27 forestry and research bodies call for a ten-year national innovation agenda

Twenty-seven organisations from forestry, industry, universities and trade associations have signed a position paper urging Portugal to adopt a ten-year national research and innovation agenda for forests and forest-based bioindustries, reviewed every five years. Promoted by the ForestWISE collaborative laboratory, it sets out 11 priorities, from climate resilience and fire-resistant landscapes to timber construction and biorefineries, backed by multi-year funding, trial networks and pilot plants. Forestry exports averaged about €6.3 billion a year in 2021-2025 and the sector supports around 100,000 jobs. The signatories see 2026 as a decision point, with the recovery plan ending and the next EU budget being prepared.