81 Les/Wood, Vol. 72, No. 2, December 2023 FORESTRY AND WOOD TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AND ASFORCLIC– HORIZON 2020 PROJECT MREŽA ZA RAZISKAVE IN IZOBRAŽEVANJE NA PODROČJU GOZDARSTVA IN LESNE TEHNOLOGIJE ZA STRATEGIJE PRILAGAJANJA PODNEBNIM SPREMEMBAM IN PROJEKT ASFORCLIC–HORIZON 2020 Kyriaki Giagli 1* , Kathrin Böhling ², Tobias Mette³, Aleš Kučera 4 , Torben Hilmers 5 , Petr Čermák 1 UDK članka: 630*945.4 . Abstract / Izvleček Abstract: Seven European universities and research institutions from four countries agreed to collaborate on the ASFORCLIC–HORIZON 2020 project to support the ambitious goals of raising the leading institution’s MENDELU research profile and strengthening its research excellence in the highly demanding field of assessing the impact of global climate change on forests and the bio-based sector. The ASFORCLIC consortium evaluates possible risk factors, predicts their evolution, and develops adaption strategies for future applications to monitor the impact of global climate change on central European forestry, particularly Czech forestry. Facing the unprecedented challenge of implementing a mobility project during the COVID-19 pandemic, the consortium used strategic approaches and augmented offerings, including successful literature seminars, writing workshops, and advanced data evaluation training largely realized through virtual platforms. Keywords: Forest–Wood value chain; Climate change; lesson learned; COVID-19; networking; capacity building Izvleček: Sedem evropskih univerz in raziskovalnih ustanov iz štirih držav se je dogovorilo o sodelovanju pri projektu ASFORCLIC–HORIZON 2020, da bi podprli ambiciozne cilje za dvig raziskovalnega profila vodilne institucije Mendelove univerze v Brnu (MENDELU) in krepitev njene raziskovalne odličnosti na zelo zahtevnem področju vpliva globalnih podnebnih sprememb na gozdove in sektor bioloških surovin. Konzorcij ASFORCLIC ocenjuje možne dejavnike tveganja, napoveduje njihov razvoj in razvija prilagoditvene strategije za prihodnje uporabe za spremljanje vpliva globalnih podnebnih sprememb na srednjeevropsko, zlasti češko gozdarstvo. Ker se je konzorcij soočil z izzivom brez primere, tj. z izvajanjem projekta mobilnosti med pandemijo COVID-19, je uporabil strateške pristope in povečal ponudbo, vključno z uspešnimi literarno-znanstvenimi seminarji, delavnicami pisanja in naprednim usposabljanjem za vrednotenje podatkov, ki je bilo v veliki meri izvedeno prek virtualnih platform. Ključne besede: vrednostna veriga gozd–les; podnebne spremembe; pridobljene izkušnje; COVID-19; mreženje; krepitev zmogljivosti 1 INTRODUCTION 1 UVOD Climate change poses new challenges for for- estry research and education. In the pursuit of addressing these challenges, MENDELU–Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic (coordinator) joined forces with seven European universities and research institutions (AIT–Austrian Institute Vol. 72, No. 2, 81-86 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26614/les-wood.2023.v72n02a05 1 Department of Wood Science and Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic. 2 Department of Forest ownership, Counselling and Forest policy, Bavarian State Institute for Forestry, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz- Platz 1,85354 Freising, Germany. 3 Department Soil and Climate, Bavarian State Institute of Forestry, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 1,85354 Freising, Germany. 4 Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic. 5 Chair for Forest Growth and Yield Science, Department of Life Science Systems, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany. * kyriaki.giagli@mendelu.cz 82 Les/Wood, Vol. 72, No. 2, December 2023 Giagli, K., Böhling, K., Mette, T., Kučera, A., Hilmers, T., & Čermák, P .: Mreža za raziskave in izobraževanje na področju gozdarstva in lesne tehnologije za strategije prilagajanja podnebnim spremembam in projekt ASFORCLIC - HORIZON 2020 of Technology GmbH; LWF–Bavarian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry; THUENEN–Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute–Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries; SLU–Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; TUM–Technical University of Munich; BOKU–Uni- versity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vi- enna; and UL–University of Ljubljana) specializing in forestry and wood sciences, under the EU-fund- ed HORIZON 2020 project “ASFORCLIC–Adaptation Strategies in Forestry Under Global Climate Change Impact” with a duration from January 1, 2021 – De- cember 31, 2023. This