Promoting sustainable forestry in a growing bioeconomy for Europe (PROFOR)
Coordinator: Matleena Kniivilä, , LUKE
Recording: Workshop/Forest Multifunctionality
In December 2019, the European Commission launched The European Green Deal, a new growth strategy and roadmap that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society with a greener competitive economy, with a net-zero emission of GHG by 2050.
The ambition of European Green Deal signals a societal transformation not experienced for decades in Europe. European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament all states that the transition should be science-based and emphasize the role of forests in achieving the goals for a wide range of policy objectives.
PROFOR network is a network representing a variety of researchers and research institutions in the Nordic-Baltic countries. The network’s added value is the ability to synthesize current Nordic-Baltic forest related research of value for the implementation of the European Green Deal and provide this science as policy support for decision makers designing these policies in Brussels and elsewhere. The major relevance of the network will be to present Nordic-Baltic research in a way that is clearly targeted to support knowledge-based decisions in the implementation of different aspects of European Green Deal both at EU and national level.
European forests and their dynamics, as well as the use of forests vary between the regions. Therefore a region-specific view on forest and sustainable forestry needs to be highlighted at EU level. From a Nordic-Baltic perspective the network will focus especially on the ‘Trilemma’ how enhanced carbon storage and sequestration, production of roundwood for wood-based products to substitute fossil-based raw materials and maintained forest biodiversity with capacity to deliver environmental and ecosystem services, can simultaneously be met.
Overall long-term goals for the network
- To advance the sustainable use of forests in Europe by synthesizing science-based knowledge to tackle the conflicting goals of sustainable forest management, including enhancement of forest resilience and practical implementation of climate‐smart forestry, and use of forest resources in a growing bioeconomy with a focus on all aspects of sustainability.
- To increase the interaction between science and policy, and bring together research, industry, politics, and stakeholders across sectors and national borders in the participating countries as well as in Brussels.
- To advocate for increased European funding for research and innovation regarding sustainable forestry, and to promote participation from network partners in EU funded projects.
Goals for 2024
- To continue the work of the established Nordic‐Baltic network for cooperation to support the Green Deal policy processes with scientific knowledge, to influence European forest research funding, and to maintain connections with policy makers and other stakeholders in Brussels.
- To raise awareness of Nordic‐Baltic forest research in the
- To increase Nordic‐Baltic synergies to have an influence on the European Green Deal strategies and Horizon Europe research funding, by developing common Nordic‐ Baltic science‐based visions, positions and objectives for future
Activities in 2024
- We will organise a Forest Seminar in Brussels (hybrid) to EU decision-makers and stakeholders. The overarching theme of the seminar will be ‘Science for multifunctional Nordic-Baltic forests and the European Green Deal’, including the topics raised in the article. The seminar takes place in October‐December 2024.
- We will write a scientific article synthesizing current Nordic-Baltic research to support the EU driven forest-related policies. The topic will be based on the ‘Trilemma’ approach, with a specific view on how the actual policies to reach the European Green Deal objectives are intertwined and reflected to use of forests with special focus on the Nordic-Baltic region.
- We will organise network delegation visits to relevant EU decision-makers (Commission DGs, European Parliament) and other stakeholders to communicate and discuss the messages. The visits will take place back-to-back with the seminar in Brussels.
- We will organize one workshop for knowledge exchange, writing the publishable outcomes and for promoting networking with stakeholders in the Nordic-Baltic forest research sector. Stakeholders will be invited, and time will be allocated for presentations by young researchers. The WS takes place in April 2024 in Latvia.