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The projects will, for example, delve into corporate responsibility in the forest sector, promote evidence-based discussion by busting forest-related myths, and examine why forest conservation often fails.

The Mets?n puolella initiative aims to increase the understanding of the many meanings and values of forests and of the intrinsic value of forest nature, and to promote activities which respect the carrying capacity of nature.

Through an open call held twice a year, funding can be granted for forest-related research, art, journalism, and activism. In addition to the open call, Kone Foundation may also proactively identify and fund projects that align with the initiative’s goals. 

In the April 2026 decisions, the board of Kone Foundation granted 3,5 million euros in funding to 24 projects. A total of 541 applications were submitted to the open call.

¡°The projects funded now further strengthen the Mets?n puolella network, which already includes more than 100 projects. A new focus will be on pushing the forest industry toward more responsible practices to halt biodiversity loss. Additionally, long-term work to protect our shared old-growth forests will continue,¡± says Mari Pantsar, Change Manager of the initiative.

Highlights from the new projects 

The project ¡°From the Margins to the Spotlight ¨C Biodiversity Loss as a Corporate Responsibility Issue for Forest Companies¡± by Finnwatch (€300,000) aims to push forest companies to systematically take biodiversity impacts into account in their operations. The project will combine scientific knowledge on the sustainable use of forest nature with international corporate responsibility standards into a comprehensive set of responsibility criteria against which company practices can be assessed. By analysing company practices and processes, the goal is to highlight shortcomings to customers, investors, and the general public, making it easier for them to encourage systematic change.

The project led by Professor in Applied Ecology Mikko M?nkk?nen (€350,000) examines how forests can be used in a fair and ecologically sustainable way across Finnish regions, with the aim of generating knowledge that also supports the adaptability of the forest-based economy. It takes a provincial approach, considering the role of municipalities and parishes, while also enhancing understanding of forest values beyond timber production. It seeks answers on ecologically sustainable maximum harvesting volumes, forest-related carbon leakage (the phenomenon where reduced harvesting in one region leads to increased harvesting elsewhere), and effective policy instruments, as well as on how forests can generate value without harvesting wood for burning or for pulp.

Theatre-maker Elsa Lankinen leads a project centred on the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel, combining theatre, history, and scientific research (€200,600). It focuses on the dramatic changes experienced by the mussel species and the mass die-off that occurred in 2024 in the Hukkajoki River in Suomussalmi, Finland. The project is carried out as a collaboration between the Vaaran Taiteilijat performing arts collective and researchers from the University of Eastern Finland. The artistic outcome will be a theatre production combining puppet theatre based on the history of pearl fishing with contemporary documentary theatre. The scientific component examines the conservation history of the species and human¨Cmussel interaction.

The multidisciplinary Corporate Forest project (€399,000), led by Docent of Law Hanna Malik, investigates why forest conservation often fails. It analyzes a wide range of legal and policy texts to reveal how the definition and regulation of forests may inadvertently enable harm. The project will produce practical knowledge to support biodiversity and old-growth forest protection and help develop more sustainable forest governance practices.

The ¡°Forest Myths¡± project (€330,000), led by Doctor of Agriculture and Forestry Hannes Pasanen, promotes better public discussion, reporting, and decision-making on forests by identifying and correcting key misconceptions in Finnish forest debates. These myths may relate to biodiversity, water impacts of forestry, and carbon sinks and storage. Based on the identified misconceptions, the project¡¯s research network will produce research-based materials that explain key issues clearly and in an accessible format. Visually engaging materials will be published openly so that anyone interested in forest-related discussions can access easy-to-understand, science-based information.

Explore all Mets?n puolella projects here (description texts are in Finnish or English based on the language of the application)