MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Transcription

1 European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research - COST - Brussels, 15 May 2014 COST 062/14 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Subject : Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of a European Targeted Network designated as TN1401: Capacity building in forest policy and governance in Western Balkan region (CAPABAL) Delegations will find attached the Memorandum of Understanding for TN1401 as approved by the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) at its 190th meeting on 14 May COST 062/14 1

2 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING For the implementation of a European Concerted Research Action designated as COST Targeted Network TN1401 CAPACITY BUILDING IN FOREST POLICY AND GOVERNANCE IN WESTERN BALKAN REGION (CAPABAL) The Parties to this Memorandum of Understanding, declaring their common intention to participate in the concerted Action referred to above and described in the technical Annex to the Memorandum, have reached the following understanding: 1. The Targeted Network will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of document COST 4112/13 Rules for Participation in and Implementation of COST Activities, or in any new document amending or replacing it, the contents of which the Parties are fully aware of. 2. The main objective of the Targeted Network is to enhance the forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics capacity in the Western Balkan region. 3. The geographic dimension of the activities carried out under the Targeted Network has been estimated, on the basis of information available during the planning of the Targeted Network, to include 17 COST countries. 4. The Memorandum of Understanding will take effect on being accepted by at least five Parties. 5. The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in force for a period of 2 years, calculated from the date of the first meeting of the Management Committee, renewable once for a further two years, unless the duration of the Targeted Network is modified according to the provisions of Section 2. Changes to a COST Action in the document COST 4114/13. COST 062/14 2

3 A. ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS TECHNICAL ANNEX CAPABAL aims to enhance the capacity, in particular professional knowledge, skills and access to networks and emerging research, of forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics young future leaders in research, policy making, and forest management in the Western Balkan region in order to facilitate the achievement of international standards of sustainable forest management and governance as well as promote economic development. As the Western Balkan countries work toward preparing for EU membership, policy reform, economic reform, and governance reform are critical to comply with EU directives and legislative requirements. CAPABAL will target early stage researchers (ERS), future policy leaders, and young resource managers employed in regional institutions ranging from forestry faculties and research institutes to natural resources ministries, forest enterprises, businesses, and NGOs. CAPABAL s activities (including meetings to develop broad networks learn from others, STSMs to develop deep professional relationships and Training Schools to provide information to larger groups) and the associated exposure to international researchers, policy makers, and resource managers as well as European and international policy processes will have immediate effects on the improvement of governance, policy, and economic reforms in the Western Balkan countries. In addition, strengthening personal relationships among future leaders in science, policy, and practice within the region will also support the necessary trust and capacity for strong science-policy-practice communication. One important objective of this Targeted Network is development of a Vision document on the Future of Balkan Forest and a Strategic Research Agenda to address those challenges and opportunities identified in the vision. Keywords: future research and policy leaders; sustainable forest management; forest and natural resource governance, policy, economics; capacity building for early stage researchers, future leaders in policy and practice; regional and international networks; Western Balkan region, Vision document B. BACKGROUND B.1 General Background Forests and natural resources are key sources of potential economic development in the Western Balkan region. Strong EU regulation of forest trade in international and European markets as well as new efforts to reform and improve governance of forests in the world makes this critical element COST 062/14 3

