Background

Sustainability is a very significant concern for all sectors in the European economy and is of enormous importance to the Forest-based sector.
Climate change, forest management related to biodiversity and natural disturbances, rural development, bio-energy, reduction of pollution, the role and financial position of forest owners, globalisation, technologies and consumer trends are just few of the issues facing our sector. The commitment of Europe to the goal of becoming the most competitive knowledge-based society in the world by 2010 (Lisbon Agenda) and the increasing support for the implementation of sustainability concepts in society are some additional factors that influence the sector. The EFORWOOD should give not only a tool for sustainable impact assessment (ToSIA) as its finally product, but also try to change the way people think.

The aim of this conference was to transmit the global project message to those who should be the potential users of project results and to position the EFORWOOD project as possible instrument for increasing sustainability and competitiveness of the FBS. It was a cooperative event between policy and scientific communities, which sought to provide a forum to debate the existing project achievements, the interaction between policy, economic and research communities, as well as the implementation of project results in the future.

Target audience

The conference attracted a large number of international participants from the sector and broader, including:

• Scientists and researchers from research organisations, universities and industry,
• Political decision makers from national and EU Parliaments,
• Industry decision makers from across the Forest-based sector
• Decision makers from EU Commission and related agencies,
• Decision makers from national and regional ministries and administrations.