collaboration, part of the EU “Twinning” programme, primarily aimed at foster- ing networking and raising academic excellence at Mendel University in Brno. The seven partner uni- versities and research institutions contributed to the strengthening of the partner network through tangible initiatives and, in turn, refined its research methodologies through the insights gained from this collaborative endeavour. In the Czech Republic, research and education grounded in science within the field of forestry and wood sciences are primarily anchored at two insti- tutions: the University of Life Sciences in Prague and MENDELU in Brno. In 2019, enrolment at these universities included 1,898 and 1,414 students, respectively, including doctoral candidates, with a third of this demographic being female at both insti- tutions. The consequences of climate change have a significant influence over forestry in the Czech Republic, necessitating comprehensive adaptations across the forestry and timber sectors. In light of this, the ASFORCLIC project has embraced a holistic methodology, delving into climate change adapta- tion strategies pertinent to forest ecosystems and forestry, wood utilization and its diverse applica- tions, as well as the prevailing political frameworks. This integrative approach serves to forge connec- tions in forestry research among the Czech Repub- lic, Germany, Austria, Sweden, and Slovenia. 2 CZECH FORESTRY IN CLIMATE CHANGE 2 ČEŠKO GOZDARSTVO IN PODNEBNE SPRE- MEMBE The Czech Republic stands as a major wood-producing nation within Europe, with forests covering one-third (33.9%) of the country’s land- scape, predominantly characterized by Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylves- tris). Analogous to the situation in Europe in gener- Figure 1. Research–educational activities and the ASFORCLIC logo, designed by MENDELU design student Filip Dočkal. Slika 1. Raziskovalno-izobraževalne dejavnosti in logotip ASFORCLIC, ki ga je oblikoval študent oblikovanja na MENDELU Filip Dočkal. 83 Les/Wood, Vol. 72, No. 2, December 2023 Giagli, K., Böhling, K., Mette, T., Kučera, A., Hilmers, T., & Čermák, P .: Forestry and wood technology research and education network for climate change adaptation strategies and ASFORCLIC - HORIZON 2020 project al, climate change with rising average temperatures and extreme weather events is exerting substan- tial influence on Czech forestry. Owing to the vast quantities of damaged wood derived from salvage logging, logging activities have witnessed a twofold increase – escalating from nearly 16 million m³ in 2015 to 32.5 million m³ in 2019, of which a good 31 million m³ is attributed to softwoods. Reforestation of areas afflicted by natural dis- asters necessitates the adaptation of silvicultural concepts. Post disturbances induced by storms, droughts, and bark beetles in numerous sites pose challenges for regeneration, given the substantial changes in temperature and moisture regimes, subsequently affecting soils and microclimates. Pi- oneer tree species are the first to pave the way for climate-adapted mixed stands, creating the requi- site microclimate for the introduction of both na- tive and alternative tree species, aligned with the long-term projections of climate change. The requisite modifications in silviculture signi- fy substantial transformations for the Czech wood industry, coupled with a considerable need for in- vestment in novel technologies, wood processing, and product development. Most of all, alterations in forest structure necessitate comprehensive communication with the public, and initiatives to amend the legislation governing forests and forest- ry are essential in this regard. Desirable measures include a redefinition of the term ‘clearcutting’, a reduction of bureaucracy, government support of less prevalent silvicultural techniques, and a revi- sion of the maximum stand age for regeneration cuts. 3 CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR FORESTRY RE- SEARCH AT MENDEL UNIVERSITY 3 KREPITEV ZMOGLJIVOSTI ZA GOZDARSKE RAZISKAVE NA UNIVERZI MENDEL Within the ASFORCLIC project, LWF – which was leading the WP4 – coordinated capacity-build- ing activities aimed at fostering the development of early-stage researchers and employees in sci- ence management at Mendel University in Brno. To this end, the ASFORCLIC initiated and designed a diverse array of workshops, seminars, research stays, training sessions, summer schools, and con- ferences, actively participating in their execution. This included, for instance, training courses on data management and protection, as well as writing