The INCREDIBLE Policy Forum, taking place on 16 and 17 March 2021, will discuss the actions needed to position NWFP (non-wood forest products) as a pillar of Europe's bioeconomy. The Forum is addressed to EU, national, regional and local policy makers and key stakeholders in NWFP value chains (associations of forest owners, producers and processors, consumer organisations, industries, NGOs, public institutions, etc.).
The Forum is co-organised by the European Forest Institute (EFI), leading the H2020 INCREDIBLE project consortium, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the support of FoReSTAS (regional Foresta Agency for Land and the Environment of Sardinia) and the Cesefor Foundation.
This virtual event will serve as an opportunity to consider the salient issues for NWFP policies and enrich a white paper on policy priorities for non-wood forest products in Europe. This document has been developed within the framework of the INCREDIBLE project, with peer review from the IUFRO task force on Non-timber forest products and other leading experts.
SESSION I: Setting the scene - disclosing the potential of non-wood forest products (11.00-13.30h)
High-level opening: Welcome & introductory statements .
A call for action to leverage non-wood forest products’ potential.
Presenting the Manifesto on NWFP.
Keynote – From Local to Global: The Enduring Power and Promise of Forest Goods.
Perspectives from the value chains: the richness and diversity of NWFP
Open debate and Conclusions of session I.
SESSION II: Sustainable sourcing and secure supply of NWFP (15.00-17.15h)
Introduction to the session.
Keynote presentation - Sustainable Sourcing of Non-timber Forest Products: Why? What will it take?.
Success cases for ensuring the supply of wild and semi-wild forest products.
- Guaranteeing the supply of cork and the multifunctionality of Quercus forest
- Information systems on prices and producers of NWFP in Portugal (cork, resin and pine nusts).
- Inventory and managment of wild mushrooms from EMI - examples of best practices.
- Voluntary standards and certification supporting sustainable and beneficial trade in wild-harvested NWFPs.
Wrap-up on the needed policy actions for long-term conservation and supply of NWFP.
The potential contribution of the upcoming EU policies to the development of NWFP.
Open debate and Conclusions of session II
SESSION III: Competitive and equitable NWFP value chains (11.00-13.15h)
Introduction to the session.
Keynote presentation - Competitive and equitable NWFP value chains, challenges and opportunities.
Success case for fostering transparency, competitiveness and equitability of NWFP value chains.
- The tax reform on "wild growing non-wood products" in Italy: lesson learnt and new opportunities for the forest sector.
- Labour and fiscal policies supporting resin holdings in Spain.
- Ecotourism in wild mushroom sector in Greece.
- National Programmes for NWFPs in Turkey.
Key action on transparency and visibility of NWFPs.
Wrap-up on the policy actions needed to secure successful NWFP value chains.
The EC’s view on raw material provisioning of European Green Industries.
Open debate and Conclusions of session III.
SESSION IV: Call for action (15.00-17.30h)
Introduction to the session.
The White Paper “Non-Wood Forest Products for people, nature and the green economy. Policy priorities to leverage their hidden potential”.
Panel discussion and debate: views from National, European and international institutions.
Piotr Borkowsky, European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR)
Bridging on future initiatives
Chadi Mohanna, Ministry of Agriculture in Lebanon and Chair of Silva Mediterranea
Supporting the Manifesto on Wild and semi wild Products.
Conclusions of the Policy Forum.
Join the INCREDIBLE Policy Forum and help us boost the role of NWFP in Europe's green economy.
Organisers: Secretariat:
The INCREDIBLE project aims to show how Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) can play an important role in supporting sustainable forest management and rural development, by creating networks to share and exchange knowledge and expertise. ‘Innovation Networks of Cork, Resins and Edibles in the Mediterranean basin’ (INCREDIBLE) promotes cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation to highlight the value and potential of NWFPs in the region.
‘Innovation Networks of Cork, Resins and Edibles in the Mediterranean basin’ (INCREDIBLE) project receives funding from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme under grant agreement Nº 774632
Email: info@incredibleforest.net or use the contact form.
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