1. SAB AND BOARD MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY
SAB The Scientific Advisory Board of EFI met in Vienna on 13-14 February. The meeting was for the first time chaired by SAB’s new Chairman, Prof. Ted Farrell (Ireland). As of 1.1.2006, new members Michael Köhl (Germany) and Americo Carvalho Mendes (Portugal), joined the SAB, as the former Chairman Frits Mohren (Netherlands), and Jari Kuuluvainen (Finland) stepped down at the end of 2005. Among issues discussed at the SAB meeting were:
- the first steps of EFI as an international organisation: the new vision stating EFI’s basic function: (i) research (ii) networking (iii) advocating forest research and (iv) provider of information on forests at the pan-European level.
- the forthcoming mid-term review of the Project Centres. More detailed information on this will follow soon under separate cover. At large, the mid-term review process used last time in 2002/2003 will be followed again, with minor modifications. All other project centres will be reviewed this year, except the newcomer PHOENIX. The EFI Annual Conference in the Netherlands will be tried to be used maximally for interaction between Project Centres and the SAB.
- the SAB discussed the Strategy and ToR of the Project Centres but did not suggest changes to it.
- the SAB wishes to increase interaction with Project Centres. As a concrete step, the SAB will in spring 2007 meet at the CONFOREST homebase in Freiburg.
BOARD The Board met at the EFI Headquarters immediately after the SAB meeting on 16-18 February. A major part of the meeting was dedicated to discussion with the HQ staff on the values and vision of EFI.
The Board decided to establish an EFI Regional Office in Barcelona – more information on this will follow soon under separate cover. The Board also decided that an external review of EFI will be on the agenda of the next Board meeting.
If you wish to receive the summary (main points) of the SAB meeting minutes, please contact IEFC.
2. COUNCIL MEETING IN JOENSUU
The Council – i.e. the representatives of the Countries which have ratified the Convention on EFI – will meet at Joensuu headquarters on 22 March. On its agenda are some administrative issues, such as adopting the financial rules of EFI, and more strategic ones, such as the future perspectives of EFI. In general the Council only meets once in three years, and this March meeting is in fact continuation of the meeting that started in Helsinki on 4 September.
3. MEETING CALENDAR FOR KERKRADE, NETHERLANDS
The calendar of meetings in connection with the EFI Annual Conference in Kerkrade, Netherlands, will be as follows (and more information will follow soon):
11 (afternoon) – 13 September: SAB meeting
12-13 September: Board meeting
(12 September: EFORWOOD Board meeting, tentatively)
13 September: ANNUAL MEETING OF PROJECT CENTRES
14 September: EFI Annual Conference
15 September: Scientific Seminar “The Role of Forestry in Integrated Environmental Assessments” (see / www.efi.fi/events/extra/2006/2006ac)
16 September: Excursion (including mountain biking in the caves…)
Small team meetings between Project Centres and Programme Managers as well as the mid-term review team members will be tried to be arranged around all these meetings in Kerkarde.
4. FORTHCOMING PROJECT CENTRE MEETINGS
13 March
Annual Meeting of IEFC in Bordeaux, contact: Christophe.orazio
27-29 March 2006
International Seminar on “Policies Fostering Investment and Innovation in Support of Rural Development”, Hotel Kaskády Sielnica, Zvolen, Slovakia. Hosting institutions: MCPFE, EFI, EFI Project Centre INNOFORCE.
Information and registration
5. CONFOREST ‘s new website
CONFOREST has a nice, new website announcing IEFC-CONFOREST joint meeting, please visit it !