scientific articles or project proposals. Moreover, a mentoring system was instituted for PhD stu- dents and postdoctoral researchers at MENDELU in Brno, in which senior researchers from partner institutions extended their support to young and early-stage researchers. The online literature sem- inar, designed to cultivate scientific discourse and facilitate professional exchange with mentors, was also met with considerable acclaim. However, forestry research is not only about scientific progress but also practical fieldwork in forests, with wood and people, as well as the forg- ing of interpersonal relationships. To this end, the following three working groups (WGs) were estab- lished in the project, with all partner institutions playing active roles in these: Forest productivity: The impacts of climate change on tree species range, forest health and growth, with special attention to the role of soils Wood properties and applications: Changes in wood assortments and properties, development of new wood and wood-based materials and applica- tions, analysis of their potential in the bioeconomy Bioeconomy and policy: Framework conditions for sustainable wood production and improved val- ue creation of forests under climate change 4 NETWORKING CREATES INNOVATION 4 MREŽENJE USTVARJA INOVACIJE The close collaboration within the WGs of the ASFORCLIC led to joint initiatives. Particularly noteworthy is the WG focused on forest produc- tivity, which, guided by an experimental concept developed by the Chair of Forest Growth and Yield Science in Munich, instituted experimental plots in each partner country. A so-called A-B-C series was established at two meticulously selected sites per country, where ‘A’ denotes an even-aged mo- no-specific stand, ‘B’ is an even-aged mixed stand, and ‘C’ is an uneven-aged, species-rich, mixed stand. These plots, ranging between a stand age of 50 and 100 years, encapsulate a diverse spec- trum of site conditions. The A-B-C series facilitates a comprehensive evaluation of varied silvicultural practices concerning a multitude of ecosystem ser- 84 Les/Wood, Vol. 72, No. 2, December 2023 Giagli, K., Böhling, K., Mette, T., Kučera, A., Hilmers, T., & Čermák, P .: Mreža za raziskave in izobraževanje na področju gozdarstva in lesne tehnologije za strategije prilagajanja podnebnim spremembam in projekt ASFORCLIC - HORIZON 2020 vices, spanning climate smartness and stress toler- ance to timber quality and stability. The ASFORCLIC project recognizes that there is also an abundance of tree species in European forests, a great many of which are more adapted than others to changing climate conditions such as drought, extreme temperatures, or floods. Many industrially unfavourable tree species have been reduced or even eliminated as a result of forest management and sylviculture, resulting in less sta- ble and resilient forest systems. Man-made mono- culture forests, in particular, are currently suffering greatly from the effects of a changing climate, which leads to decreased productivity and increased ex- posure to disease, disaster, or fire, thus endanger- ing the sustainability of high productivity in many cases. Many lesser-used wood species (LUWS) ex- hibit an environmental optimum that is, partially now or in the future, considerably more adapted to the projected climatic and site condition scenarios, which may develop as a result of climate change processes. In the list of the suggested LUWS, the ASFORCLIC project includes alder, hornbeam, ash, poplar, mountain ash, and some other Sorbus spe- cies, or species originating outside the range of our natural forests, such as Robinia, European chestnut, walnut, Platanus, and several cherry or oak species. The suggested additional and supported enclosure of these LUWS can assist in maintaining the forest environment and bio-based sector, allowing for continued CO 2 fixation and a potential reduction in global warming. Through the ASFORCLIC project, new doors have also opened for the partners. For example, the exchange of data and knowledge with the par- ticipating research institutes has facilitated a Eu- rope-wide evaluation of forest inventories focusing on the growth of beech provenances (Engel et al., 2023). ASFORCLIC has also instigated new impuls- es within the field of forest policy, exploring how political framework conditions, markets, and the decision-making behaviours of forest owners and managers influence the identification and imple- mentation of suitable adaptation strategies. Im- portant preconditions for forest conversion in both Bavaria and the Czech Republic, assessing aspects relevant to forestry within the European Green Deal, have been analysed, which is another ex- ample of the network benefits of this project. The comparative analysis between countries showed that property rights within the legal framework affecting forest management provide higher de- cision-making power in Bavaria compared to the Czech Republic. However, due to the evolution of national and European regulations, conditions have exhibited convergence since the mid-1990s, rendering the analysis of forest-relevant objectives and policy instruments related to the European Green Deal significant for both countries (Böhling, 2023; Nichiforel et al., 2020). 