FOPERForest Policy and Economics

Education and Research

FOPER is a project supporting capacity cevelopment in South

East Europe region• Funded by the Finnish Government (grant 3,3 M €)• EFI contribution (0,6 M €)• Duration 2004 - 2008• Geographical focus:

• Croatia• Bosnia and Herzegovina• Serbia • Montenegro• Macedonia (FYROM)• Albania

Objective of FOPER

To strengthen the capacity of modern

forest policy and economics education,

training and research in the South East

Europe region

In practice FOPER will aim to:

1) Establish a long-term training programme for SEE on

forest policy science and forest economics consisting of:• an international MSc. course• short professional training courses• support research capacities

2) Strengthen the policy-science interphase in the region

MSc. course on Forest Policy and Economics

• Startet in 2006, duration 2 years

• Location of the training (Sarajevo and Belgrade)

• 24 students from region

• Internationally and nationally recognised degree

• Twinning Teaching (leading teacher internationally

recognised experts and one from the region)

• Contents – modern forest policy and economics,

international forest policy (+ supportive courses)

Science – policy interphase

Forest research should provide usefull information for

ongoing forest policy processes. Forest policy makers should promote research which is

usefull for policy formulation.Promotion of the interphase– sometimes do not work

optimally in SEE eitherResearch projects on conflicts in each countrySymposium in March 2009, in Croatia, Dubrovnik

Why focus only on forest policy and economics?

SEE has a respectable tradition in technical

forestry sciences However, there is a significant lack of

academic and professional capacity on modern

forest policy science and modern forest

economics• previous political regime

The societies are in transition: market economy,

integration into Europe and EU

FOPER partners• EFI - coordination• Faculties of forestry

• University of Belgrade• Agricultural University of Tirana• University of ”Sv. Kiril i Metodij”, Skopje• University of Sarajevo• University of Banja Luka

Forest research institutes• Institute of Forestry, Belgrade, SR• Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, HR• Forest and Pasture Research Institute, Tirana, ALB

• International partners: United Nations University and University of

Joensuu/Silva Network

Strategic approach of FOPER

Strong involvement of SEE partners in the

implementation Work through partnerships:

• Established: IFSA• Potential: FAO, World Bank, others

Sustainability of training – search for a stable host

and external funding beyond 2008• Commitment of local organisations

Calendar of activities

MS course• Second semester is ongoing in Belgrade

Professional Training • Regional courses scheduled for B&H, Macedonia,

Serbia, Albania and Croatia• Four general courses for training coordinators

Research projects (5)• Project proposals ready for contracting• Two trainings for researchers finished (methodological

and SPSS)

For more information on FOPER

Project Management TeamTomi Tuomasjukka and Mari Pitkänentomi.tuomasjukka@efi.int and mari.pitkanen@efi.int

or log on to:

www.efi.int/projects/FOPER