Policies Fostering Investment and Innovation in Support of Rural Development taking into account forest owners perspective on enhancing economic viability through cooperation and innovation
Dates:   March, 27-29, 2006

Place and venue:  Zvolen, Hotel Kaskády Sielnica, Slovakia

Organisers:   MCPFE Liaison Unit Warsaw; 
                  European Forest Institute;
                  EFI-INNOFORCE Project Centre, Austria;  
                  Confederation of European Forest Owners; 
                  Union of Foresters of Southern Europe; 
                  National Forest Centre, Slovakia

The aims of the seminar and the workshop are to
Review and discuss policy issues, experiences and options for promoting investment and innovations with a view to strengthen competitiveness and economic viability of the forest sector in the context of integrated rural development.
Provide the latest knowledge and scientific findings regarding policies fostering investments and innovations in the framework of sustainable rural development policies and strategies in support of MCPFE and the EU Lisbon Strategy.
Target groups
Policy makers in forest policy and rural development
Forest policy scientists and economists
Scientists working on issues related to investments, innovations and rural development
Forest owners and managers
Other interested experts
Language
The language of the event is English. However, a simultaneous interpretation between English and French is offered as follows:

Monday 27 March

9.30 – 13.30 Plenary session
14.30 – 17.00 Working Group A3  
Tuesday 28 March
9.00 - 10.30 Plenary session
10.30 – 13.45 Working Group B3 
14.45 – 17.30 Plenary session

Working modalities:  plenary sessions with invited policy experts and leading scientists, working groups on specific issues to provide recommendations for further actions and research, excursion focusing on forested rural areas with high unemployment.