11.12.2025

Webinar: Stronger inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Arctic forest governance 11 Dec 2025

Event

How can Indigenous rights, traditional land use, and respect for Indigenous Knowledge be integrated into biodiversity goals? Join our webinar to hear policy recommendations and case studies from Sápmi as well as North America.

Talvinen metsämaisema Koilliskairassa. Lumikinosten keskellä kulkee puro, jota reunustavat kapeat havupuut. — Koilliskaira wilderness. © Aino Lipsanen

The Indigenous Knowledge and Arctic Forests (IKForest) project (syke.fi) by the Finnish Environment Institute and the Ministry of the Environment examined how Indigenous Peoples contribute to forest protection and restoration in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The project included four case studies from across the Arctic: The Laponia World Heritage Site in Sweden, voluntary forest protection initiatives by the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation and Snowchange Cooperative in Finland, Torngat Mountains National Park in Canada and The Hoonah Native Forest Partnership program in Alaska.

The project’s findings will be presented in a public English-language webinar on December 11, from 14:00 to 15:15 (EET). Authors of the report, Inka Musta and Aslak Holmberg (Luontoa Oy), will share key results and policy recommendations. In addition, representatives from Arctic states, Indigenous organizations, and NGOs will provide commentary.

The event will be held in English and is open to all. Registration is required by December 9 via this link (syke.fi).

Programme:

The event will be recorded. The recording will be made available only for registrants in other time zones for a period of about two weeks.

14:00-15:15 EET/12:00-13:15 GMT

Opening words by
Lotta Manninen, Senior Ministerial Advisor, Ministry of the Environment of Finland
Niila-Juhán Valkeapää, Vice chair, Youth Council of Sámi Parliament in Finland Sámi Parliament of Finland

Project introduction
Aino Lipsanen, IKForest project manager, Finnish Environment Institute

Video greeting by
Commissioner Costas Kadis (Fisheries and Oceans), European Commission

Presentation of the project report “Indigenous Knowledge and Arctic Forests” by
Inka Musta and Aslak Holmberg

Commentaries offered by
Chief Bill Erasmus, International Chair of the Arctic Athabaskan Council
Tarja Haaranen, Director General, Ministry of the Environment of Finland
Elina Mikola, Climate and Environmental Advisor, Amnesty International Finland
Jan Saijets, Member of the natural forests of Sápmi working group (Luonnonmetsät Sápmi -työryhmä)

Discussion and audience questions

End of the webinar