5 CONCLUSIONS: LESSONS LEARNED 5 ZAKLJUČKI: KAJ SMO SE NAUČILI The EU-funded HORIZON 2020 project, AS- FORCLIC, has successfully met its set objectives. MENDELU, along with the other participating insti- tutions, have successfully and sustainably forged connections among themselves. The project start- ed amid challenging circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, where workshops, meetings, and mutual visits were largely constrained to vir- tual platforms. Despite the myriad possibilities presented by digital communication, the depth of interpersonal relationships cultivated through di- rect interaction remains irreplaceable. However, since early-stage researchers were afforded limited exposure to the scientific community beyond their university until the latter half of the project, the project partners employed strategic approaches and augmented offerings, incorporating literature seminars, writing workshops, and advanced train- ing on data evaluation. Navigating deviations from the original work plan in EU projects is inherent- ly challenging. For example, the EU Twinning pro- gramme, underpinning ASFORCLIC, does not cover expenses for collaborative field research – a realm where the exchange is most enriching. Nonetheless, ASFORCLIC’s objectives were met by continuously leveraging the institutions’ research profiles (i.e. growing capacity, broaden- ing emphasis, international and multisector-ori- ented methods, and adoption of best practices). In addition, through newly formed research alli- ances, participation in European policy and trends leading events, scientific networks, and excellent publications in high-profile journals prepared in collaboration with advanced partners, the con- 85 Les/Wood, Vol. 72, No. 2, December 2023 Giagli, K., Böhling, K., Mette, T., Kučera, A., Hilmers, T., & Čermák, P .: Forestry and wood technology research and education network for climate change adaptation strategies and ASFORCLIC - HORIZON 2020 project sortium supported the personal scientific growth of its members (individual researchers’ expertise, ability to initiate/perform and capacity to frontier research, scientometric measures, and the amount of funding awarded). 6 SUMMARY 6 POVZETEK Za reševanje izzivov podnebnih sprememb, ki vplivajo na gozdarsko-lesarske raziskave in izobra- ževanje, se je MENDELU, Mendlova univerza v Brnu na Češkem (Mendel University in Brno) kot koordi- natorica povezala s sedmimi evropskimi univerzami in raziskovalnimi ustanovami z uradnimi angleškimi nazivi: AIT–Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH; LWF–Bavarian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry; THUENEN–Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute–Federal Research Institute for Rural Are- as, Forestry and Fisheries; SLU–Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; TUM–Technical University of Munich; BOKU–University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna in UL–University of Lju- bljana, ki gojijo področje gozdarstva in lesarstva. Združili so se v okviru EU projekta, HORIZON 2020 “ASFORCLIC–Adaptation Strategies in Forestry Under Global Climate Change Impact (Strategije prilagajanja v gozdarstvu pod vplivom globalnih podnebnih sprememb)” s trajanjem od 1. januar- ja 2021 do 31. decembra 2023. Namen sodelova- nja, ki je del programa EU “Twinning”, je predvsem spodbujanje mreženja in dvig akademske odličnosti na MENDELU. V okviru projekta ASFORCLIC so potekale de- javnosti za spodbujanje izobraževanja mladih raziskovalcev in znanstvenega menedžmenta na MENDELU. V ta namen so ob podpori partnerskih institucij potekale različne delavnice, seminarji, raziskovalni obiski, usposabljanja, poletne šole in konference. Sodelovanje je vključevalo na primer tečaje usposabljanja o upravljanju in varstvu podat- kov ter pisanje znanstvenih člankov ali predlogov projektov. Poleg tega je bil za doktorske študente in podoktorske raziskovalce na univerzi MENDELU v Brnu vzpostavljen