4 for EU accession. Numerous international processes created new policy frameworks and agreements to ensure sustainability of forests and natural resources and simultaneously support economic development. While many of these agreements are reflected in policy documents and principles in the Western Balkan region, few of them are actually implemented on the ground at the national and regional level. This is largely due to the lack of expertise related to forest governance, policy and sustainable multifunctional forest management among policy makers, managers, and researchers. Enhancing the political and social capacity to reform laws and legal institutions, address corruption, and conform to international standards of good governance requires trained experts and relevant science based policy analysis and information. But equally important, current and future leaders in science, policy, and practice must know each other, trust one another, and be able to communicate across their area of specialisation. Only with strong science-policy-practice networks can international policy agreements and principles be translated into effective national and regional policies and instruments that achieve the desired goals on the ground. CAPABAL aims to create such a network among experienced and future leaders in the region and connected it with EU experienced and future leaders and existing networks. B.2 Current state of knowledge Currently national policy in forest and natural resources is driven almost entirely by external changes at the international and EU level. The Western Balkan countries, with the assistance of international donors and IPA funds, have incorporated the language of these policy agreements into national laws, but have not yet transformed forest management to achieve the terms of these new policy reforms. Thus, increased research and policy capacity in the Western Balkan region as well as new management expertise and commitment to implement new policies is urgent for the countries to comply with their own legal frameworks. Making this a more urgent priority is the 2013 EU Timber Regulation that prohibits the importation of illegally harvested timber products to the EU. Since one of the primary difficulties for the Western Balkans lies in continued practices of corruption in forest enterprises and governments, the solutions must be at the governmental and enterprise level. In addition, the FOREST EUROPE initiative to develop a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe may profoundly affect forest policy, economics, and governance in Europe. Thus, it is imperative that new research, COST 062/14 4

5 policy, and management capacity integrate expertise to support legal enforcement of legality requirements for timber trade, eliminate corruption, and improve sustainable multifunctional forest management purposes. There is an emerging network of researchers, teachers and professionals in Western Balkan from the fields of forest and natural resource governance, policy, and economics. Building this network started in 2004 with the training needs assessment and assessment of the capacity within the region. Based upon this assessment, it was clear that there was little capacity or expertise in these fields in the Western Balkan region. In response, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, within its program to support EU enlargement, funded the FOPER project forest policy and economics research and education in the Western Balkan region. A critical component of this project was a professional training program in forest policy and economics ( ). Attendees included over 300 forestry professionals employed by forest management companies, NGOs, ministries, and other organisations related to the forestry and natural resources in the Western Balkan countries. The main objective of this component was to improve professional performance in the sector through continuous education. The result was a broader awareness of the need for research, improved management, and policy expertise in forest policy, economics, and governance. Of special importance for CAPABAL, this effort created a network of professionals in the forest sector. This network can now be linked to the new research capacity to build a strong science-policy-practice network. B.3 Reasons for the Targeted Network There is a unique opportunity in the Western Balkan region to develop a strong network of young and experienced) researchers, policy makers, and resource managers with the international and European researchers, policy makers and resource managers. Realising sustainable forest management, good governance, and potential economic development opportunities requires the ability to create policy relevant research, incorporate new knowledge into effective policy strategies and instruments, and to implement new management approaches on the ground. It is this researchpolicy-practice triangle of relationships that is necessary to achieve these goals. In the Western Balkans, the conflicts in the 1990s fragmented and destroyed existing networks among researchers, policy makers, and managers. The hope for the future is to build new, stronger COST 062/14 5

6 regional and in-country networks that are closely and effectively linked to international counterparts. Thus, the purpose of CAPABAL is to create new networks among experienced and future researchers, policy leaders, and forest managers that will provide the human capacity to not only meet current policy and governance demands, but also be ready to lead the countries and region into the future. Using research in policy making and resource management requires the ability to understand it and translate its knowledge into practical actions. Often called the science-policy interface, this interaction is seldom very successful. Over the past 8 years over 40 students graduated on MSc program in Forest Policy and Economics. Nearly all of them are employed in their field in ministries, forest enterprises, NGO, etc. In addition, nearly 20 PhD students (of them about 15 are MSc Forest Policy and Economics graduates) in these fields finished their degree either at a regional or European university in Nearly all of them are currently employed in their field of expertise in the region. This new human capacity provides a unique moment for the Western Balkans as they bring the ability to understand and use research results into their professional positions. B.4 Complementarity with other research programs CAPABAL aims to create and foster increased policy making, research capacity, and management capacity for forest and natural resources policy and governance for sustainable management in the Western Balkan region through capacity building of future leaders in science, policy, and practice. This Targeted network will aim to engage relevant COST Actions including E51, FP1207, FP1206, FP1204, FP1203, FP1201, FP1001, and FP0804 into its activities. CAPABAL will contribute to the implementation of key European priorities: developing a Green Economy with bioenergy; ensuring the importation of only legally harvested wood products; increasing the economic contribution to private forest owners of non-wood forest products; improving the green infrastructure of urban areas through improved urban forestry; and increasing the use of sustainable multifunctional forest management as a means to protect both biodiversity and local rural development; inter alia. CAPABAL will engage with activities established under initiatives such as the Western Balkans countries INCO-NET, SEE-ERA.NET PLUS, FORESTERRA NET and SUMFOREST. COST 062/14 6

