On 26 and 27 January, ForestPaths partners gathered at the European Forestry House in Brussels to plan the project’s first Policy Lab which is to take place in September 2023. Its main objective is to identify policy objectives and stakeholder needs for ForestPaths’ policy pathways. 

As a renowned hub for forest-related events and gatherings of European forest and wood experts, the European Forestry House also gave ForestPaths members the unique chance to bring interested forest stakeholders closer to ForestPaths. Thus, on 27 January, project coordinator Hans Verkerk presented ForestPaths to representatives from the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF), the European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the European association representing the paper industry (CEPI).

Meeting participants discussed the project’s vision for the next 4.5 years, with stakeholders being particularly interested in when project results (such as CBS management options, Policy pathways, Canopy platform, Models, Data & tools, and Maps) will become available and how stakeholders can contribute to them via the project’s Policy engagement forum.

Find out more about ForestPaths from our project presentation here.