Forest Momentum: From Strategy to Action

Agenda
Forest Momentum illustration six triangle shape droplets

On 29–30 September, Forest Momentum: From Strategy to Action brought together EUFORE, MoniFun, and the FOREST Partnership for two days of dialogue, exchange, and collaboration shaping the future of Europe’s forests. 

From strategy to action

European forests play a critical role in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy. At the same time, increasing societal demands on forests require improved knowledge, monitoring systems and governance approaches, as well as adequate funding schemes to support multifunctional forest management. 

Horizon Europe projects EUFORE and MoniFun address these challenges from different angles, and the upcoming FOREST Partnership will provide the long-term structure to carry this work forward. 

The EUFORE Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) provides a strategic framework to guide future research and innovation priorities for Europe’s forest-based sector. 

In parallel, the MoniFun project is developing a blueprint for a European Forest Monitoring Framework that supports the assessment of forest multifunctionality, integrates diverse monitoring approaches, and contributes to evidence-based policymaking. 

The upcoming Horizon Europe-funded European Partnership on FOrests, forestry, and the forest-based sector: REsearch and innovation for a Sustainable Transition (FOREST) provides a long-term structure, governance and funding mechanism to implement priorities through calls and projects, enhancing coherence in a fragmented landscape and supporting EU forest, climate and biodiversity strategies.

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Agenda

Time CET

  • 12:00 | On-site registration and lunch
  • 13:00 | Monitoring workshop: welcome and project insights
    Lauri Mehtätalo (MoniFun)
    Alex Giurca (EUFORE)
    Mika Kallio (FOREST Partnership)
  • 13:30 | Keynote: What are the main policy expectations from a forest monitoring system at the European level?
    Michael Losch (European Commission)
  • 13:45 | Keynote: Perspectives and challenges in National Forest Inventories (NFI)-based forest monitoring at the EU level: ENFIN views
    Jean-Daniel Bontemps et al. (ENFIN)
  • 13:55 | Discussion
  • 14:05 | Short break to transfer to breakout rooms
  • 14:10 | Stakeholder dialogue I – what are the critical information gaps? (4 breakout groups)
  • Discussion themes:
  • Policy information needs for monitoring
  • Data gaps and harmonisation challenges
  • Monitoring multifunctionality (biodiversity, ecosystem services, carbon)
  • Possibilities and challenges of technological innovations (remote sensing, digitalisation, AI)
  • 14:50 | Coffee break
  • 15:20 | Stakeholder dialogue II – what should research and innovation deliver? (4 breakout groups)
  • Identify R&I priorities for the next decade, considering:
  • Technical implementation of the European forest monitoring
  • Integrating NFI data with remote sensing data
  • Rapid response to disturbances
  • Role of simulation tools in monitoring
  • 16:00 | Short break to transfer to the main room
  • 16:05 | Synthesis and alignment of initiatives
  • Facilitated plenary discussion by Vanaja Vankayalapati (MoniFun)
  • 16:40 | How should European forest monitoring be organised and funded?
  • What additional elements are needed beyond NFIs? 
  • How should EU-level forest monitoring be funded? 
  • Who should be given the mandate to organise the monitoring?
  • Moderated panel discussion and Q&A

    Panellists:
    Göran Ståhl (ENFIN)
    Hélène Koch (CEPF)
    Javier Garcia Perez (FAO)
    Nicolas Robert (EEA)

    Moderated by Petteri Packalen (Luke)
  • 17:25 | Closing and next steps
  • 17:40 | End of meeting and cocktail reception for all participants

Time CET

  • PART I: BUILDING MOMENTUM
  • 9:00 | Arrival and registration of participants
  • 9:30 | Welcome and opening remarks from EUFORE coordinator
    Alex Giurca (EFI)
  • 9:40 | Keynote from the European Commission
    Orsolya Frizon Somogyi (DG Agri, European Commission)
  • PART III: FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION
  • 11:35 | Forest research and the policy pathway ahead
  • Next steps and opportunities
    Laura Liepina (DG Agri, European Commission) 
  • 11:50 | The FOREST Partnership: next steps
    Mika Kallio (MMM, Finland)
    Tony Quinn (DAFM, Ireland)
  • 12:15 | Forest Funding under review
    Panellists:
    Laura Liepina (DG Agri, European Commission)
    Mika Kallio (MMM, Finland)
    Tony Quinn (DAFM, Ireland)
    Moderated by Jasmina Jusic (Fraunhofer Italia / EFI Young Leadership Programme)
  • 13:15 | Lunch
  • PART IV: FOREST PARTNERING: MEET & CONNECT
  • 14:15 | A dynamic networking session designed to spark connections and collaboration among key stakeholders: matchmaking format
  • 16:15–16:30 | Closing reflections and takeaways

The event is fully booked and we are unable to accept further registrations.

See you in Brussels

Comet Louise 

Place Stéphanie 20, 1050 Brussels 

See location