61 consortia sent in proposals for the Joint Nordic-Baltic Initiative on Sustainable Futures of Forests. The proposals will now undergo the evaluation process. A minimum of seven research projects will receive funding and the funding decision will be made by the end of the year.
“We are pleased that we have received a great response to the call. Forests have played and are playing an important part of our Nordic and Baltic societies. How to maintain and manage the forests of the future are some of the questions the proposals are addressing. The Nordic and Baltic research community has responded in a strong and clear way, showing that there is capacity in the field and genuine interest in co-operation. We look forward to taking the process forward by funding Nordic and Nordic-Baltic research projects”, says Special Adviser Thorbjørn Gilberg.
Background of the call
As climate change accelerates, forests in the Nordic and Baltic countries are becoming increasingly vulnerable to rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, pests, pathogens, and biodiversity loss. Beyond the economic value of forest products— which can replace non-renewable resources through the sustainable and circular use of wood-based materials— the social importance of forests is also growing. However, managing these forests presents challenges. The Joint Nordic-Baltic Initiative on Sustainable Futures of Forests is an important collaboration that addresses the pressing challenges facing forests in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
Funding
The call is a collaborative effort between Research Council of Finland, A Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development FORMAS, The Research Council of Norway, ETAG - Estonian Research Council, Latvian Council of Science, Research Council of Lithuania and NordForsk.
