DAAD EPOS scholarship to study MSc in Tropical Forestry 2024–2026

Tropical Forestry programme

The English-language Master’s programme Tropical Forestry qualifies future decision-makers and change agents to develop sustainable forest management strategies and implement development-relevant measures in rural and peri-urban areas. The programme provides expert knowledge on how to deal with diverse human-forest interactions and sustainable development issues.

How to apply

M.Sc. Tropical Forestry programme has a study start only in the winter semester, with classes starting in October.  Interested applicants may apply to the programme through the study options listed below. Each study option comes with a unique set of requirements and application procedures, further elaborated below. Depending on the chosen study option and individual cases, the process from application to admission may take six months to a year to complete. So, please be advised to prepare your application documents and plan your arrival well.

  • Studying with your own funding (Self-financed studies)
  • Studying with a DAAD EPOS scholarship
  • Studying with an Erasmus Mundus scholarship
  • Studying with other scholarships

Deadline for DAAD EPOS scholarship is 30 October 2023.

Photo by Anderson Schmig on Unsplash

EU JTF Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative call open

We are pleased to share with you that the second call for proposals under the EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) has been launched! The Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme will support the development of bioeconomy piloting and demonstration projects in the wider midlands area. 

With a budget of €10 million for two separate projects, proposals are being sought to support the bio-based sector to become climate-neutral and sustainable with enhanced circularity while remaining competitive on the global market. This can be achieved by replacing non-renewable and fossil-based raw materials and mineral resources with sustainably sourced biomass and biological waste to produce industrial and consumer goods. Funding will support close collaboration between stakeholders along the entire bio-based value chain, including SMEs, research-performing organisations, universities, local authorities, clusters, primary producers, bioprocessing industries, and consumer brands. This funding call has two topics

  • Optimised and integrated industrial bio-based systems based on agriculture and/or forestry-based value chains
  • Processing and co-processing of bio-based waste and mixed bio-based waste.

Deadline: 12:00 pm (noon) on 13 October 2023.

Nest Hackathon: develop innovative solutions for sustainable housing

Did you know that buildings and construction are responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions? In Finland, more than one million detached houses account for a quarter of total household emissions, making the carbon footprint of housing a major challenge for combatting climate change and promoting sustainability. 

Nest Hackathon is here to change the narrative. No matter if you are a student, in the early stages of your career or further along, this is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself to develop concrete solutions for sustainable homes.

The hackathon is a weekend challenge competition that brings together professionals from various disciplines to develop innovative solutions for sustainable housing.

Nest hackathon timeline

Hackathon weekend happens from 15 to 17 September 2023.

Application period ends on 31 August 2023.

Prizes

There’s also 2000€ in cash prizes for the top three teams:

  • 1st place: 1000 €
  • 2nd place: 500 €
  • 3rd place: 500 €

Featured image by Nest Hackathon.

Global Call for Nature-based Projects 2023

Global Call for Nature-based Projects 2023: Connecting Restoration and Conservation Projects with Suitable Funders and Investors

3 August 2023 – Today marks the official launch of the 2023 global call for nature-based projects. This initiative seeks to connect those involved in nature restoration and conservation projects with the right funders and investors, enabling innovative solutions to foster a sustainable future.

Key Highlights of the Call:

  • Open to all nature-based projects, without any restrictions on size or type.
  • No participation fees for project developers; easy and quick submission process via explorer.land.
  • Projects will be featured in a structured, dynamic database and interactive map, offering geo-transparency and storytelling opportunities.
  • Multiple funding options, including carbon credit-based funding, ecosystem services investments, CSR funding, and corporate sponsorships.
  • End date: 31.12.2023

About the Process:
The call for projects will run until the end of 2023, accepting applications on a rolling basis. Selected investors will receive access to the database throughout the campaign. The initiative will culminate in a project exhibition and workshop at the 2023 NOAH Zurich Conference.

RED II Coordinator – Job position

  • Position: RED II Coordinator
  • Location: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Deadline: 31 August 2023
  • Start date: ASAP

Responsibilities of the RED II Coordinator

RED II stands for the Renewable Energy Directive from the European Commission. RED II establishes sustainability as well as GHG (greenhouse gas) criteria for solid and gaseous biomass fuels for various sectors of the economy, particularly on heating, cooling, and transport.

To make accountable claims on the use of renewable energies, operators are required to track their production of renewable energy, the source of the material, and make RED II claims according to the requirements of the RED II Directive. RED II opens the possibility of use of a private certification scheme by operators to prove compliance with the RED II requirements.

For this purpose, the European Commission (EC) has set up a framework of requirements that certification schemes shall comply with and against which certification schemes are assessed, to achieve EC’s recognition. The core set of PEFC RED II requirements have been submitted to EC for assessment. 

Do you have a position, call for funding or other opportunities? Email us at bioregions@efi.int and we might add your call to our Calls, Funding and Opportunities section.

Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash

Expression of interest: become a satellite event at the Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival 2024

Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival

The ‘Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival’ is an event organised by the European Commission, in collaboration with the EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassadors. It aims to engage youth as drivers of the transformative change required in view of the multiple challenges the EU is facing today, and to unlock the full potential of the bioeconomy.

Expression of interest

The European Commission invites anyone organising an event linking youth with bioeconomy innovation to express their interest in becoming a satellite event of the “Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival” in March 2024!

  • Complete the survey for expression of interest by 10 September 2023, 15:00 CET.
  • If you have questions, send an email to RTD-BIOECONOMY@ec.europa.eu 

Check out the benefits and objectives of the Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival by clicking the link below.

