EFI Director

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is looking for a visionary, inspiring and thoughtful leader. The Director is responsible for the development and sustainability of EFI, as well as positioning it as a high-impact, scientifically credible international organisation of global relevance for scientists and decision-makers on questions related to forests, forestry and forest-based solutions.

Postdoctoral Position Forest and Ecosystem Resilience Group (m/f/d)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world’s leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

For the working group “Forest and Ecosystem Resilience” PIK is offering a Postdoctoral position Forest and Ecosystem Resilience Group (m/f/d) in the field of process-based modeling of German and European forests under climate change starting on 1 September 2023.

Woodworking Industries in European Regions: LIGNA 23 Workshop Insights

On 18 May 2023, the Bioregions Facility hosted a workshop called Woodworking Industries in European Regions: Current Situation, Development Pathways and Investment Trends at LIGNA 2023 in Hanover, Germany.

Oskar Azkarate, Baskegur, at LIGNA 2023.

The General Director of Baskegur, Oskar Azkarate, emphasised the significance of a regional bioeconomy strategy, such as the Strategic Plan for Timber in the Basque Country (PEMA in Spanish) and Basque Circular Forest-based Bioeconomy Strategy. These initiatives aim to establish a comprehensive framework for advancing forestry in the region. To illustrate, the Basque Country Forest Bioeconomy Profile developed by the Bioregions Facility provides an overview of the regional bioeconomy innovation ecosystem in the Basque Country.

Next, Martin Schwarz from Wald und Holz in North Rhine-Westphalia shared his insights. In a region with a population of approximately 18 million, wood serves as the primary construction material. With the growing need for housing and apartments in urban areas, there has been a rising demand for wooden materials in urban construction, building modernisation, refurbishment and social housing projects. The legislation now permits wooden multi-storey buildings of up to eight stories, essential for promoting sustainable development in the construction sector and reducing carbon footprint.

Developing a bioeconomy strategy and the support provided by municipalities in utilising wood is essential for the forestry sector. However, the question arises: how can we give timber a higher value? Inazio Martinez, a researcher at EFI and coordinator of the Bioregions Facility, asked Manuel García Barbero, an architect and Wood Construction Manager at CESEFOR, regarding Castilla y Léon’s approach to increasing the value of its timber.

Inazio Martinez, Bioregions Facility, and Manuel García Barbero, CESEFOR, at LIGNA 2023

“In Spain, we have forest fires, and the problem is probably the abandonment of forests. It’s been demonstrated that things that are valued are better cared for,” stated Mr Barbero. While many believe forests should be left untouched, Spain’s forests require a different perspective, as they thrive through active management. Society has adopted the notion that forests should no longer be managed. Still, this approach leads to imbalances and problems — fire plays a natural role in forests by clearing brush and eliminating dead trees, for instance.

Eduard Correal Mòdol, representing the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia, concluded the discussion by presenting how forests have been managed in Catalonia, which bears similarities to those of Castilla y León. With over 60% of the region’s land covered by forests, Catalonia faces an increasing threat from wildfires as climate change advances in Spain. It is imperative to manage forests and fires effectively while educating the public about their natural occurrence.

Participating in LIGNA has been invaluable in acquiring knowledge about sustainable wood processing practices and discovering how they can be incorporated into our work at the Bioregions Facility.

Funding Opportunities: Open Call for Proposals in 2023

If you are looking for funding opportunities, 19 Horizon Europe calls relevant to FTP stakeholders are currently open. You will find CBE JU calls (Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking) and Horizon Europe Missions. The deadline to apply is set on 20 September 2023.

ForestValue2 Joint Call 2023

ForestValue2’s international call for research, development and innovation proposals in the forest-based sector is now open. Submit your proposal by 1 September 2023 — indicative public funding of up to €7 million.

ForestValue2 is a network that supports the coordination and alignment of national and regional funding programs for forest-based bioeconomy research and innovation to strengthen the European Research Area and support the European Green Deal. It aims to implement international calls in the forest-based sector with financial commitments. It seeks to provide a fast and straightforward way to set up international projects through its links to national programs.

Researcher in Socio-Economy & Governance

The Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), located in Solsona (PrePyrenees, 120 km from Barcelona), Spain, employs approximately 140 staff, produces >100 scientific articles annually and has a turnover of app. 6 Mil. €/year. Further institutional information is available at: www.ctfc.cat/en.


CTFC’s research activity is organised around three programs: 1) Multifunctional Forest
Management; 2) Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity; 3) Bioeconomy and Governance. A
Project Promotion Office supports all the researchers and technicians in managing
projects.

More information