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SCAR Forest and Forestry Research and Innovation (SCAR Forest)

Mission and aims

 

 

Co-Chairs:

  • Anne Tolvanen
  • Nicolas Picard
  • Mika Kallio
  • Contact information:
    • Nicolas Picard

Mandate:

01/07/2023 to 30/06/2026

Members:

22 countries + EC and key advisors

Forest SWG map

Overview members SCAR Forest – update October 2023

 

forest

CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

Forests and forest-based products and services are major components of the biosphere and of societal wellbeing. Globally, they make a significant contribution to local and national economies, to rural development and to individual livelihoods.

In Europe, forests and other wooded land are expanding and cover over 40 % of the EU’s land area, providing a great diversity of ecosystems and habitats for animals and plants across regions, and playing a major role in mitigating climate change and other environmental services.

Wood is the main source of financial revenue from forests, and forest biomass is currently the most important source of renewable energy.

Though their socio-economic importance is often underestimated, they are becoming increasingly important for the supply of raw material to emerging bio-based industries and for transition towards low-carbon economies. In the context of continuous environmental, societal and policy changes, their adaptation and the continued delivery of forest-based services and products in a sustainable and efficient way, requires increased research, innovation and knowledge from many disciplines.

 

MISSION OF THE SCAR FOREST

SCAR FOREST mission is a source of advice on European forest-based research and innovation (R&I), thus contributing to the development of a coherent and ambitious forest-based research area. Under the current mandate (2019-2023), the main objective is to promote and strengthen transnational research and cooperation to meet the challenges of adaptation to and mitigation of climate changes and other disturbances, to enhance biodiversity and related ecosystem services, to develop circular bioeconomy and increase sustainability and competitiveness of the EU's forest-based sector. Specific objectives of SCAR FOREST include:

  • promoting forest-based system and value-chain approaches with consideration of other sectors and regions of the world;
  • providing advice on research and innovation to the implementation of forest-related national policies and EU forest strategy and related policies;
  • engaging in knowledge-based input to public debates on forest-related EU policy areas and global issues (climate change, water, bioenergy, biodiversity, plant health, trade, etc.);
  • favouring a better consideration of the importance and complexity of forest issues in scientific and politic arena. 

 

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

  • Publish a policy brief on “Imported Deforestation” with SCAR ARCH.
  • Work on the development of guidance notes for prospective COST proposal writers.
  • Work to increase the role of EIPs in the development of the European forest-based sector.
  • Follow up on the ERA-Net Cofund ForestValue.
  • Work on the development of a research and innovation partnership on forestry in the frame of the 9th research and innovation research programme Horizon Europe.
  • Joint activity with SCAR BSW to discuss what bioeconomy is for the forest-based sector.
  • Publish advice for the implementation of the post-2020 EU forest strategy.
  • Promote important topics for research and innovation work programmes.