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Within the framework of China's Cooperation Initiative with 17 countries of Central and Eastern Europe – China-CEECs (17+1), professors of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, University of Thessaly actively participated, on the 20 April 2021, at the first online meeting, on the topic of "Forestry cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs)".
This meeting was jointly organized by China's Executive Coordinating Body of the 17+1 Forestry Cooperation Mechanism and by the General Directorate of Forestry and Forest Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy >on the subject of "Forest Bioeconomy Development and Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries".
The event was attended by more than 70 participating academics, representatives of ministries and national authorities, researchers and entrepreneurs from 11 Central and Eastern European countries and China. Greece was represented by the head of the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment of the Ministry of Environment. Mr. Evangelos Goudoufas, Director of the Planning and Forestry Policy Directorate, Ms. Rebecca Batmanoglou, the President of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design of the University of Thessaly, Professor Ioannis Papadopoulos and the Faculty members of the Department, Professor George Ntalos, Marios Trigas, Assistant Professor and Mrs. Glykeria Karagkouni, Assistant Professor.
The purpose of the meeting was to present the current situation, technological developments, research and development of innovations, as well as to explore possibilities for business cooperation and the development of synergies between the 17 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and China in matters of Bioeconomy of Forests. This meeting-seminar is the basis for forming a dialogue framework at a higher level, from the member countries of the China-CEECs (17+1) cooperation initiative, in order to seek the development of joint actions and collaborations between of these countries in matters of forest bioeconomy. In this direction, the organization of a world conference will follow at the beginning of June 2021.
From the Greek side, a greeting was addressed by the head of the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment of the Ministry of the Environment. Mr. Evangelos Goudoufas, who referred to the importance of forests for the bioeconomy, as well as the role of the Ministry and the Forestry Service as the public implementers of international developments in the bioeconomy of Greek forests. Mr. Marios Trigkas, Assistant Professor of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, was the keynote speaker from the Greek side, with the presentation topic "Forest Bioeconomy of Greece". Mr. Trigkas developed the aspects of Greek forestry and bioeconomy, the current state of primary production of forests, the wood and furniture industry and non-wood forest products in Greece, issues of research and development of the bioeconomy of forests as well as cooperation with the countries -members of the China-CEECs initiative (17+1), with the active participation of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences & Design. Mr. Georgios Ntalos, Professor of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design of the University of Thessaly, was the representative of the country at the round table that followed. Mr. Ntalos analyzed the possibilities and priorities of cooperation in specialized topics of bioeconomy of forests, wood and furniture industries and non-wood forest products. He also focused on research and technology challenges but also on the need to formulate the necessary legislative initiatives between the member countries of the initiative and especially between Greece and China. The general coordination of the presentations, as moderator, was Ms. Glykeria Karagkouni, Assistant Professor of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design of the University of Thessaly.
From the Greek side, the event was also attended, by special invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Dr. Vasilios Giannakopoulos, Special Adviser of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Panagiotis Koulelis, researcher of the Institute of Mediterranean and Forest Ecosystems, Mr. Agis Karakostas, representative of Alfa Wood Group S.A., Mr. Christos Papanastasiou, representative of the Panhellenic Wood Association, Mr. Olympios Vratimos, representative of the wood industry WOODMAN, Dr. Panagiotis Lattas, Forester of the Forestry of Pyrgos Ilia and Ms. Elisavet Konstantinidou, Director of Forests of Drama.
The prospects for the development of constructive cooperation in matters of bioeconomy of forests and wood products between Greece, China and other 16 European countries are particularly encouraging. The representation of our country in these matters by the scientific staff of the Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences & Planning, in good cooperation with the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, will make the most of joint actions, in terms of research programs, there will be practical support for the branches related to the forest, wood and furniture, Greece will emerge through extroversion so that it holds a leading role internationally in matters of bioeconomy of forests and forest products.
Good luck to everyone!
The Head of the Department
Professor Papadopoulos Ioannis
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