submit a short article (maximum 3,000 words) for the next "ETFRN News" on your experiences with forest governance. This may be an excellent opportunity to showcase your work and to contribute to the discussion on how to improve forest governance. More information at ETFRN website

 

17.10.2011

Tree genomics and ecophysiology seminar by Chinese researchers visiting VITRI

Four scientists from the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB) under the Chinese Academy of
Sciences are visiting VITRI during October-November. They include Prof. Chunyang Li,
Assoc. Prof. Yuanbin Zhang and doctoral students Mr Hao Jiang and Ms Yongpin Li.
Mr Jiang and Ms Li will report on their research at the Plant Ecology Research Seminars
led by Prof. Heikki Hänninen, on Thursday 20 October  from 14:15-16 h in Biocenter 3, 6th
floor, room 6602

Hao Jiang:
Transcriptional profiling analysis in Populus yunnanensis provides insights into the
molecular mechanisms of sexual differences in plant salinity tolerance.

Yongping Li:
Adaptive responses of Abies faxoniana populations from contrasting elevations when
exposed to CO2 enrichment with nitrogen application.

 

23.9.2011

Field study opportunities in Zimbabwe (VITRI-ZAOSOR project)

The ZAOSOR (Zimbabwe Aids Orphans Society-Reforestation) project, which is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, announces the availability of funding for two M.Sc. students for field studies in Zimbabwe. The funding covers the necessary travel and subsistence costs for three months. The potential field study topics are: forest plantations and agroforestry. VITRI is a partner in the ZAOSOR project and priority will be given for VITRI students.

Here you can download the announcement and the application form.

 

13.4.2011

New net publication: Afrikan Sarvi – Afrikas Horn – Horn of Africa

At the international seminar “Environment and human livelihoods in the Horn of Africa”,
co-organised by VITRI and the Finnish Somalia-Network in Viikki on 12 April 2011, a new
net journal “Afrikan Sarvi – Afrikas Horn – Horn of Africa” was launched. It is published
by the Finnish Somalia-Network and its editorial board includes Mohamed Elfadl from
VITRI. Contributions in the form of scientific or general-audience articles, as well as
reports from ongoing activities in the region are invited.  – The first issue contains
articles in English and Finnish related to the seminar theme written by VITRI staff and
associates, including the following:

Suomeksi (article in Finnish): Olavi Luukkanen: Maankäytön vaihtoehdot Afrikan sarven
alueella  – mitä voidaan oppia kokemuksista Sudanissa?
Weblink: www.afrikansarvi.fi

11.4.2011

Doctoral thesis defence on forest governance and climate change adaptation in Africa on Friday 29 April 2011

M.Sc. Fobissie Kalame will defend his doctoral thesis "Forest governance and climate change adaptation: Case studies of four African countries" in Auditorium XIII of the University Main Building (Unioninkatu 34) on Friday 29 April 2011 at 12 o’clock noon. The Opponent is Prof. Risto Seppälä from the Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA); Professor Markku Kanninen will act as Custos.

Hard copies of the whole thesis are available free of charge from VITRI. The summary part of the publication is also downloadable from E-thesis.

29.3.2011

International HORN OF AFRICA SEMINAR IN Viikki 12 April 2011

An international seminar "Environment and human livelihoods in the Horn of Africa" will be held on Tuesday 12 April 2011 from 13.00-18.00 in Viikki Biocenter 2, room 2041 (Viikinkaari 5). The organisers are the Finnish Somalia-Network and the Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI). The programme includes opening remarks by MP Pekka Haavisto and presentations by invited speakers. For more information see www.somaliaverkosto.fi

Registrations for participation should be submitted by Friday 1 April by sending your name, affiliation and contact information to mohamed.elfadl@helsinki.fi

17.3.2011

Guest lecture on agroforestry and Jatropha cultivation in India, on Thursday 24 March 2011

Dr Dina N. Tewari, President of Utthan Centre for Sustainable Development, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, will give a guest lecture titled "Agroforestry and land reclamation practices for livelihood support in India, with special emphasis on Jatropha cultivation", on Thursday 24 March 2011 from 14:15-16 h in room B3 of Viikki A House, address Latokartanonkaari 9.

All are welcome!

Dr Tewari is also the former director of forestry research in India. On Friday 25 March he will function as the ex officio opponent at Kurt Walter's doctoral thesis defence (see separate announcement). For further information, contact olavi.luukkanen (at) helsinki.fi

17.3.2011

Doctoral thesis defence on sacredness of trees and an alien tree species in India, on Friday 25 March 2011

M.Sc. Kurt Walter will defend his doctoral thesis "Prosopis, an Alien among the Sacred Trees of South India" in Auditorium XII of the University Main Building (Unioninkatu 34) on Friday 25 March 2011 at 12 o’clock noon. The opponent is Dr Dina N. Tewari, President of Utthan Centre for Sustainable Development,in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India; Professor Olavi Luukkanen will act as Custos.

Hard copies of the thesis are available free of charge from VITRI. The publication is also downloadable from E-thesis.

Press release in Finnish: Vieraslaji ja pyhä puu – Proposis juliflora Etelä-Intian hyötynä ja kiusana

19.1.2011

Doctoral thesis defence on forest governance and capacity building in Ethiopia and
Southern Sudan on Friday 21 January 2011

Roope Husgafvel will defend his doctoral thesis “Global and EU governance for sustainable forest management with special reference to capacity building in Ethiopia and Southern Sudan” in Auditorium XII of the University Main Building (Unioninkatu 34) on Friday 21 January 2011 at 12 o’clock noon. The opponent is Professor Frederick Owino (FORIN International, Kenya), now working as special advisor to the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) forestry administration in Juba. Professor Olavi Luukkanen will act as the chair.

A limited number of hard copies of the thesis is available free of charge from VITRI.
The publication is also downloadable from E-thesis.

Press release (in Finnish): Kestävä metsätalous Etelä-Sudanissa edellyttää paikallisyhteisöjen vastuuta ja riittävää tukea kehityskumppaneilta.

 

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