The process of establishing research priorities for ForestValue2, which were identified as strategically important to the funding partners, involved a kick-off meeting in Brussels, where a broad list of priorities was initially generated. A survey with a scoring system was conducted to rank the priorities based on their importance, followed by a workshop that included input from experts in the field and covered various topics relevant to the project. This collaborative effort resulted in the development of a comprehensive call text that aligned with both the national and EU strategic priorities.
The ForestValue2 Joint Call was launched on 02 May 2023. A total of 25 proposals were submitted, after the formal and national eligibility checks, 21 proposals were deemed as eligible and they underwent a scientific evaluation by an independent international expert panel. Finally, in their meeting on 12 Dec 2023, the participating funding agencies decided on four proposals to be recommended for funding. The funded initiatives are expected to commence in the early summer of 2024 at latest.
The implementation of other joint activities deals with widening activities towards EU 13, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, closely linked to other ForestValue2 tasks. The 1st Webinar, Breakfast Club, and Scientific Aperitif were organized with the occasion of the International Conference „Forest Science for people and societal challenges” – The 90th „Marin Drăcea” INCDS Anniversary (2- 6 Oct 2023, Bucharest, Romania) where a special session - Policy, science, and practice together in the field of forest on pan-European scale - was dedicated to ForestValue2 Project. The individual events brought together a large number of actors, in total close to 100 actors (in person and online) representing research and education, forest enterprises, forest owners, forest-based industry, civil society, and environmental non-governmental organizations.