sistem mentorstva, v okviru katerega so izkušeni raziskovalke in raziskovalci iz partnerskih institucij nudili podporo raziskovalkam in raziskovalcem na začetku kariere. Dobro je bil sprejet tudi sklop spletnih seminarjev o literaturi, ki je bil namenjen gojenju znanstvenega diskurza in omogočanju strokovne razprave z mentorji. Ker delo pri gozdarskih in lesarskih raziskavah vključuje tudi praktično in terensko delo, delo z ljudmi ter oblikovanje medosebnih odnosov, so v okviru projekta potekale tri delovne skupine (WG), v katerih so aktivno sodelovale vse partnerske in- stitucije: 1. Produktivnost gozdov: podnebne spremem- be in vpliv na razširjenost drevesnih vrst, zdravje in rast gozdov, s posebnim poudarkom na vlogi tal 2. Lastnosti in raba lesa: spremembe v lesnih sortimentih in lastnostih lesa, razvoj novih lesnih materialov ter rab lesa in analiza njihovega poten- ciala v biogospodarstvu 3. Biogospodarstvo in politika: okviri za trajno- stno predelavo lesa in rast dodane vrednosti goz- dnih proizvodov v razmerah podnebnih sprememb Projekt se je začel v zahtevnih okoliščinah med pandemijo COVID-19, ko so bile delavnice, srečanja ter medsebojni obiski večinoma omejeni na uporabo virtualnih platform. Izkazalo se je, da kljub neslutenim možnostim, ki jih ponuja digital- na komunikacija, ostajajo nenadomestljiva osebna srečanja z neposredno interakcijo med sodelujoči- mi. Mladi raziskovalci so bili v prvi polovici poteka projekta prikrajšani za srečanja s pripadniki znan- stvenih skupnosti izven njihove matične univerze. Projektni partnerji so za blaženje pomanjkanja sti- kov uporabili strateške pristope in razširili ponudbo s prej omenjenimi seminarji in delavnicami, kar pa je zaradi odstopanj od prvotnega delovnega načrta predstavljalo velik izziv. Kljub temu so bili cilji projekta ASFORCLIC do- seženi s stalnim izkoriščanjem raziskovalnih profilov institucij (tj. rastoče zmogljivosti, širši poudarek, mednarodno in večsektorsko usmerjene metode ter sprejemanje najboljših praks). Poleg tega je konzorcij z novo oblikovanimi raziskovalnimi zavez- ništvi, sodelovanjem na vodilnih dogodkih na po- dročju evropske politike in trendov, znanstvenimi mrežami in odličnimi objavami v odmevnih revijah, pripravljenimi v sodelovanju z znanstveno odličnimi partnerji, podprl osebno znanstveno rast svojih čla- nov (strokovno znanje posameznih raziskovalcev, sposobnost za začetek in izvedbo zahtevnih mejnih raziskav in optimalno uporabo virov v danem obse- gu financiranja). 86 Les/Wood, Vol. 72, No. 2, December 2023 Giagli, K., Böhling, K., Mette, T., Kučera, A., Hilmers, T., & Čermák, P .: Mreža za raziskave in izobraževanje na področju gozdarstva in lesne tehnologije za strategije prilagajanja podnebnim spremembam in projekt ASFORCLIC - HORIZON 2020 Menimo, da splošne koristi projekta ASFOR- CLIC presegajo njegove omejitve. Projekt je spod- budil priložnosti za razširitev perspektiv v vsaj dveh temeljnih vidikih: z razumevanjem gozdarsko-lesar- skega znanja in praks upravljanja v različnih drža- vah, in z vključitvijo celotne gozdno-lesne verige, vključno s politično-socialnim okvirom. Oba vidika sta nujna za uspešno uresničevanje podnebju prija- znih gozdnogojitvenih konceptov po vsej Evropi, kar ugodno vpliva na sedanje in prihodnje sodelovanje univerze MENDELU v projektih, ki jih financira EU. V celoti gledano je projekt znatno povečal razisko- valno odličnost univerze MENDELU in jo uveljavil kot vodilno evropsko raziskovalno središče ter voz- lišče znanstvene mreže s poudarkom na posledicah podnebnih in globalnih sprememb za gozdarstvo in lesarstvo. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ZAHVALA The ASFORCLIC project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N952314. REFERENCES VIRI Böhling, K. (2023). Learning from forestry innovations for the Euro- pean Green Deal: a research approach. In: Deal for Green? [on- line]. Published Scientific Conference Contribution. Ljubljana. 2023. p.86–94. URL: https://dirros.openscience.si/IzpisGradi- va.php?lang=eng&id=17138 (24.11. 2023). Engel, M., Mette, T., Falk, W., Poschenrieder, W., Fridmann, J., & Skudnik, M. (2023). Modelling dominant tree heights of Fagus sylvatica L. using function-on-scalar regression based on forest inventory data. Forests 14, 304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ f14020304 Nichiforel, L., Deuffic, P ., Jellesmark Thorsen, B., Weiss, G. et al. (2020). Two decades of forest-related legislation changes in European countries analysed from a property rights per- spective. Forest Policy and Economics 115. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102146