We were very excited to be part of the Finnish Society for Development Research (FSDR) 2024 Development Days conference, which was held February 15-16, 2024 in Helsinki, Finland. Below is the full text of our working group description. Please click here to check out the full program of #DevDays2024 on the conference website.
This event has passed. Here is a link to a recording of the event.
Working group 3: Ecological Restoration Through Tree Planting in the Global South: A Means of Achieving Climate Justice or Greening Extractivism?
Panelists:
- Risto Isomäki, Author
- Hanna Matinpuro, Executive Director, Siemenpuu Foundation
- Johan Slätis, Amazonian Managed Forests Expert, National University of Brasilia
- Maria Ehrnström-Fuentes, Hanken School of Economics, Management and Organization
- Markus Kröger, Global Development Studies, University of Helsinki
Panel Facilitators:
- Ossi Ollinaho, University of Helsinki, Global Development Studies
- Sophia Hagolani-Albov, University of Helsinki, Global Development Studies
Panel Topic:
We warmly welcome you to join us for a panel dialogue focused on ecological restoration through the lens of tree planting. Ecological restoration is an important emerging topic in debates on the mitigation and governance of climate and ecological crises. This panel dialogue will examine the multiple meanings associated with ecological restoration, including the socio-political dimensions, and interlinkages to tree planting activities in the global South. To provide an overview of ecological restoration, we will present three overarching themes: (1) the historical background and the multiple definitions associated with ecological restoration; (2) green extractivisms and manifestations of the politics and financialization of the climate/biodiversity crisis; (3) restoration as a form of socioecological transformation, highlighting the circumstances wherein planting trees contributes to achieving true climate justice.
Ecological restoration—yet another concept full of promises—serves as a lens through which the assumptions and aspirations related to development in the global South can be scrutinized and critically examined in the age of ‘polycrisis’. We will discuss how ecological restoration can be assessed along a continuum—from a continuation of (green) extractivisms to a true transformative alternative, which contributes to more just socioecological futures. We intend to delve into the potential of the associated developmental processes and policies, especially within the confines of the current Finnish government and their role and relations to ecological restoration practices in the global South.
Panel Agenda:
This panel will feature experts on ecological restoration, extractivisms, and tree planting schemes from an array of disciplinary backgrounds in conversation with policy actors (panelists to be announced). The panel discussion will begin with short interventions by each of the invited panelists followed by a chair facilitated dialogue with the panelists. The session will conclude with a robust question and answer period with the audience participants focused on bringing a variety of voices into the dialogue space. This session will be highly relevant for anyone who is interested in the interplay of ecological restoration, tree planting, extractivisms, and development. Please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail (treesfordev@helsinki.fi) if you have any questions or need more information in advance of the panel. We hope to see you at the panel!