7 CAPABAL will enhance the quality of forest and natural resources governance and management through: improving policy making capacity; creating new capacity to implement policy commitments for sustainable forest management; increasing the access of Western Balkans region current and future leaders in science - to leading European researchers and international policy processes; and gaining new management concepts and skills for sustainable multifunctional forest management and improving public dialogue. By building a strong science-policy-practice network in the Western Balkan region strongly connected to European science-policy-practice network as well. During the process all international forums and working groups (like Forest Europe) will be used for engaging experts as participants in CAPABAL through participation in meetings, Trainers in Training Schools, and as hosts for STSMs. During bi-annual CAPABAL meetings, experienced experts will interact closely with the participants. C. OBJECTIVES AND BEFITS C.1 Aim The aim of this COST Targeted Network is to enhance forest and natural resources governance, policy, and sustainable multifunctional forest management in the Western Balkan region and Europe in general by creating a strong, regional collaborative network of experienced and future leaders in science, policy, and management well connected to European and international networks. C.2 Objectives The aim of this COST Targeted Network will be achieved by developing broad and deep networks between experienced and future leaders in science, policy, and practice within the Western Balkan region and with both senior and ESR researchers and policy processes elsewhere in Europe and increasing science-policy-practice engagement in the fields of forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics in the Western Balkans and Europe. Specifically CAPABAL will: 1. Consolidate a regional network of ESRs in forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics in the Western Balkan region and enhance their capacity by linking them to leading researchers in these fields in Europe. 2. Create new networks of future leaders in policy and practice forest and natural resources COST 062/14 7

8 management and link them to existing policy leaders and experts in sustainable multifunctional forest management in Europe. 3. Build a strong, collaborative network of future leaders in science, policy, and practice that is closely linked to existing networks in these areas so as to increase their capacity to develop high quality policy relevant research, new policy instruments, and new approaches to SFM. 4. Develop regional Vision document and Strategic Research Agenda addressing challenges and opportunities identified in the Vision document. 5. Develop strong linkages with other relevant policy focused networks and processes in forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics at the pan-european level to improve sustainable forest and natural resources management and governance in the region. 6. Secure the sustainability of the newly developed capacities by strengthening its engagement with European researchers, enabling better external funding and bringing change to national research funding priorities including forest and natural resources governance and policy as high priority topics. C.3 How networking within the Targeted Network will yield the objectives? Science is a community process, and thus networking is the essence of building and sustaining excellent scientific research capacity. When researchers are isolated from the scientific networks organised around various disciplinary fields, problems of interest, or important policy questions, they are less able to create either high quality research results or scientifically sound policy analysis. Thus, expanding and strengthening research networks and linking researchers to policy makers, managers, and civil society is the means to improving scientific quality and to generating policy relevant information. Strong policy communities require (1) good communication among all stakeholders, (2) policy relevant information for policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, and (3) capacity of policy leaders to value and understand how to utilise information in improving governance and reforming policies. The Western Balkan region is composed of several small countries recently engaged in regional conflicts and at this point they have limited capacity to undertake policy relevant research focused on forest and natural resource policy, economics, or governance. However, they must implement international and EU governance and policy frameworks related to sustainable forest management through new policy instruments, new methods of forest management, and economic reforms. These efforts require new policy and management relevant COST 062/14 8

