ROUNDTABLES:
From the Round table “The innovation in forestry: what we still need?”
1 st conclusion:
There is a need for more institutional innovation, to promote public-private collaboration and to enhance the participation of different types of stakeholders. More social innovation is needed to improve sectoral governance and intersectoral coordination, while at the same time enhance forest owners’ engagement and a renewed and better skilled work force. To improve the multifunctional role of forests more participatory approaches are needed, without neglecting business competitiveness. The role of tractor enterprises and forest
authorities was highlighted, as well as the opportunity of digitalization and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate change.
2 nd conclusion:
Innovation should reach millions of European forest owners and holdings, enterprises and workers, in the very diverse conditions of European regions. We need improved Forest Knowledge and Innovation Systems (FORKIS), integrated in AKIS and looking for synergies
with the agricultural sector, but respecting the specificities of the forest sector. The landscape approach and the efforts in concertation of stakeholders of the model forest concept might be highly valuable in the transfer of innovative processes and organizations. FORKIS need
financial support and improved markets that could incorporate new ecosystem services providing additional income for forest owners and development of new value chains.
3 rd conclusion:
Projects and networks provide complementary opportunities for innovation. There is a need to go beyond the project framework and to maintain efforts in innovation feeding active collaboration through networks and operational groups. Networks like ERIAFF, INNOVAWOOD, The International Model Forest, FAO Silva Mediterranea, or the EFI facility BioRegions provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and to accelerate the transfer of innovations across regions, landscapes and value chains. As a good practice to be adopted, it
is suggested that one should always take advantage of the initiatives of the networks (conferences, events, workshops) to jointly organize project meetings.
From the Round table: “The EU forestry policy: key messages for improvements” In particular about the improvement of the coordination between strategies and regulations related to forests in Europe and which are the specific changes necessary to achieve greater
coherence in regulations and align objectives with real needs.
1 st conclusion:
There is an urgent need for enhanced coordination among strategies and regulations concerning forests. The current overreliance on the EU's DG Environment, which primarily focuses on conservation policies rather than fostering the forest sector's development or promoting a bioeconomy based on forest resources, underscores the necessity for change.
Improved coordination would bring greater coherence to regulations, align timelines with real-world needs, and allow for adjustments to objectives and financial frameworks.
2 nd conclusion:
It is imperative to increase the budget for R&D in the forest sector and implement new transfer mechanisms to ensure that innovation reaches end-users. The European forest sector requires significant innovation to tackle future challenges, particularly those related to meeting society's needs for ecosystem services in a complex environment affected by climate change and its consequences. The strategic incorporation of digitization is essential for sector improvement and competitiveness, serving as a key component to ensure proper policy
implementation. Consequently, stable and long-term budget frameworks for R&D are necessary to support these efforts.
3 rd conclusion:
The forestry sector plays a vital role in supplying raw materials essential for various industries, particularly within the framework of the bioeconomy. Active land management and a skilled workforce are essential to obtain forest resources necessary for producing essential and relevant products. Strengthening value chains and industry capacity is imperative for effective territorial management and to counter the alarming trend of abandonment, which could have catastrophic effects. Therefore, concerted efforts to support the forestry sector are crucial for sustainable economic development and environmental preservation.
