Project manager, PhD (Ecology and evolutionary biology)
Email: firstname.surname@syke.fi
Telephone: 0295 252 361
Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
Nature solutions
Protected areas
Address: Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
@ Google Scholar, Twitter
Current position
- Communication to policy makers, stakeholders and the public (e.g. SYKE policy brief on biodiversity loss, spring 2024)
- Other tasks in projects concerning my areas of expertise (see below)
Expertise
- Protection of forest biodiversity
- Climate change and biodiversity connections
- Nature management, biodiversity-friendly forestry and habitat restoration
- Participatory research, cooperation with stakeholders
- Science communication
Background
I have worked in the Finnish Environment Institute since fall 2011. Before coming to SYKE, I worked as a postdoc researcher in the research team of professor Atte Moilanen (University of Helsinki). With the help of Zonation software I identified suitable forest areas for Capercaillie lekking sites. The results have been useful in mapping lekking sites by the Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife. I defended my thesis in 2010 with a title “Effects of large-scale human land use on Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) populations in Finland”. My current expertise lies in forest biodiversity and climate change issues, and includes communications and stakeholder co-operation. I have been envolved in projects such as KOKASU and IBC-Carbon.
Publications
Korhonen-Kurki, K., Bor, S., Faehnle, M., Kosenius, A.-K., Kuusela, S., Käyhkö, J., Pekkonen, M., Saarikoski. H. & Keskinen, M. 2022: Empirical insights into knowledge-weaving processes in strategic environmental research. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning.
Virkkala, R., Leikola, N., Kujala, H., Kivinen, S., Hurskainen, P., Kuusela, S., Poikolainen, L., Valkama, J. & Heikkinen, R.K. 2022: Developing fine-grained nationwide predictions of valuable forests using biodiversity indicator bird species. Ecological Applications.
Heikkinen, R.K., Kartano, L., Leikola, N., Aalto, J., Aapala, K., Kuusela, S. & Virkkala, R. 2021: High-latitude EU Habitats Directive species at risk due to climate change and land use. Global Ecology and Conservation 28, e01664.
Forsius, M., Kujala, H., Minunno, F., Holmberg, M., Leikola, N., Mikkonen, N., Autio, I., Paunu, V.-V., Tanhuanpää, T., Hurskainen, P., Mäyrä, J., Kivinen, S., Keski-Saari, S., Kosenius, A.-K., Kuusela,S., Virkkala, R., Viinikka, A., Vihervaara, P., Akujärvi, A., Bäck, J., Karvosenoja, N., Kumpula, T., Kuzmin, A., Mäkelä, A., Moilanen, A., Ollikainen, M., Pekkonen, M., Peltoniemi, M., Poikolainen, L., Rankinen, K., Rasilo, T., Tuominen, S., Valkama, J., Vanhala, P. & Heikkinen, R.K. 2021: Developing a spatially explicit modelling and evaluation framework for integrated carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation: application in southern Finland. Science of the Total Environment 145847.
Korhonen, K.T., Ihalainen, A., Kuusela, S., Punttila, P., Salminen, O. & Syrjänen, K. 2020: Metsien monimuotoisuudelle merkittävien rakennepiirteiden muutokset Suomessa vuosina 1980–2015. Metsätieteen aikakauskirja 2020-10198. Tutkimusartikkeli. 26 s. (In Finnish.)
Heikkinen, R.K., Leikola, N., Aalto, J., Aapala, K., Kuusela, S., Luoto, M. & Virkkala, R. 2020: Fine-grained climate velocities reveal vulnerability of protected areas to climate change. Scientific Reports 10, 1678.
Virkkala, R., Aalto, J., Heikkinen, R.K., Rajasärkkä, A., Kuusela, S., Leikola, N. & Luoto, M. 2020: Can topographic variation in climate buffer against climate change-induced population declines in northern forest birds? Diversity 12, 56.
