Puustoosuuksia

Puustoosuuksia, often translated as forest ownership shares or wood co-operatives, refers to a model of collective forest management and ownership prevalent in some Nordic countries, particularly Finland. In this system, individual forest owners pool their resources, land, and timber to form a cooperative. This allows for more efficient forestry operations, such as harvesting, silviculture, and marketing of timber.

The primary benefits of puustoosuuksia include economies of scale. By working together, members can achieve better prices for their timber due to increased volumes, and they can share costs associated with machinery, transportation, and expert advice. Cooperatives often provide services like forest planning, pest and disease control, and reforestation efforts. This professional management can lead to improved forest health and productivity.

Membership in a puustoosuus is typically voluntary, and owners retain ownership of their individual forest plots. The cooperative acts as an agent, managing the forests on behalf of its members according to sustainable forestry principles. Decision-making is usually democratic, with members having a say in the cooperative's operations and strategic direction. The concept aims to support the economic viability of small and medium-sized forest holdings, ensuring the long-term health and productivity of the forest resource.