Started in 2014 as a joint initiative of European regions and forest sector organizations, the 5th edition of the European Forest Innovation Workshop devoted to Inform-Prioritize-Collaborate: Cooperation of Regions on Innovation in Forest Management, Use of Wood and Forest-related Services, has taken place on 18 January 2023 (full-day workshop) at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union in Brussels.
The role of innovation in managing new challenges in the forest-based sector at regional level in the EU.
Main objectives of the event
- Understanding the new framework for regional innovation policies addressing the forest-based sector in Europe
- Presenting relevant innovations from different European regions that are helping address key European policy ambitions
- Connecting experts and practitioners to speed up knowledge flows
- Encourage public and private collaboration at EU and regional levels to foster innovation
Themes
The event provided an opportunity to learn about the most recent updates on European initiatives and connect with a selection of innovative cases, presented during the 2 rounds of breakout sessions.
The themes addressed in the workshop are:
- Carbon market, bioeconomy, climate smart forestry and rural development
- Forest degradation and nature restoration
- Ecosystem services and better integration in forest management
Digitalization and social innovation are cross-cutting aspects contributing to the above themes.
Presentations
Plenary
- European CAP Network: Support for social and technological innovation in the forest-based
sector – Sergiu Didicescu, European CAP Network - Partnerships for Regional Innovation: Influence on innovation in forest-based sector – Xabier
Goenaga, DG JRC - Financial context for innovation in forestry: European view – Felipe Ortega, European Investment
Bank - Financial context for innovation in forestry: Regional view – Martin Kihlberg, Swedish bank
Landshypotek Bank
Introduction to Regional Authorities Round-Table Discussion on priorities for innovation
Breakout Table 1: Carbon Market, Bioeconomy, Climate Smart Forestry and Rural Development
- The forest digitalization test laboratory – Leena Leskinen, Metsakeskus
- Circular use of engineered wood by a general take back obligation – Markus Steppler,
DERIX - Sustainable forest management of Alpine forests in North-East Italy – Giorgio Alberti, Free
University of Bozen-Bolzano - Summary of discussions
Breakout Table 2: Forest Degradation and Nature Restoration
- Restoration actvities in two areas affected by wildfires – Paolo Battelli, Unione Dei Comuni
Mediavalle Del Serchio - Use of LiDAR and satellite for forest health assessment and monitoring – Tristan Perret, Forestry
Club de France - The role of regenerative forestry in safeguarding biodiversity – Timo Lehesvirta, Metsä Group
- Summary of discussions
Breakout Table 3: Provision of Ecosystem Services
- Multi-Objective Decision Support System (CAFE) for forest management – Maurizio Cocchi,
EUBIA - Photogrammetry using drones under canopy and prototype in the form of a backpack with
a stereoscopic camera – Rodrigo Gómez, CESEFOR - A decision support system for optimizing forest ecosystem services in the context of a woodbased bioeconomy – Martin Brunsmeier, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences
- Summary of discussions
