The forest-based sector is a major feature in the bioeconomy landscape of Europe and the critical role of Europe’s forests in climate change mitigation, conservation of biological diversity and provision of forest goods and services continues to be part of the political agenda. So, it is vital that decision makers in Europe have access to up-to-date information about the state and performance of these forests.  The DIABOLO project organised a series of European dialogue workshops on 13-15 February, 2018 at the European Forestry House, Brussels.

These were timely workshops, aimed at discussing the challenges facing the European forestry sector in relation to the demand, provision and exchange of information for sustainable forestry and forest-related policies. Stretching over three days, the Brussels-based workshops sought to improve knowledge communication and exchange of forest information at the science-policy interface in Europe. Each day focused on a particular topic: Day 1 – sustainable forestry, Day 2 -Natura 2000 & biodiversity and Day 3 – LULUCF & climate change.

Programmes and presentations (all pdf)

Day 1-1 Programme Sustainable Forestry and Forest-based Bioeconomy Policies in Europe

Day 1-2 Overview of the DIABOLO project; Markus Lier and Tuula Packalen (Luke)

Day 1-3 Outline of the workshop; Daniela Kleinschmit, Metodi Sotirov, Tanya Baycheva-Merger, Torgny Lind

Day 1-4 DIABOLO WP1 Progress Update ; Tanya Baycheva-Merger

Day 1-5 The EU Forest Strategy and forest-related developments from the Multiannual Implementation Plan; Mr. Dan Burgar Kuželički, Policy Officer, DG Agriculture and Rural Development

Day 1-6 Achievements and challenges in the provision of harmonised Europe-wide information on the multifunctional role of forests and forest resources: European Forest Information System, European Forest Bureau Network’ Kari T. Korhonen (LUKE); Dr. Klemens Schadauer (BFW), ENFIN

Day 2-1 Programme Monitoring and Reporting on NATURA 2000 sites in Europe

Day 2-2 Overview of the DIABOLO Project; Markus Lier and Tuula Packalen (Luke)

Day 1-3 Outline of the workshop; Daniela Kleinschmit, Metodi Sotirov, Tanya Baycheva-Merger

Day 2-3  Outline of the workshop; Daniela Kleinschmit, Metodi Sotirov, Tanya Baycheva-Merger, Torgny Lind

Day 2-4  WP1 Progress Update; Tanya Baycheva-Merger

Day 2-5 Forest information for the implementation of NATURA 2000: policy needs, information gaps and challenges (pdf) Mr. Frank Vassen, Policy officer, EC DG Environment

Day 2-6 The use of National Forest Inventory data for the conservation status assessment of NATURA 2000 forest habitats in Europe. Ms. Iciar Alberdi (INIA-CIFOR), DIABOLO WP3 Leader

Day 3-1 Programme LULUCF and climate policy needs in Europe

Day 3-2 Overview of the DIABOLO Project; Markus Lier and Tuula Packalen (Luke)

Day 3-3  Outline of the workshop; ; Daniela Kleinschmit, Metodi Sotirov, Tanya Baycheva

Day 3-4  WP1 Progress Update; Tanya Baycheva-Merger

Day 3-5 LULUCF reporting – data and information needs and supply from the NFI view.  Dr. Klemens Schadauer (BFW), Iciat Alberdi (INIA)

Day 3-6 LULUCF Regulation – criteria and methods to construct the Forest Reference Levels (FRLs) after 2020 Dr. Giacomo Grassi (JRC)

The workshops hosted over 40 invited participants from the forest information provider and end-user community in Europe, including representatives from national authorities managing forests and other forest related sectors (biodiversity, bioeconomy, climate), the European Commission services and European intergovernmental bodies; national forest inventory experts; EU and national associations of public forest companies and private forest owners; environmental, non-governmental organisations; research and academia.

The outcomes are expected to contribute to relevant key actions of the new EU Forest Strategy, to ongoing discussions for a Forest Information System for Europe (FISE), and other European forest relevant monitoring and reporting processes (e.g., FOREST EUROPE SFM reporting, Natura 2000 monitoring, EU climate and bioenergy targets and LULUCF accounting).

The workshops were organized by the University of Freiburg (ALU-FR), the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The workshop was kindly supported by the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) and the European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR).