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Sara Yrj?nm?ki, Forest Specialist at Kone Foundation’s Mets?n puolella initiative, knows that many things related to forests can be true at the same time. 

Yrj?nm?ki was selected for the new position through an open call. She works on the long-term Mets?n puolella initiative (“For the Woods”), which aims to strengthen understanding of the many meanings and values of forests and to promote activities that respect the carrying capacity of nature.

“In my work I follow, for example, what kinds of conversations are taking place around forests and what kinds of forest-related expertise exist. Through that, I try to ensure that activities in the Mets?n puolella initiative take into account all the wide-ranging expertise that relates to forests,” Yrj?nm?ki says. 

Yrj?nm?ki knows that no single person can master all knowledge related to forests. Instead, ongoing interaction with a wide range of specialists is essential. Her multidisciplinary thinking has been shaped by her humanities-based sustainability studies, which she pursued at Leiden University in the Netherlands and at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

“My studies included for instance economics, geography, sociolinguistics and history. This background makes it natural for me to approach forest issues from many different angles. When we talk about forests, we are in fact always talking about many things at once.” 

Social media in particular often conveys an image of a polarised forest debate, where it is easy to miss the fact that many things can be true at the same time, Yrj?nm?ki says. 

“Different perspectives are somehow always present in the conversation, even when they are not explicitly voiced — for instance, what forest use has meant for the Finnish economy, how forest ownership shows up in family relationships, or how a nearby forest affects mental wellbeing.” 

In her previous roles, Yrj?nm?ki has worked extensively on sustainability transition. She has gained experience in the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, as well as in international organisations working on development cooperation and the circular economy, and at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. She also served as a Youth Nature Delegate in 2024–2025 and has done voluntary work. 

Most recently, before joining Kone Foundation, Yrj?nm?ki worked at One Planet, a consultancy focused on nature-related work for businesses. 

“It is clear that businesses play a central role in the sustainability transition too,” Yrj?nm?ki notes. 

In Finland, the sustainability transition cannot be discussed without talking about forests — and that is what makes the Mets?n puolella initiative particularly interesting to Yrj?nm?ki. 

“Mets?n puolella looks for opportunities for change and new ways of doing things. Part of our work is also about exploring potential. Together with a wide range of actors, we get to think about what we should be paying attention to in the coming years to make change possible.” 

Three questions for the Forest Specialist 

What has it been like to start working at the Foundation??

At Kone Foundation I am once again looking at things from a new perspective compared to my previous workplaces. Our Mets?n puolella team includes Change Manager Mari Pantsar, Coordinator Minka Virtanen and Intern Anton Riihel?, who is with us this spring and autumn. I have been warmly welcomed in the initiative’s stakeholder groups and partner networks too. I have quickly got involved in planning the annual Mets?n puolella forum. The event, taking place in May, is a deep dive into everything that the grantees of the Mets?n puolella community are doing.?

What do you like to do outside of work??

My curiosity extends beyond work into the rest of my life too — I love trying everything! This year I have decided to dedicate myself to language immersion. I have studied many languages but rarely get to use them in everyday life. During this year I am seeking out situations where I can speak German, Spanish, Persian, Dutch and Swedish. Every two months the language changes, and I also plan to document the experience somehow. I also love cross-country skiing, and now that the ski season is drawing to a close, I am already dreaming of finding the perfect window to head to Lapland for a ski tour — that is still on my to-do list!

What animal would you be??

I don’t know why, but Highland cows have fascinated me ever since I saw a postcard of them as a child. I have since seen them in the wild in many unexpected places — for example grazing on the sand dunes of the Frisian Islands on the northern coast of the Netherlands. My other favourite would be bats!