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| European forest research joins forces |
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2004/2/4
Creation of a European Research Area and improving Europe's competitiveness are among the main aims of the European Union's 6th Framework Programme. This will be put into practice by using multi-disciplinary networks and large integrated projects. The new situation brings new challenges to traditional sectoral disciplines, which cannot be successful in isolation.
How forest research can adapt to these new challenges was the topic of the recently completed EU-funded project IMACFORD. The project developed an integrated, innovative pan-European research network, which contributes to the emerging European Research Area. Representatives of industries and other end-users of research have participated in its work.
The IMACFORD project mobilised the largest number of researchers and stakeholders related to the Forest Sector ever gathered, as over 500 researchers and end-users of research met during the project. The process resulted in the emergence of various platforms or groups that have produced pre-evaluated pan-European research programmes. These serve the needs of geographical and thematic networking between countries and disciplines. This, in turn, contributes to the European Research Area.
The topics of the work programmes concern directly three main orientations for the forestry sector in accordance with the political resolutions agreed by the Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe in 2003:
* strengthening synergies for sustainable forest management (resolution 1)
* enhancing economic viability and competitiveness (resolution 2)
* preserving and enhancing the social dialogue and cultural dimensions (resolution 3).
The IMACFORD project has improved the dialogue between the scientific community and the end-users at the European and regional levels. For the future, this is a central role and mission of the project network, which continues.
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