Interest in showing your project or solution to key stakeholders in the bioeconomy? Check out this expression of interest call to showcase your bioeconomy solution at the Bioeconomy Innovation Day 2023 in Bilbao, Spain.

Image: Created with Designer.

Survey to enhance the Fire Education Platform

The FIRE-RES project is developing a strategy for managing extreme wildfires, from prevention to adaptation and restoration. The project team is working on a Fire Education Platform, an online tool to share best practices while informing and educating stakeholders about wildfires in different countries.

Fire Education Platform

To ensure the platform meets the needs of future users, a survey has been prepared to collect people’s thoughts. All potential users are invited to participate in the survey: teachers, decision-makers, fire-related actors and other interest parties.

Click the link below to start the survey.

Want to see your survey, call or opportunity featured here? Share with us and get featured on our website.

Grants for Young Scientists Session on Agroforestry

EFI provides grants for Young Scientists in agroforestry in EFI Associate and Affiliate member organisations to give a 10-minute presentation on their research and participate in a panel discussion at the 2023 EFI Annual Conference. EFI will provide financial support of 750 euros.

Junior Researcher / Researcher

EFI seeks a Junior Researcher / Researcher to join its Bioeconomy Programme at our Headquarters in Joensuu, Finland, to work with EFI’s Global Trade Model (EFI-GTM) and other economic modelling tools. The work includes data collection and management; scenario development; analysis and modelling of bioeconomy markets and trade flows; impact assessment of disruptive changes (regulatory measures, technological and other), and assessment of emerging finance schemes, such as Carbon pricing, green finance instruments and ecosystem service finance schemes.

PhD Student Position in Forest Pathology and Silviculture

In recent decades, forests in Sweden have been threatened by new and emerging pests and pathogens. European ash is one of several noble broadleaved tree species that has been affected by introduced fungal diseases. The disease commonly known as ash dieback is largely threatening the existence of ash populations across Europe but especially in the Nordic region. Currently, interactions of tree health, climate change and ungulate browsing are important subjects in mitigating biodiversity loss. Ash is a highly-valued timber tree species that has ecological and cultural importance in natural and urban environments. The research program “Save the Ash”, managed by Skogforsk and SLU, aims to develop a more resistant population of European ash for the future. 

The PhD project focuses on the regeneration and restoration of European ash. The project will generate new knowledge on the status of ash regeneration in natural stands that have been chronically affected by the ash dieback disease and in new plantations with propagated genotypes phenotypically selected for high tolerance to the invasive fungal pathogen. The project also aims to establish strategies for forest owners to guide restoration efforts in areas where the disease has caused significant damage and mortality.

 The PhD student will be included in the research teams with a focus on forest pathology and silviculture. The research group in forest pathology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp studies the biology, ecology and epidemiology of endemic and exotic invasive forest pathogens. Our work focuses on disease control and the interactions of trees with fungi and fungal-like (oomycete) organisms, including host symbioses and tree defence mechanisms. We conduct molecular diagnostics and host-chemical analyses to better understand the infection and resistance biology of trees. The research group in silviculture studies the regeneration and management of noble broadleaves in the temperate and south-boreal forests. New and old forest experiments are the core study objects for explaining regeneration success, tree growth and stand development. The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to work with other international collaborators.

Qualifications:

The applicant should by the date of admission to PhD studies have a M. Sc. degree in silviculture, forest pathology, forest management or related forest sciences. Other beneficial qualifications are experience in conducting silviculture or regeneration surveys, ability to work independently in the field, skills in GIS and R-statistical analysis, and good communications skills with fluency in written English and Swedish. A drivers license is a necessity for the work duties. Attached to application should be: 1) curriculum vitae, 2) copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, 3) link to, or copy of master thesis, and 4) two listed references with email addresses. Also attached to application should be: 5) a written motivation or reflection, of maximum one A4-page written in Swedish or English. The motivation shall discuss the student’s personal interest in the topic of this study and in silviculture of noble broadleaves and/or forest pathology in general.

Photo by K I Photography – stock.adobe.com

Uplink Forest and Health Challenge

The World Economic Forum Uplink has launched the Forest and Health Challenge in partnership with Manulife and 1t.org, looking for solutions linking forest and human health.

NGOs and businesses are welcome to submit their solutions by 17 July 2023 and help forests thrive. Solutions can range from nature-based recreation and creating more green spaces in urban areas to forest products with medicinal benefits.

How can forests make us happier and healthier? We’re looking for your solutions.
Source: Uplink

What are the benefits?

  • Technical and networking support
  • Chance to receive funding up to USD 150,000

Funded by Manulife and supported by 1t.org, American ForestsHealth in HarmonyTherme One Health GmbHUniversity of Washington.

Expression of interest: pitch your solution at the Bioeconomy Innovation Day 2023

Ahead of the Bioeconomy Innovation Day on 4 October 2023 in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, the Bioregions Facility invites innovative companies, start-ups and researchers to provide close-to-market or in-the-market to pitch their solutions at the event to key stakeholders and experts in the bioeconomy and forestry sectors.

Expression of interest should be in the following sectors:

  • Sustainable and multifunctional forestry
  • Advanced biomaterials
  • Biobased construction

Selected candidates will have the opportunity to gain access to key stakeholders in the Basque Country, enhance their understanding of the Basque bioeconomy ecosystem, foster their professional networking, and receive transport and accommodation.

Are you interested, or do you know someone who would benefit from this opportunity? Share the expression of interest form today.

Thank you for your interest, the call is now closed.