Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) have important commercial, environmental, social and recreational roles in many European forests. They also have a relevant place in the multifunctional sustainable forest management (MSFM) paradigm, being the main source of income from forests in several regions. Although the importance of NWFPs is recognised and accepted, forest research remains mainly focussed on timber production. Consequently knowledge about European NWFPs is comparatively scarce, as is research on their ecology, management and economics, required to optimize sustainable simultaneous production of different products from forests. It is proposed that a multidisciplinary European network on NWFPs will help to bridge these gaps.
In this context, the main goal of the Action is to build a broad multidisciplinary network of European NWFPs researchers and managers, to review the current state of the art, highlight existing innovation, share information and experience, identify research topics, seek research synergies and by increasing the European-wide theoretical and practical understanding of NWFPs, promote their sustainable management.
Joining the European NWFPs network
You are most welcome to write us if NWFPs are one of your interests and would like to join the European NWFPs network. We suggest you to visit the COST Action FP1203 Management Committee. In case you are from one of the listed countries where there are already MC members, the contact to join the European NWFPS Network should be done through them. It will be useful if you include information regarding your background and identify the Working Group and Task Force that most interests you. In case you are from a country where there are no MC members yet then you are most welcome to fill and submit the form in the contacts page.
Key Downloads
Action Fact Sheet (updated 08/04/2014): FP1203
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): FP1203 MoU
Poster (updated 01/02/2014): FP1203 Poster
