The doctoral dissertation in the field of Forestry will be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Joensuu campus and online.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
My dissertation examines the diverse relationships between people and trees in everyday environments, highlighting how trees serve as carriers of profound human experiences. They can evoke joy, intertwine with memories, and elicit sadness upon their loss. I studied both the characteristics of people and trees that affect the creation of tree relationships, and the linguistic structuring of tree relationships in people's own-word tree descriptions and in Finnish contemporary poetry.
Exploring tree relationships is important, as personal tree relationships provide a unique lens to look at social and cultural relationships with nature that reflect broader issues such as the human life cycle, cross-generational values, and current environmental concerns. An individual's emotional bond with trees is intertwined with memories, values and identity, while also reflecting collective environmental awareness. For example, cutting down a tree can be not only a personal loss but also a symbolic crisis in the context of spiritual and environmental values.
The study highlights the impact of nature experiences on well-being and how human relationships with nature shape expectations for urban environments and green spaces. It also explores how art, language, and folklore convey the meaning of these relationships.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
My dissertation identified three types of tree relationships: admiring/empowering, nurturing, and nostalgic. I also observed five connections influencing these relationships: material, sensory-based, transcendent, symbolic, and informational. This interpretation shows that tree relationships are linked to meaningful experiences for both nature and humanity, indicating that trees are vital sources of emotions, memories, and well-being.
The comparative study found that Finns and Dutch people share remarkably similar relationships with trees, suggesting that admiration, nurturing, and affection for trees is common, and may even be universally human. This aligns with the biophilia hypothesis, which posits that such emotions arise from a fundamental love for nature.
Novel in this research is proposing a new way to study cultural ecosystem services experiential and functional offerings of trees through a model of affective affordances, revealing their potential to inspire personal and social activities. By valuing trees, individuals protect trees and commit to preserving nature and biodiversity.
My research highlights the role of trees in shaping self and identity, serving as reservoirs of memories and symbols of life stages. This finding provides new insights into the cultural and psychological relationship between humans and nature.
Miten väitöstutkimuksesi tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää käytännössä? / How can the results of your doctoral research be utilised in practice?
Future green planning should consider the well-being impacts of trees in urban areas, as their emotional and symbolic significance greatly affects people's well-being. My results indicate that fostering diverse tree relationships can meet various emotional needs. For example, participatory urban planning can enable individuals to plant and care for trees in urban areas, benefiting those without access to nature or personal yards. Even interaction with one favorite tree can enhance well-being. Trees in urban settings should be seen as a way to integrate nature's positive effects into daily life.
Symbolic meanings, such as personal memories and local history, enhance the significance of trees, contributing to happiness and meaning. When a tree is a cherished place or represents greater significance, it deepens our connection to nature, one's own identity and locality. Thus, environmental planning should prioritize the preservation and planting of trees to promote individual and community well-being and foster a sustainable relationship with nature and urban environments.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
My dissertation explored the relationship between trees and people through sensory experiences, activities, values, and memories. I investigated how the traits of trees and individuals shape these relationships, the interaction opportunities trees provide, and their role in identity construction.
My research involved surveys in Finland and the Netherlands with about 2,000 participants and recent Finnish environmental poetry. It employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating functional ecology, the biophilia hypothesis, and posthumanistic thinking. I used sensory research methods and affordance theory to explore interactions with trees, while also examining the role of trees themselves in these relationships.
My research hypothesized that the characteristics of trees and humans influence their relationships, and the results supported this. This study is part of the Trees Near Us project at the University of Eastern Finland's School of Forest Sciences in Joensuu.
The doctoral dissertation of Kaisa Vainio, MSc, entitled Lempipuut: Lajienvälisen ystävyyden näkökulma puusuhteiden moninaisuuteen will be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Joensuu Campus and online. The opponent will be Senior Scientist Ann Ojala, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), and the custos will be Professor Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, University of Eastern Finland. Language of the public defence is Finnish.
For more information, please contact:
Kaisa Vainio, kaisa.vainio@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 478 0465, X (Twitter): @KaisaK_Vainio
