On March 19 and 20, an online cross-border scientific-technical meeting on Pinus pinaster forests will be held to reflect on how to improve their resilience and forest management. Sponsored by the Consellería de Medio Rural of the Xunta de Galicia, with the collaboration of the ARUME Foundation and other Galician and Portuguese institutions, during both sessions about thirty experts will share their experience to analyze the issues of greatest impact on the silviculture of Pinus pinaster pine forests. In particular, they will discuss the production of high-value timber, seeking practical solutions to the problems encountered in the management of this type of forest.

In view of the importance of the forestry and industrial chain associated with Pinus pinaster forests and the similarity of seasonal conditions in Galicia and Portugal, the Galician Forestry Association (AFG) and the USSE saw the need to hold a scientific-technical meeting aimed at improving the management of Pinus pinaster forests in the Galicia-North Portugal euroregion.

The forests of this conifer are going through a serious situation caused by the reduction of their area due to forest fires, the impact of pathologies and the lack of profitability of the forests of this species.

In addition to AFG and USSE, also participating in the organization of these sessions are the Asociación Sectorial Forestal Galega, the Associação Florestal de Portugal, the Centro de Investigación Forestal de Lourizán, the Dirección General de Planificación y Ordenación Forestal de la Xunta de Galicia and the Fundación Arume.

PROGRAMME

9:00-9:20 Institutional opening welcome speech: Mr. Bittor Oroz Izagirre, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy of Basque Government.

Moderator: Dr. Andreas Nikolaus Kleinschmit von Lengefeld, CEO of Homo Silvestris Europae,

9:20-9:50 Forests in a global  policy context: Dr. Nelson Grima, Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO´s Science- Policy Programme.

9:50-10:20  EU´s vision on forests facing climate change: Dr. Markus Lier, Policy Analist, DG Agri, European Commission.

10:20- 10:50 How to govern forests in the European Union: Dr. Helga Pülzl, Assistant Director for Policy Support, European Forest Institute.

10:50- 11:25 Coffee Break

11:25- 13:00 Roundtable 1: with regional and national forestry authorities, Commission representatives and other experts, to discuss what opportunities and challenges exist in Europe for our forests and what forestry model we want in Europe.

• Dr. Markus Lier, Policy Analist, DG Agri, European Commission.
• Dr. Helga Pülzl, Assistant Director for Policy Support, European Forest Institute.
• D. Franz Thoma, Babarian State Forest Enterprise (BaySF)
• Dr. Nelson Grima, Deputy Coordinator of IUFRO´s Science-Policy programme.

13:00- 14:30 Lunch break

14:30-16:00 Roundtable 2: with regional and national forestry authorities, and other experts to discuss how to align the various policies affecting European forests with research and innovation and their implementation on the ground in the face of the climate crisis.

• Mr. José Luis Chan Rodríguez, General Director of the Directorate-General for Forestry Planning and Management of the Regional Ministry for the Rural Environment of the Xunta de Galicia.
• Mr. José Francisco Silva, Vice-President of Associação Florestal de Portugal (FORESTIS).
• Prof. Dr. Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat, Principal Scientist, Mediterranean Forests, European Forest Institute.
• Ms. Gölin Carina Christiansen, Senior Policy Advisor, North Sweeden European Office & ERIAFF Network.
• M. Ferran Dalmau Rovira, Director of MEDI XXI, GSA.

16:00- 17:30 Roundtable 3: with regional and national forestry authorities, and other experts to discuss the social perception of European forests and the need to combine different management models for resilient forests that provide goods and services to society.

• Mr. Fermin Olabe, Director of Forestry and Hunting Management Service, Department of Rural Development and Environment, Government of Navarra.
• Mr. Oskar Azkarate, Director of BASKEGUR.
• Mr. Bruno Lafon, President of the Union of Forest Owners of Southern Europe (USSE).
• Prof. Bill Slee, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen.
• Ms. Damya Srivastava, External Councilor, International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA).

17:30  Closure (USSE)

REGISTRATIONS