Primmer, E., Varumo, L, Kotilainen, J.M., Raitanen, E., Kattainen, M., Pekkonen, M., Kuusela, S., Kullberg, P. Kangas, J.A., Ollikainen, M. 2019: Governing biodiversity offsetting: An institutional analysis of rights and responsibilities. Land Use Policy 81: 776–784.
Virkkala, R., Heikkinen, R.K., Kuusela, S., Leikola, N. & Pöyry, J. 2019: Significance of protected area network in preserving biodiversity in a changing Northern European climate. In: Leal Filho W., Barbir J., Preziosi R. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change and Biodiversity, p. 377-390. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham.
Virkkala, R., Rajasärkkä, A., Kuusela, S., Pöyry, J., Heikkinen, R.K. & Leikola, N. 2018: Birds in boreal protected areas shift northwards in the warming climate but show different rates of population decline. Biological Conservation 266: 271–279.
Kuusela, S., Anttila, S., Halme, P. & Juslén, A. 2017: Tutkimus tehostaa suojelutoimia: yhteenveto Puutteellisesti tunnettujen ja uhanalaisten metsälajien tutkimusohjelman vaikuttavuudesta. Metsätieteen aikakauskirja, Tieteen tori, artikkeli id 6987. (In Finnish)
Hallanaro, E.-L., Kuusela, S., Juslén, A. & Ryttäri, T. (toim.) 2016: Metsän salainen elämä. Gaudeamus Oy. 395 s. (Nature book oh the year 2016, in Finnish).
Juslén, A., Pykälä, J., Kuusela, S., Kaila, L., Kullberg, J., Mattila, J., Muona, J., Saari, S. & Cardoso, P. 2016: Application of the Red List Index as an indicator of habitat change. Biodiversity and Conservation 25: 569–585.
Korhonen, K.T., Auvinen, A.-P., Kuusela, S., Punttila, P., Salminen, O., Siitonen, J., Ahlroth, P., Jäppinen, J.-P. & Kolström, T. 2016 (toim.): Biotalousskenaarioiden mukaisten hakkuiden vaikutukset metsien monimuotoisuudelle tärkeisiin rakennepiirteisiin. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 51/2016. Luonnonvarakeskus, Helsinki. 36 s. (In Finnish)
Kotiaho, J.S., Kuusela, S., Nieminen, E., Päivinen J., Moilanen A. 2016: Framework for assessing and reversing ecosystem degradation – Report of the Finnish restoration prioritization working group on the options and costs of meeting the Aichi biodiversity target of restoring at least 15 percent of degraded ecosystems in Finland. Reports Of The Ministry Of The Environment 15en | 2016. 65 s.
Kuusela, S. 2016: Metsä, suo vai kivikko? Suomen pysyvintä luontoa etsimässä. 23.9.2016. #Muutos-verkkolehti. (in Finnish)
Halme, P., Kuusela, S. & Juslén, A. 2015: Why taxonomists and ecologists are not, but should be, carpooling? Biodiversity and Conservation 24: 1831–1836.
Kuusela, S., Rantala, M. & Paloniemi, R. 2014: METSO luo yhteistyötä yli organisaatiorajojen. Metsätieteen aikakauskirja 2/2014: 101–109. (In Finnish)
Juslén, A. & Sirkiä, S. 2013: The unknown northern green: evaluation of a national forest biodiversity research program. Biodiversity and Conservation 22: 811–823.
Sirkiä, S., Lehtomäki, J., Lindén, H., Tomppo, E. & Moilanen, A. 2012: Defining spatial priorities for capercaillie Tetrao urogallus lekking landscape conservation in south-central Finland. Wildlife Biology 18: 337–353.
Sirkiä, S., Lindén, A., Helle, P., Nikula, A., Knape, J. & Lindén H. 2010: Are the declining trends in forest grouse populations due to changes in the forest age structure? A case study of Capercaillie in Finland. Biological Conservation 143: 1540–1548.
Sirkiä, S., Pellikka, J. & Lindén, H. 2010: Balancing the needs of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and moose (Alces alces) in large-scale human land use. European Journal of Wildlife Research 56: 249–260.