ETFRN NEWS 27 European Tropical Forest Research Network ETFRN NEWS 27 ETFRN-News is a quarterly publication of the European Tropical Forest Research Network: Editor: Willemine Brinkman About ETFRN Editorial assistance:Evelyn Whyte National Focal Points Jelle Maas Directory ETFRN Newsletter ETFRN Coordination Unit ETFRN Workshops c/o The Tropenbos Foundation ETFRN Publications P.O. Box 232 6700 AE Wageningen/ The Netherlands Q & A Service Tel.:+31-317-41 30 33 Add links Fax:+31-317-41 20 99 E-mail: [email protected] Topics Regions CONTENTS EU Commission Editorial Vacancies ETFRN and European Commission News Funding / Grants Training Courses Organisations, Institutions and Projects Conference calendar Non-timber forest plant resource assessment in North West Amazonia Palm heart harvesting in Guyana's North-West District Search Mesoscale landscape patterns and biodiversity recovery Site map Restoration of tropical dry andean forest by accelerating natural successioni Home Optimal management of agroforestry systems E-mail us Stand dynamics and management of fast growing tree species in central america Research Cooperation Sought Internet Features Other news Publications http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/newsletter/frames/nl27.html[22-10-2012 11:52:01] ETFRN NEWS 27 European Tropical Forest Research Network Newsletter 27 Editorial About ETFRN Dear readers, National Focal Points Directory ETFRN Newsletter For millenia, forests have been an important resource for the peoples of Latin America, and they still ETFRN Workshops are. The region's forests are also important for the rest of the world. Their effect on global climate is ETFRN Publications still poorly understood, and this is the subject of at least one large international research programme. The forests of Latin America are also the home of many well-known, and economically important Q & A Service plant species, such as rubber, cocoa, avocado, mahogany, to name a few. Leucaena leucocephala , Add links one of the most famous, or infamous multi-purpose tree species, also originates in this region. Biodiversity is very rich in forests in the Amazon basin, but also in the Costa Rican cloud forests for Topics example, and 'new' species are still regularly discovered. The research project on non-timber forest Regions plant resource assessment is involved in the documentation of some of this diversity, and aims to EU Commission formulate recommendations to promote sustainable development of these resources. The report on palm heart harvesting in Guyana's North-West district provides several clear research-based Vacancies recommendations for the sustainable exploitation of this forest product, which provides income for Funding / Grants many local people. Training Courses Conference calendar This issue of the ETFRN News can only highlight a small sample of all the forest research projects in Search Latin America, but I hope it will give you a taste for more, or inspire you to write a contribution on the Site map fascinating research project you are involved in yourself. Please note the themes for future issues on Home the backpage, and do not hesitate to write. E-mail us Best regards, Willemine Brinkman ETFRN News is a quarterly publication of the European Tropical Forest Research Network and has a ciruculationof 3,600 copies. Texts may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes citing the source. ETFRN Coordination Unit c/o The Tropenbos Foundation PO Box 232, 6700 AE Wageningen The Netherlands Tel: +31 317 413033 Fax: +31 317 412099 E-mail: [email protected] Http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/ Editor: Willemine Brinkman Editorial assistance: Evelyn Whyte & Jelle Maas http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/newsletter/frames/nl27.html[22-10-2012 11:52:12] ETFRN NEWS 27 European Tropical Forest Research Network Newsletter 27 ETFRN and EC News About ETFRN MESSAGE FROM MADAME CHAIRMAN National Focal Points 1. Directory 2. EC NEWS ETFRN Newsletter 3. ETFRN NEWS ETFRN Workshops ETFRN Publications MESSAGE FROM MADAME CHAIRMAN Q & A Service by Jane Thornback Add links Topics Electronic methods of communication increasingly enable ETFRN to fulfil its goal of linking together Regions tropical forest researchers within Europe, and European researchers with their colleagues in tropical EU Commission countries. The ETFRN Newsletter is already widely distributed, but e-mail communication and development of the ETFRN website are opening up opportunities for a better and faster service to Vacancies researchers within the Network and to those wishing to access the European research capability. Funding / Grants Training Courses The ETFRN main website will continue to evolve in the coming months to create a seamless web Conference calendar linking national focal point sites. The result will be easy access to European tropical forest research capability, providing information on research organisations, researchers, research collaboration needs, Search training courses, funding sources, job opportunities and much more. Site map Home A new edition of the ETFRN Directory of European organisations involved in research in tropical and E-mail us subtropical forest research will be published later in the year. This information is already available as an on-line searchable database on the ETFRN website. The next stage is to expand this database to include not only organisations but also individual researchers, with information on their interests and contact details. An online template will allow for faster input of new and updated information. Individual researchers linked by e-mail will enable research collaboration requests and the ETFRN Question and Answer service to be better targeted and to be sent around the Network more speedily. ETFRN will work towards providing a gateway for researchers to feed into EU policy issues, and to be more aware of research opportunities, and links to development and conservation projects. Of relevance at present, is the new Fifth Framework Research Programme of the European Union which was launched in late February. The call for proposals for research projects in the international cooperation subprogramme (INCO Programme) is due any time now. The ETFRN CU will place relevant information on the ETFRN website as soon as it is available, and will e-mail the information to those organisations listed in the ETFRN directory. European activities impact tremendously on the tropical forest resource, both positively and negatively. As a Network, ETFRN will seek to help researchers better understand the leverage they can apply to ensure the forests' future. top of page EC NEWS http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/newsletter/frames/nl27.html[22-10-2012 11:55:49] ETFRN NEWS 27 DGXII: Fifth Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities The first calls for proposals under the fifth framework programme have now been published. Full details of the calls and supporting documents, including evaluation information are available for downloading from the CORDIS server at: http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/calls.htm. Further material will be provided at the same site as it becomes available. Any information of particular relevance will be posted on the ETFRN website The Fifth Framework Programme provides opportunities for two forms of international cooperation in Research and Technological Development: * through specific programmes (e.g. quality of life and management of living resources; energy, environment and sustainable development) * through the INCO programme; this includes the INCO-DEV programme, which is specifically focussed on research cooperation with institutions in developing countries. Institutions from so-called 'third countries', i.e. countries which are not a member of the European Union, may participate in project proposals submitted under specific programmes under the following conditions: * their participation is in European Community interest and adds value; * in principle the 'third country' participants use own funds, but EC funding is possible if their participation is essential for achieving the objectives of the action. For tropical and subtropical forest research, opportunities in the first call for proposals under the INCO-DEV programme will be rather limited. However, it is expected that future calls under INCO- DEV will focus more on tropical forest- related issues. top of page The INCO-DEV programme Publication of the first call for proposals under the INCO-DEV programme is planned for 27 March 1999. The deadline for submission of proposals is 16 June 1999 and 15 September 1999 depending on subject As the call is not yet published, no details can be given on the content. General information on the INCO-DEV programme follows below: The main objectives of the programme are: * to address challenges faced by developing countries; * to mobilize EU teams jointly with Developing Country teams; and * to support EU development policy. http://www.etfrn.org/etfrn/newsletter/frames/nl27.html[22-10-2012 11:55:49] ETFRN NEWS 27 Its main features are: * a science funding approach, i.e. competitive, peer review, shared costs; * cooperative research with an emphasis on region to region cooperation * bottom up, i.e. scientists formulate proposals; the Commission does not request for specific research to be done, but it does provide a framework; * cross-sectoral The programme will be implemented through: * joint research projects, with a minimum of two European partners from two different European countries, and two partners from different developing countries * concerted actions /