9 information in order for regional policy makers to understand current problems and issues and respond based upon scientifically supported policy analysis. Thus, regional and international networking, especially for early stage researchers and future policy leaders and managers recently educated in these fields, is necessary to build a network within and outside of the Western Balkan region to support policy reform efforts and new management approaches. Learning by Doing is the basic principle guiding the design of this Targeted Network. While training provides new knowledge and skills, it is actually working in stakeholder workshops with current and future researchers, policy makers, and managers within existing policy processes on identifying problems and issues of importance that leads to increased capacity and skills. CAPABAL will organise events and provide opportunities enabling the development of broad and deep networks among current and future leaders in forest and natural resources science, policy, and practice within the Western Balkans region and Europe. Specifically, CAPABAL will each year: Organise two meetings; one located in the Western Balkans and one organised by a European partner; Utilise STSMs for COST members to participate in forest policy processes, or learn about approaches to SFM, or work closely with a peer researcher. While the COST meetings will focus on building the collaborative science-policy-practice networks, the STSMs will allow individuals to improve their own knowledge and skills; Bi-annual meetings will include training designed to build skills of understanding in the entire group about research, policy making, and management in the first 3 meetings. In the next 3 meetings, training will focus on skills of integration and collaboration. C.4 Potential impact of the Targeted Network CAPABAL will create a collaborative science-policy-management network necessary for creating high quality policy and research in the fields of governance, policy and economics related to sustainable forests and natural resources management. The outcomes of this Targeted Network will secure strong relationships between the Western Balkan region and the larger European scientific and policy community, including through enhanced participation in COST Actions that provide an entry point into European research networks. COST 062/14 9

10 CAPABAL will increase the capacity of the Western Balkan countries to comply with EU standards for membership through improved forest and natural resource governance in the Western Balkan countries. Ideally, improved forest and natural resource governance will result from stronger interactions between researchers, policy makers, and managers. This will bring the Western Balkan policy and governance practices more in line with European standards and practices. CAPABAL researchers in the fields of governance, policy and economics related to sustainable forests and natural resources management will be visible with European research networks and trusted as reliable and capable partners. These research capacities will improve policy making processes in the Western Balkans through reliable forest and natural resources policy and governance research. Research on forest policy, governance, and SFM will be recognised and valued by policy and decision makers, and thus improve policy and management for sustainable forests and natural resources. Ideally, a long term impact of this Targeted Network will be the improvement of public welfare through increased political and economic stability by improving regional cooperation, securing peaceful trans-boundary forest and natural resources management, and solving post-conflict problems by creating trusting relationships among researchers and between researchers, policy makers, and forest managers. C.5 Target groups/end users The primary target groups of this networking initiative are young scientists, future policy makers, and managers in forest and natural resource policy, governance, and SFM. In addition, this Targeted Network will contribute to the integration of the Western Balkan region into the European Union, as these fields of expertise are critical to meeting core requirements for European accession. These challenges are political, economic, and legal and so require new expertise, and especially, new networks of science-policy-practice in forest governance and management. The users of the results of this Targeted Network will be universities, research institutes, government ministries, public forest enterprises, wood processing businesses, local and regional authorities (municipalities, regions and ministry of regional development), NGOs, consulting groups, and private forest owners associations. Supporting the growth of civil society through the creation of public and private trust in better forest and natural resources governance and COST 062/14 10

