Division for International Scientific Cooperation in Southeast Europe (EFISEE)

Department for International Scientific Cooperation in Southeast Europe – EFISEE is established in 2012 and based on the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in 2007. At the beginning in 2012 it was an office of the European Forest Institute (EFI) integrated in the Croatian Forest Research Institute. Later in July 2012 it became part of the joint EFICEEC-EFISEE regional office of the EFI. Based on the latest EFI Strategy 2025 regional office as such ceased to exist and became the Forest Policy Research Network coordinated by BOKU University from Vienna.

Main activities of the EFISEE are:

• Research
• Networking
• Communication
• Policy support.

EFISEE successfully cooperates with research organisations in Southeast Europe (SEE) with the aim of promoting forest related research and capacity building. Important activity of the EFISEE is continuous dialogue between scientists, decision makers and practitioners related to forests and forestry in SEE.

EFISEE is recognised as important element of Croatian forest related science and research infrastructure by the Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate of Forestry and Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia.

• Ivan Pilaš, PhD
  Senior science associate

FIELD OF WORK

• Research related to forest policy and governance with special emphasis on:
  • Research on perception and attitudes of citizens related to forests, urban forests and green space – project of the Croatian Science Foundation CULTUR-ES (2018-2022), FORCITY project (2011-2013), project of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (024-0242049-2101) “Importance, value and sustainable use of social services of forests” (2007-2012), project for Croatian Forests Ltd. company “Importance and role of the payment for forest ecosystem services in the context of EU accession” (2011-2013).
  • Research of policies related to urban forests and green infrastructure – COST FP1204 GreenInUrbs (2013-2017), project FORCITY (2012-2013)
  • Governance of urban forests and green infrastructure – COST FP1204 GreenInUrbs (2013-2017), project FORCITY(2012-2013), doctoral dissertation  “Analysis of urban forest governance in the city of Zagreb“ (2013)
  • Research on forest polices related to private forest owners – COST FP1201 FACESMAP (2012-2016), project PRIFORT (2007-2009)
  • Research of use of non-wood forest products and services – H2020 project INCREdible, projects for Croatian Forest Ltd. company on Peter’s Mountain (2006-2010) and in Gospić (2011-2013).

• Networking
  • Connecting forest research organisations in SEE for the purpose of capacity building of researchers and organisations
    –  Capacity building in forest policy and governance – COST TN1401 CAPABAL (2014-2018)
    –  Professional training of researchers
    –  Establishment and maintenance of common database of forest researchers in SEE
  • Cooperation with domestic and international science, research and other organisations – COST, IUFRO, UN FAO, BOKU, European Forest Institute (EFI), Austrian Research Centre for Forests, European Land Use Institute (ELI), Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb; Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Slovenia Forest Service, Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo; Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka; Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) in Novi Sad; Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade; Institute of Forestry in Belgrade; Faculty of Forestry, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Croatian Forests Ltd., Croatian Chamber of Forestry and Wood Technology Engineers, Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), and others.

• Policy support
  • Development of brochures and leaflets on policies related to (urban) forests and (urban) forestry and governance of (urban) forests (“National Forest Programmes in the Western Balkans: Towards a New Generation of NFPs”, “Policy Research Can Make a Difference – A Gap Between the Importance and the Uptake of Scientific Expertise”, “Forest Policy and Governance Strategic Regional Research Agenda”, EFICEEC-EFISEE Policy Brief „Europa i šume: novi put za europsku šumarsku politiku?“ , EFICEEC-EFISEE Policy Brief „Bioekonomija i šumarska politika“).

• Communication
  • Organisation of scientific and professional events – e.g. international scientific conference “Forests for cities, forests for people- perspectives on urban forest governance“ (2012)
  • Participation in scientific and professional conferences and events
  • Publishing bilingual regional newsletter (in Croatian and English) for communicating activities of partner organisations and other forest and science policy related information to partner organisations and other stakeholders
  • Maintenance of several projects’ Facebook sites: REFOCuS, VET4Bioeconomy, Forest policy, economics and governance in SEE – COST Tn1401 Capabal.

PROJECTS

• Improving green infrastructure planning and management through participatory mapping of cultural ecosystem services (CULTUR-ES)
• Research on social aspects of urban forestry in Croatia and Slovenia
• Innovative VET for key competences in the emerging field of forest bioeconomy (VET4BioECONOMY)
• European network of Regions On Sustainable WOOD mobilisation (ROSEWOOD)
• Resilient riparian forests as ecological corridors in the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve (REFOCuS)
• Innovation Networks of Cork, Resins and Edibles in the Mediterranean basin – INCREdible
• Engaging owners of small private forests in active management (ENGAGING)
• The future of a forest-based bioeconomy in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (FORSCEE)
• Cooperation for Innovative Approach in Sustainable Forest Management training (CIA2SFM)
• Adriatic Holistic Forest Fire Protection (HOLISTIC)
• The methodology for the damage assessment on forest stands of the Mediterranean caused by extreme natural disasters (fires, wind), sanation and economic measures for minimizing the risk
• Capacity Building in Forest Policy and Governance in Western Balkan Region (CAPABAL)
• Forest LAnd Ownership Changes in Europe: Significance for Management and Policy (FACESMAP)
• Green infrastructure approach: linking environmental with social aspects in studying and managing urban forests (GreenInUrbs)

ADDITIONAL DATA

• EFISEE regional bilten
• Policy Research Can Make a Difference - A Gap Between the Importance and the Uptake of Scientific Expertise
• Forest Policy and Governance Strategic Regional Research Agenda
• National Forest Programmes in the Western Balkans: Towards a New Generation of NFPs
• COST Action FP1201 FACESMAP Country Report: Forest Land Ownership Change in Croatia (2015)

EMPLOYEES