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2003 grant Foundation for European Forest Research Miroslav Gecovič research scientist Department of Forest Policy, Economics and Management Forest Research Institute Zvolen, Slovakia visiting researcher at EFI 21 October – 19 December 2003
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2003 grantFoundation for European Forest Research Miroslav Gecovič research scientist Department of Forest Policy, Economics and Management Forest Research Institute Zvolen, Slovakia visiting researcher at EFI 21 October – 19 December 2003 Forestry activities of international organizations in relation to the needs and expectations of Central and Eastern European countries
Why this topic? being a citizen of one of the countries in transition (CITs) allows better understanding of country’s position at the international forestry scene: • strengths • weaknesses • opportunities • threats personal experience gained in the field of international cooperation in several positions: • head of Institute’s foreign relations department • responsibility for organizing of events • plenty of important and useful contacts • membership in international bodies • chairmanship of Joint FAO/ECE Working Party
Aims of the project • to explore existing involvement and analyze differences between countries in transition (groups of countries)in selected international forestry activities • to provide springboard for further future activities helping to overcome differences • to contribute to strengthening of EFI’s and other international organisations’ position among CITs through a deeper knowledge of strong and weak points
Methodology overview • what data? (countries, activities) • where from? (sources of data) • where to store? (data storage) • data processing • data evaluation (main findings) • presentation of results and their availability • utilization of results (outcomes, intensions, recommendations)
Which countries? Europeancountries in transition (2004 EUmembers): • Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia New Independent States countries: • Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Other European countries in transition: • Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro In addition: • EU and EFTA countries, some other countries in Europe and outside Europe, international organisations (if applicable)
Data about what? main groups of activities: • H3 database and H3 related activities • COST Forests and Forest Products actions • Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) forestry related projects • Sixth Framework programme (FP6) forestry related expressions of interest and seeking partners • selected FAO/ECE forestry related activities • selected EFI activities
Data collection: data sources ECE/FAO activities: • ECE and FAO internet pages (www.unece.org/trade/timber, www.fao.org/forestry) • available lists of participants EFI activities: • Internet (www.efi.fi) • available EFI documents H3 activities: • Geneva Timber and Forest Discussion Papers ECE/TIM/DP/28 COST actions: • CORDIS database (cost.cordis.lu/src/signatories.cfm) FP5 projects: • CORDIS database (dbs.cordis.lu/fep/fp5/fp5_proji_search.html) FP6 expressions of interest: • CORDIS database (eoi.cordis.lu/search_form.cfm)
Data storage Excel table: • rows – activities (groups of activities) • columns – countries (groups of countries) • cells – level of participation (No. of participants, organizations) • comments – more precise information (names of participants, list of organizations) • links – additional documents (detailed description of the action)
Data processing Excel sheets: • summaries for groups of activities • subtotals and totals • emphasised in colour
Main findings differences are notable between these groups (table): • EU and EFTA countries • 2004 EU members • 2007 EU candidates • Western Balkan CITs • most of NIS countries (with exception of Russia) responsibility in representation: • in some CITs at different activities responsibility lays on limited number of representatives projects involvement: • differs between groups of CITs, however notable in comparison to EU and EFTA cooperation in projects: • regional level • national consortia
Results: presentation and availability presentation: • Foundation Board • EFI staff • some of EFI publications • different meetings availability: • database and supplementary files • PowerPoint presentation • grafical expression (map)
Outcomes and intensions to help CITs through participation in possible projects: • Sixth Framework programme • propose COST action • INCO project (for non-EU members) • possibly other activities
Recommendations • stimulate and CITs to participate actively in preparation of international projects (FP6, COST) and become ready to take responsibility for project coordination • encourage CITs to become more involved in publication activities at international level (EFI publications) • to reach active involvement of participants from CITs into discussions at different international meetings • to overcome the gap between politicians and high level decision makers on one side and those responsible for fulfilling the tasks and bringing them into everyday life