11 management is a critical outcome of CAPABAL. There is a great demand for increased civil society capacity, whether it is related directly to education and research or more broadly to improved governmental policy analysis, improved forest policy and economic analysis, or improved capacity for EU accession through policy reform. The target group of CAPABAL is especially early stage researchers and future leaders in policy and management who are innovative, entrepreneurial, willing to take risks, and proven excellence. The capacities of women to contribute to research, policy, and management in forestry are not sufficiently represented in the Western Balkans. However, CAPABAL plans to achieve gender balance within its activities and to especially promote the ability and access of women in the Western Balkans to achieve parity. Most researchers focused on forest and natural resources policy, economics, and governance in the Western Balkan region are considered ESRs, so it is essential that they very rapidly gain leadership, organisational, and networking skills so that they are capable of leading new research teams in the next years. While they will certainly need to partner within European research consortiums in the near future, CAPABAL will provide the training they need to be able to lead such efforts in the future. Policy makers in the Western Balkans are more likely to be engaged in European processes in their area of competence than in regional networks. The same is true for forest managers. Thus, linking policy makers and forest managers with their peer in the Western Balkans will significantly enhance the capacity of the region to meet its responsibilities in terms of SFM, nature protection, and biodiversity protection. D. SCITIFIC PROGRAMME D.1 Scientific focus impacts? The following impacts of CAPABAL Targeted Network are foreseen: This science-policy-practice network will lead to better understanding of each realm by the others, thereby enhancing the ability of research to contribute to policy and practice, of policy to drive new research and practice innovations, and of practice to open new questions for research and for policy reform and change. CAPABAL will significantly strengthen the translation of international standards of good forest governance practices into SFM in the Western Balkan region, thereby contributing COST 062/14 11

12 greater benefits from critical forest resources to economic development, biodiversity protection, poverty reduction, and civic engagement. CAPABAL will increase the capacities of current and future creators of forest and natural resource policies to recognise the value and benefits of policy relevant research and to integrate results into sustainable forest and natural resource management, policy, and governance in the Western Balkan region and Europe. CAPABAL will develop strong linkages with relevant policy focused networks and processes in forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics at the pan-european and international level through cooperation with other networks and institutions. CAPABAL will secure the sustainability of the new policy-relevant forest and natural resources governance and policy research capacity in the Western Balkan region by strengthening engagement with European researchers, thereby improving the capacity to successfully secure external funding and to change national research funding priorities to include forest and natural resources governance and policy as high priority topics. D.2 Scientific work plan methods and means In order to achieve CAPABAL s objective of enhancing the forest and natural resources governance, policy, and SFM capacity in the Western Balkan region, CAPABAL will use the following COST networking instruments in the following ways. 1. Bi-annual meetings of all participants focused on integration of experienced/young researcherspolicy makers-forest managers to build increased capacity to understand and work effectively together. One meeting will be held in the Western Balkans and one at a European site hosted by one or more of the European partners. The following elements will be common in these biannual meetings, while the content will vary (see table following). a. Training workshop (1-2 days) (based on literature and lectures, discussion, simulations, etc.) b. Problem analysis in context: (1-2 days) i. groups of at least 3 experienced/young researcher, policy maker, manager work collaboratively on problem analysis, writing, and presentations; ii. field visit opportunity to engage issues in a real world context and learn from stakeholders; COST 062/14 12

13 c. Written analysis of problem (1 day) apply learning to a written analysis with proposed solutions research questions/policy reforms/new management innovations/etc. d. Presentations of results: (1 day) i. presentations of results to all participants for comment and critique e. Presentations of STSM reports; WG groups meet; TABLE 1. Content and Organisation of Bi-Annual COST Meetings: Training and Networking 1 Strategic Agenda science-policy practice gaps and opportunities Inputs for Vision document 2030* (*Connected to Focus on Western Balkans identify gaps in integration of science-policypractice Focus on the meaning of governance and forest policy in the Western Balkan region from science and policy to practice Analyse gaps in integration of forest policyscience-practice and propose solutions to address these gaps Learn how to analyse complex relationships among policyscience-practice; develop skills in proposing and analysing solutions South East European Development Strategy and Regional Technology and Innovation Strategy) Inputs for the Vision document: multi sectors exercise energy, water, rural development, transportation, tourism, biodiversity, nature protection 2 Capacity building in research design Research Design and Methodology Developing research questions and designing ways to answer them Applying learning to specific question Understand how research is conducted, ethics of science, culture of science 3 Capacity building in policy analysis Policy Analysis and Processes Identify policy problem and learn methods of policy analysis (for policy and of policy) Apply policy analysis tools to a specific problem and develop ideas for change or innovation Learn how policy works, how policy makers think, the culture of policy processes COST 062/14 13

