EUFORGEN 20th Steering Committee held in Bergen, Norway
EUFORGEN National Coordinators, members of the Secretariat and invited observers converged on the beautiful Norwegian city of Bergen for the 20th EUFORGEN Steering Committee meeting.
The main focus of the meeting, held from 9 - 11 April, was the planning in detail of activities and supporting structures for Phase VII of the programme, which is due to begin in January 2025 and which will last for five years. In this next phase, EUFORGEN will provide a major contribution to the implementation of the Forest Genetic Resources Strategy for Europe by fulfilling relevant key commitments.
Preparing the next Phase also offered the opportunity for the Steering Committee to reflect on research and action needs in European forest genetic resources conservation and sustainable management, the role EUFORGEN can play in leading the joint effort, and the needs that would benefit from important external funding.
Ongoing activities from Phase VI were also reviewed, significantly the results and findings of Discussion Platforms that have taken place during the Phase on various topics including “GCU Network management in case of biotic outbreaks: the case study of ash dieback” and “Adaptation of Genetic Conservation Units (GCU) to climate change”, as well as the status of the two ongoing Working Groups on “Dynamic and static ex situ conservation” and “Evacuation of threatened material and tracking of movements”.
After long days worked, participants were treated to an excursion to the top of the Fløyen mountain overlooking the city, reached by a funicular climbing up the steep, tree-covered slopes to a height of 320m and breathtaking views. The walk back down to the city was led by Norwegian National Coordinator and meeting host, Tor Myking.
Following the meeting, the next months will see the draft activities for Phase VII take their final shape, so that the Programme can be presented to existing and potential EUFORGEN member countries in the summer, aiming fora prompt start to the new Phase with full partnership in January 2025.
