FORESTERRA – Enhancing FOrest RESearch in the MediTERRAnean through improved coordination and integration

From: Giuseppe Scarascia Mugnozza, Elisabetta Raparelli (CRA, Rome)
Date: 2012/1/27
Subject: Fw: FORESTERRA – Enhancing FOrest RESearch in the MediTERRAnean through improved coordination and integration

Carissimi

vi informo che dal 1°gennaio è ufficialmente partito il programma ERANET-FORESTERRA finalizzato al coordinamento e al sostegno della ricerca per le foreste mediterranee, allargato a tutti i Paesi del bacino mediterraneo (sponda Nord e Sud) ed agli altri Paesi a clima mediterraneo (California, Cile, Australia, Sud Africa). Tra le altre attività, questo programma ERANET intende anche sostenere la ricerca e le infrastrutture scientifiche per le foreste mediterranee con specifici bandi di ricerca finanziati congiuntamente dai vari Paesi interessati, insieme alla UE.

Con questo obiettivo vi giro il messaggio che intende sostenere la proposizione di nuove “Idee di Ricerca” da parte di tutti i colleghi della regione, in base alla quale lanciare successivamente i bandi di ricerca congiunti.

Per qualsiasi chiarimento sono a vostra disposizione
Un caro saluto

Giuseppe Scarascia Mugnozza

Dear colleagues,

EFIMED is glad to announce you that in January 2012, the ERA-NET Scheme FORESTERRA has been launched. FORESTERRA is coordinated by the Ministry of Science of Spain. EFIMED will act as the secretariat supporting the coordinator, and in addition will be responsible for coordinating the development of the strategic plan of the programme.

The FORESTERRA ERA-NET
The European Commission, under FP7, finances an ERA-NET Scheme to reinforce the scientific coordination and integration of Mediterranean programmes in forest research as well as scientific cooperation with countries of the Mediterranean area (including EU and non-EU member states) and with countries from other Mediterranean Climate Areas (Australia, South Africa, Chile, California).

Mediterranean forest research organizations will benefit directly from the joint research calls as well as from joint activities for the development of new research partnerships that will be developed within FORESTERRA.

FORESTERRA: Call for ideas

During the next EFIMED annual meeting on 13 June 2012 in Tunis, FORESTERRA activities will be presented to EFIMED Network. Due to the strategic importance of FORESTERRA, EFIMED annual meeting will be dedicated for a “brainstorming session” to discuss potential Pan-Mediterranean research ideas. The results of such discussion session would serve as basis for preparing further the scientific plan of FORESTERRA (also built around the MFRA), which should derive, after discussion and approval by FORESTERRA partners, in an International call for Mediterranean forest research projects.

In order to structure in advance the session and use efficiently the time available for discussions, EFIMED would like to receive in advance ideas for potential research projects within the framework of the marc.palahi. The deadline for receiving proposals is 1st of May. An example is also enclosed for improving clarity.

After receiving the proposals EFIMED will structure the discussion session and will, if needed, select the proposals that better address MFRA priorities and have a better International coverage in order to be presented. The idea is to allow for the presentation of the research ideas in a plenary session followed by discussions. Parallel sessions will be organized to go into details.

We encourage all of you to take part in this important exercise and we hope to receive your contributions and discuss together in Tunis.

Best regards,
Elena Gorriz
On behalf of Marc Palahí
Assistant Director in Policy Advice & Head of the Mediterranean Regional Office
European Forest Institute
Sant Pau Historic Site – Santa Victoria Pavilion
St. Antoni M. Claret, 167
08025 Barcelona (Spain)
Phone: +34 630236912
www.efimed.efi.int