Veli Johannes Paavo Bartholomeus Räsänen (24 August 1888 – 16 July 1953) was a Finnish lichenologist who made contributions to the study and documentation of Nordic and Baltic lichen funga.

His influence on the field is reflected in several lichen species and two genera named in his honour, and his work with mentor Edvard Vainio helped establish Finland's strong tradition in lichenology.

He took his matriculation examination in 1909 in Oulu, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1913, a master's degree in 1914 and a licentiate and doctorate in 1927 from the University of Helsinki.

Räsänen worked at the Lapua agricultural lyceum for teachers from 1918 to 1921 teaching natural sciences and animal husbandry.

He also received and completed collections from abroad, defining numerous lichen taxa previously unknown to science.

Thus, under his auspices, the exsiccata work Lichenes Fenniae Exsiccati, previously published by Johan Petter Norrlin and William Nylander, and later Vainio, was continued by the Botanical Museum in Helsinki.

In this respect, mention should be made of his novice book Suomen jäkäläkasvio ("Finnish lichens") (1951), comprising 158 pages and 16 paintings.