14 4 Capacity Organisation Examine SFM Focus on a Learn how building on /Administration of practices, specific managers implementation SFM organisation of management interpret policies of policies to management, practice and link and develop management constraints of to policy/research practices to managers respond to new scientific knowledge 5 Capacity Science-Policy- Meet with Prepare short Understand how building on Practice in Action researchers/policy paper science- processes and communication makers/managers policy-practice people work in at the European collaboration and practice; identify level (e.g. its implication for ways to improve Brussels); EU desired results through the new parliament - ; capacity in evaluate Think CAPABAL Forest; 6 Capacity science-practice learn how science Prepare short Experience the building on can be effectively analysis of how to process of dissemination integrated into improve the knowledge practice; use relevance of dissemination and examples of research to the process of existing integration practice and interpretation of SFM ability of new ideas into managers to apply management new knowledge concepts and practices 7 Capacity Research -Policy- Western Balkans; Prepare written Develop new building in Practice in Action focus on analyses of capacity for advocacy governance of specific problems improving the Get policy makers forests; translation focused on ideas translation of negotiators in EU of policies and for improving science to policy processes, heads of principles into new SFM and and to practice in FEs, modes of SFM developing the Western innovation in Balkans for SFM in the improved COST 062/14 14

15 Western Balkans governance and SFM 8 Final INTERNATIONAL Present results of Joint publication Preparation of conference - CONFERCE on analyses in of all reports and publishable paper presenting the Synthesis and Western Balkans; scientific papers and analyses; results conclusions of results will address from the Targeted consolidation of CAPABAL linkages among Network; include new networks of forest policy unexpected science-policy- legislation at all outcomes of new practice; levels, implications networks and new improved for practice (SFM, discussions linkages of senior nature protection, and junior etc.) on public and researchers-policy private forests; and makers-managers. research on forest policy, governance, and management. 2. CAPABAL will also aim to support the participation of members from the Western Balkan region in meetings of relevant COST Actions such as FP1201 and FP1207 and other relevant meetings (e.g., WBC-INCONET, Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan countries, etc.) 3. STSMs will be used to allow recipients to build deeper (more intense) collaborations than is possible simply from participating in meetings. The Targeted Network will allocate to STSMs a sufficient proportion of its annual budget to allow at least one STSM per each of the 5 participating Western Balkan countries to another participating COST country, also allowing STSM application from EU countries as well. STSM hosts can be universities, research institutes, policy processes, government ministries, forest enterprises, NGOs, and consulting groups. Each STSM recipient will be required to prepare a report on their experience and the reports from all STSMs will be available on the CAPABAL website. Each COST meeting will include a session for reports from STSM recipients. In planning the STSMs attention will be paid to the Twinning methodology and CAPABAL will seek to establish cooperation with the European Commission s Enlargement Twinning program ( COST 062/14 15

16 Deliverables: D1 - Two CAPABAL meetings per year with one in the Western Balkans and one in Europe D2 - At least four STSMs per year (motivating proposals from WB countries, but stay open for proposals from all involved countries) with a report available on the CAPABAL website and a presentation at a CAPABAL meeting D3 - Two Training Schools per year each of which will produce a set of presentations/ lecture notes that will be made available through the CAPABAL website D4 A Targeted Network website (and associated social media presence) providing content dedicated to the integration of science-policy-practice for forest and natural resources governance/ policy/ management ESRs, policy makers, forest managers D5 - At least 2 policy briefs presenting policy relevant scientific results into the language suitable for practical implementation in policy making processes D6 Vision document on the Future of Balkan Forests D7 - Strategic Research Agenda in area of forest policy, governance and economics for Western Balkan region D8 - Presentation to COST Committee of Senior Officials D9 - Presentation to COST Domain Committee Forests, their Products and Services D10 - Final conference Book of abstracts presented on the conference D11 - Several peer reviewed papers published or submitted for publishing E. ORGANISATION E.1 Coordination and organisation The Management Committee of CAPABAL will be the decision making body. The Chair, Vice Chair and WG Leaders and Grant Holder institution will be from the Western Balkans region. The Management Committee will delegate the day to day operating to a Steering Group comprising the Chair, Vice Chair, WG Leaders, STSM Manager, and Dissemination Manager. E.2 Working Groups This COST Targeted Network will have 3 Working Groups covering the three main areas necessary to achieve CAPABAL s objectives: WG1 Sustainable Forest Management will be responsible for organisation of field work COST 062/14 16

