The funding program in forestry was launched successfully. In September 2022, we received diverse and interesting project applications from all over the world. End of March 2023, the first projects were approved.
The program aims to foster innovative, sustainable forest management that integrates the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis without neglecting society’s need for forest products or NTFPs (non-timber forest products). With a 5-year runtime from 2022 to 2026 and a total budget of CHF 10 million, the program will support implementation-oriented research projects and science-practice networks.
After the first call for proposals, 21 applications were submitted by research groups from all over the world: 76% from the European region, 24% from Asia, 10% from the Americas. Five top-quality applications have been approved. In ten submitted applications, and in three out of the five approved projects the planned research is on forests in tropical or subtropical regions.
The foundation board took its funding decisions with the support of a scientific advisory committee. The eight committee members come from various research fields or practice and have expertise in forest management, forest policy, forest economics, payments for ecosystem services, plant and ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, climate change and biodiversity. The committee includes members from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Sweden and Canada.
The second call for proposals will be announced mid-May on our website – as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Submission deadline will be 23 September 2023 with a final decision in March 2024.
