The main idea when founding of the Forest Science Research Institute (later Finnish Forest Research Institute) was to have an independent research institute. The institute had from the beginning the right to pursue experiments in certain state owned forests.
The higher forest education and the research institute are separate from each other. Since 1908 is the higher forest education at the University of Helsinki, before that is was organized in the forest institute in Evo. The forest institute in Evo gave forest education of intermediate grade. The first doctoral defense in forest science took place at the University of Helsinki in 1913. There is however a close relation between the research institute and university; many professors of the institute teach at the university, and many university professors are engaged in the research work of the institute.
There was a need to ensure that the forest research will not be monopolized by the research institute and the university. For that purpose The Finnish Society of Forest Science was founded in 1909. Its objective was to enhance the cooperation among forest scientists and with other disciplines as well as with the practical forest professionals.