AIR Institute participates in the 1st European Conference on Small Farms in Forestry

From 20 to 22 May 2025, the 1st European Conference on Small Forest Holdings took place, a key event in the framework of the project, bringing together numerous actors from the European forestry sector.

In this context, AIR Institute's involvement focused on ensuring the digital support of the conference, through the provision of technological support for the audiovisual infrastructure and the digital transmission of the event, allowing for a seamless hybrid experience that integrated both face-to-face and virtual attendance.

The AIR Institute technical team worked in close coordination with the other organising entities, such as the Cesefor, FAO and the University of Florence. This inter-institutional cooperation was essential to ensure that the sessions ran smoothly.

One of the most important milestones of the meeting was the official launch of the Laurus Network, one of the main initiatives arising from the SMURF project. This network was born as a direct response to the needs identified among European forest owners' organisations, and seeks to empower their technical staff through training, innovation and knowledge sharing. Laurus is configured as a strategic platform to strengthen the profitability and sustainability of small forest holdings, providing access to practical tools, specialised seminars and successful experiences in the sector.

During the closing of the event, Riccardo Castellini and Pablo Sabín highlighted the joint effort of all the organisations involved, including the AIR Institute, for having contributed to the creation of a collaborative space that puts innovation in small-scale forest management at the centre of the European agenda.