The future of forests and forestry is taking shape with a promising new partnership under Horizon Europe. A series of pre-meetings in February set the stage for collaboration, with experts and stakeholders coming together to discuss priorities, strategies, and the anticipated impact of this initiative.
Day 1: Laying the Groundwork
The first day of the future Forest & Forestry Partnership workshop was filled with engaging discussions and strategic planning. Participants from ForestValue2, including Tony Quinn, Mika Kallio, Manuel Sánchez-Blanco, Katja Zagar, and many more who joined online, actively contributed to shaping the partnership’s vision. Thanks to collaborative tools like Miro and the facilitation of Martin Behrens, meaningful conversations took place on key aspects such as objectives, expected results, and long-term impacts.
This opening day set the tone for the initiative, bringing together passionate individuals committed to tackling the challenges and opportunities in forestry and sustainable forest management.
Day 2: Refining the Vision
The second day kicked off with an in-depth analysis of the cluster responses from Day 1. The insights gathered formed the foundation of the first impact draft, a crucial step in structuring the partnership’s goals and direction. Participants continued to refine strategies, ensuring that the initiative aligns with both research needs and policy requirements.
The event concluded on a positive note, with enthusiasm high and a strong sense of momentum. With such a dedicated and experienced team, there is confidence that the challenges ahead will be met with innovative solutions and collaborative effort.
Expert Insights: A Conversation with Martin Behrens
As part of the event, we had the opportunity to speak with Martin Behrens, a key participant in the partnership. He shared valuable perspectives on the motivation behind joining the Horizon Europe call on forests and forestry, as well as expectations for future collaboration.
Q1: What inspired your organization to participate in this Horizon Europe call?
“Funding RDI in the field of forestry, forests, and the wood-based bioeconomy is at the heart of FNR’s activities as a Funding Agency under the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. We have been involved for several years now in advancing this partnership, and we are excited about this new phase of European collaboration.”
Q2: What are your expectations regarding project coordination, funding distribution, and long-term collaboration?
“Having participated in previous ERA-Nets on Forest and Forestry and currently being engaged in ForestValue2, we have seen firsthand the benefits of collaboration. This new partnership dimension will allow for greater outreach and next-level research results, strengthening long-term cooperation across Europe.”
Looking Ahead
The Future Forest & Forestry Partnership is set to drive impactful research and sustainable innovations in forestry. With strong support from Horizon Europe and the commitment of leading experts, this initiative holds great promise for shaping a more resilient and sustainable forest sector.