17 and demonstration of implementation of policies WG2 Forest/ Natural Resources Governance will be responsible for organisation of discussion with main responsible people for governance of forest and natural resources in country hosting meeting WG3 Forest/ Natural Resources Policy will be responsible for organisation of discussion with main responsible people for policy development in hosting country WGs are organised on three different levels, where management and governance appears driven by different documents and rules and executed by different professionals using different tools and skills. Each WG will work inside its own area of expertise, but during meetings and field work those groups and researchers/professionals/decision makers will be mixed which will allow exchange of knowledge and experiences as well as learning and understanding of different goals, methods, obstacles, etc. From highest level of WG 3 where main overall policies are shaped and developed over governance principles and processes covered by WG 2 to the site level of forest management in WG 1, we will be able to follow how the main elements of policies are interpreted, transformed into the rules, and finally implemented at the site level. During joint activities, we will be able to observe and trace feedback from the management level to the governance and/or policy development level. This will help and enable improvement of mutual understanding, but also improve policies as such. Early stage researchers, future policy leaders, and future managers will be encouraged to undertake the leadership of Working Groups. Each Working group will make use of the COST instruments in order to achieve the broad and deep networking necessary to reach the objective of enhancing the capacity of forest and natural resources governance, policy, and economics researchers, policy makers, and managers in the Western Balkan region in order to facilitate the achievement of international standards of sustainable forest management and economic development. In particular the WGs will implement networking meetings (to enhance Europe-Western Balkans collaboration and also researcher-policymaker-manager engagement), Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and Training Schools. WGs will also develop policy briefs from the analysis done at the bi-annual meetings. These policy briefs will be aimed to policy makers and forest managers in the Western Balkan region. E.3 Liaison and interaction with other research programs COST 062/14 17

18 CAPABAL will cooperate with other European programs that can contribute to this network s objectives, for example: FOREST EUROPE - engaged in developing a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe or Think Forest - works to identify information needs related to forest policy questions and build a common understanding of the problems at hand. Another is EU FLEGT/REDD EFI Facilities which have substantial competence in forest governance, policy, and economics. In order to source networks and information, CAPABAL will also engage with relevant past and present FPS Actions such as: FP0601 Forest Management and the Water Cycle (FORMAN) E51 - Integrating Innovation and Development Policies for the Forest Sector FP0804 Forest Management Decision Support Systems (FORSYS) FP0905 Biosafety of forest transgenic trees: improving the scientific basis for safe tree development and implementation of EU policy directives FP1001 Improving Data and Information on the Potential Supply of Wood Resources: A European Approach from Multisource National Forest Inventories (USEWOOD) FP1201, Forest LAnd Ownership Changes in Europe: Significance for Management And Policy (FACESMAP) FP1203 European non-wood forest products (NWFPs) network FP1204 Green Infrastructure approach: linking environmental with social aspects in studying and managing urban forests FP1206 European mixed forests. Integrating Scientific Knowledge in Sustainable Forest Management. (EuMIXFOR) FP1207 Orchestrating forest-related policy analysis in Europe (ORCHESTRA) It will be connected to FORESTERRA ERA-Net which also targets the Balkans among Mediterranean countries. One of activities will be to have joint meetings when it will take place in WB country (next year one is planned to be in Bulgaria with that focus). Coordinators of relevant past, present and future transnational natural resources governance/ policy/ management/ economics research will be encouraged to join CAPABAL. CAPABAL will also engage with activities established under initiatives such as the Western Balkans countries INCO-NET and SEE-ERA.NET PLUS. COST 062/14 18

