European forest owners connect through the Laurus Network
In October, the Laurus Network took part in two European meetings that raised awareness of its aims and activities among European forest owners and forestry professionals.
On 13 and 14 October, the network was presented in Helsinki at the launch event of the FOREST Partnership. More than 150 experts in forest, forestry and forest-sector research and innovation in Europe learnt about the Laurus Network and its work.
Álvaro Picardo Nieto, coordinator of the European project SMURF, which focuses on small forest holdings, spoke about the challenges facing small-scale European forest owners and the importance of strengthening collaboration across the forest sector. He also delivered a clear message: the Laurus Network will continue after SMURF ends, so that the connections and cooperation between small forest owners endure.
On 21 and 22 October, a study visit to Flanders and the southern Netherlands took place within the framework of the SMURF project and the Laurus Network. The visit was an initiative of the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona) and was organised by the European Forest Institute (EFI). Its aim was to learn how forest owners’ associations in several provinces of the region operate and what support they receive from their provincial authorities.
Elena Moreno, coordinator of the Laurus Network, presented the SMURF project and the network. This gave the host associations an insight into some of the solutions SMURF proposes for small forest holdings in Europe, and the chance to compare them with the approach of Belgian and Dutch associations in a two-way exchange.
The visiting group was made up of technical staff and representatives of forest owners’ organisations and public authorities, all involved in sustainable forest management. In total, six forest owners’ associations, four public authorities and three policymakers (town mayors) from Spain took part, along with one forest owners’ association from Portugal. They met three associations (two Belgian and one Dutch) and three public authorities (two Belgian and one Dutch). This mix of profiles encouraged a peer-to-peer dialogue with the host organisations.
Be wise, be innovative, be brave — be Laurus.
