EUSTAFOR’s involvement in SUPERB and EUFORE projects

EUSTAFOR is still active as subcontractor in the SUPERB project, Europe’s largest cross-border Horizon 2020 project with a budget of around € 20 million. The goal of this 4-year project is to create an enabling environment for, and demonstration of, large-scale restoration of forests and forest landscapes across Europe.
In October, the SUPERB Restoration Project Festival took place in Milan. Our Bosnian EUSTAFOR member Hercegbosanske šume participated and presented their long-term project of demining the Bosnian forests and as such restoring their potential. Their presentation resulted in them winning the event’s competition of best photo/video, with a  Bosnian drone video on removal of landmines. The prize was a publication of the project on the official website of the European Forestry Institute (EFI).
On 15 February, SUPERB organized a One-day Expert Discussion on Forest Restoration Policy and Practice. This event saw presentations from SUPERB researchers about policy challenges and key results, as well as a panel discussion between stakeholders. EUSTAFOR director Mr Piotr Borkowski participated in this panel and elaborated on the need for self-sufficiency and a healthy bioeconomy to finance management and restoration projects, and the importance of not losing forestry expertise and skilled laborers to bureaucratic policy decisions.

Another project EUSTAFOR is involved in as subcontractor is the EUFORE project. On 13 December, the EUFORE workshop on ‘Designing the future of European forest research’ was organized. The event was attended by Mr Piotr Borkowski and Mr Roberto Stelstra, where they had the change to give EUSTAFOR’s input on research priorities and European policy frameworks.