Summer 2025 – heatwaves and increasing forest damage risks
SUMMER 2025 - HEATWAVES AND INCREASING FOREST DAMAGE RISKS Summer weather conditions were exceptional in Finland The beginning of summer was cool and rainy, but July brought a drastic change in the weather. Finland experienced the most prolonged heatwave in recorded history, with temperatures exceeding 30°C. Such heat, combined with a lack of rain, has...
Adapting to a new reality: A tale of two forests
ADAPTING TO A NEW REALITY: A TALE OF TWO FORESTS Europe's Forests: Navigating Climate Change Through Adaptive Management Europe's forests face a critical juncture as climate change alters environmental conditions, necessitating a shift in forest management practices. A comparison of two contrasting scenarios highlights the urgency and potential of this transformation.
Natural enemies – good guys or bad guys?
NATURAL ENEMIES - GOOD GUYS OR BAD GUYS? The role of natural enemies in controlling pest populations Natural enemies such as predators, parasites, and pathogens are important regulators of pest populations in forest ecosystems. They help maintain forest health by controlling the number of economically harmful insects and balancing the ecosystem. The natural enemies of...
New Methods for Urban Tree Health Monitoring
NEW METHODS FOR URBAN TREE HEALTH MONITORING KOKO Forest has developed innovative methods to enhance the planning and monitoring of street tree health. This progress presents a significant opportunity for cities to improve urban green space management, ensuring healthier and more resilient tree populations.
Tapio expands its services portfolio with KOKO Forest
TAPIO, FINLAND’S LEADING PROVIDER OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ADVISORY, EXPANDS ITS SERVICES PORTFOLIO WITH KOKO FOREST’S REMOTE SENSING AND FOREST HEALTH MAPPING SOLUTION. This new service offered to Tapio's customers will help forest owners identify and prevent tree deaths caused by bark beetles and other pests and insects. KOKO Forest’s analysis identifies even individual dead trees...
Recruitment
FOREST HEALTH EXPERT Location: Helsinki (with remote work flexibility) Duration: Permanent position Salary: Negotiable with the candidate (depends on experience) KOKO Forest Oy is a dynamic start-up company dedicated to providing cutting-edge insights on forest disturbances and biodiversity to bolster forest resilience against the effects of climate change. We are seeking a Forest Health Expert...
AI-based model for identifying large aspens from aerial images
AI-BASED MODEL FOR IDENTIFYING LARGE ASPENS FROM AERIAL IMAGES Based on an artificial intelligence model, the method developed by KOKO Forest Oy for identifying aspen (Populus tremula L.) from aerial images was found to be reliable, particularly for large aspens. A recently completed thesis investigated the reliability of this method, focusing on forests dominated by...
KOKO Forest victorius at Ultrahack
KOKO FOREST VICTORIUS AT ULTRAHACK KOKO Forest emerged victorious at the Ultrahack: Beyond Dead Wood Hackathon on March 9th, showcasing a dynamic team comprising forest health expert Samuli Junttila, ecologist Hannah O’Sullivan, remote sensing specialist Antti Polvivaara, and machine vision expert Einari Heinaro. Organized by Business Finland’s Data Economy programme, Ultrahack, and supported by partners...
Pine Shoot Beetles
PINE SHOOT BEETLES Pine shoot beetles, i.e. the common and the lesser pine shoot beetles (Tomicus piniperda and T. minor) belong to bark beetles and are among the worst pests of pine trees in Finland. These species cause growth losses to the trees and spread the blue stain fungus. Growth losses occur when adult beetles...
The sharp-dentated bark beetle
THE NUISANCE OF THE ROCKY PINE FORESTS - THE SHARP-DENTATED BARK BEETLE The sharp-dentated bark beetle (Ips acuminatus) (approx. 2.2-3.5 mm) is a pine bark beetle that breeds in timber, logging residues and in the crowns of trees. The sharp-dentated bark beetle has previously appeared in Finland mainly in northern and eastern Finland, but in...