19 E.4 Gender balance and involvement of early-stage researchers (ESR) This COST Targeted Network will respect an appropriate gender balance in all its activities and the Management Committee will place this as a standard item on all its MC agendas. Each activity of this COST Targeted Network will secure appropriate gender balance through design of selection process and other tools. This activities will be extended to early stage researchers and future leaders targeted by this Targeted Network. Gender and ESRs will be taken into account in the appointment of WG Leaders/ Deputy Leaders. CAPABAL will engage with the COST Targeted network gender STE (gender, science, technology and the environment) in order to fully implement the gender dimension in operation of CAPABAL and in the content of the activities carried out in projects associated with and deriving from it. F. TIMETABLE CAPABAL will last for two years, renewable once for a further two years. The table below anticipates the full four years of operation. It should be recalled that each year one of the MC-WGworkshop/ conference meetings will be in the Western Balkans and one in Europe. Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 MC meetings x x x x x x x x WG 1 meetings x x x x x x x x WG 2 meetings x x x x x x x x WG 3 meetings x x x x x x x x conference x Workshops x x x x x x x x Training School x x x x x x x x STSMs x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Dissemination x x x x x x x x x G. GEOGRAPHIC DIMSION The following COST countries are involved in this COST Targeted Network: AT, BA, BL, CZ, DE, EL, ES, FI, HR, HU, IT, MK, PT, PL, RS, SI, SK. Other COST countries expressed their interest to participate and will be invited. COST 062/14 19

20 H. DISSEMINATION PLAN H.1 Who? The primary audience of CAPABAL will be young future leaders as well as existing leaders in policy making, research, and management together with their organisations (research institutes, faculties, ministries, enterprises, agencies, NGOs, etc.) as well as other organisations focused on natural resource and forest policy, economics, and governance. The most important target groups of this Targeted Network are: - Young future leaders and ESRs from the fields of natural resource and forest policy, governance, economics and sustainable forest management. - Governmental and educational organisations from the field of natural resources and forestry. - Existing leaders in natural resources and forest policy making, governance, economics and sustainable forest management. - Non-governmental/ civil society organisations? H.2 What? Dissemination material Exchange of information among participants will be done through several communication channels (meetings, newsletters, dedicated website, intranet, and mailing lists). Regular work meeting reports will be shared among participants through mail distribution lists and intranet. The website and the social media (Twitter, Facebook) will serve to inform a wider audience and to disseminate results of CAPABAL. To facilitate discussions and exchange of information within the network, CAPABAL will establish Wikis and Blogs coordinated by the working groups and MC. Communication channels towards a wider audience will be implemented through various types of electronic and printed media including: newsletters; policy briefs; STSM reports; literature reviews; twitter (and other social media); webinars; Wikis and Blogs. Webinars will used in order to increase the outreach of the training schools. The webinar will enable interested participants to have interactive participation at the trainings schools, even when they cannot attend in person and when the topics are of broad interest in the region. The training materials for CAPABAL will be new and innovative and of wide interest to researchers, policy makers, and practitioners in general. COST 062/14 20

21 To support interaction with the international policy processes related to the sustainable forest management, CAPABAL will establish formal and informal interactions with the THINK Forest, Forest Europe, EU FLEGT, EU REDD, and other processes. To support networking and interaction of the main target groups, CAPABAL will organise stakeholder workshops at the bi-annual meetings with discussion panels, field excursions, and a final stakeholder conference. CAPABAL will publish in professional and scientific journals to increase visibility of these results. H.3 How? Implementation The Management Committee of CAPABAL will appoint one of MC Members as the Dissemination Coordinator supported by at least one ESR from each WG forming Task force. This Coordinator will also ensure that MC Members are undertaking sufficient national dissemination activities, including, where necessary, translation into local language. CAPABAL will focus its dissemination activities according to the needs of the various target groups: ESRs, natural resources policy makers, and forest managers from the Western Balkan region. COST 062/14 21