The University of Florence drives the future of European Forest Ownership at the 3rd SMURF General Assembly

By Juan

From 14 to 16 January 2025, the SMURF consortium, of which the AIR Institute is a member, held its 3rd General Assembly at the Novoli Campus of the University of Florence. This meeting marked a significant step forward in the consortium's commitment to supporting small forest owners through advanced tools, sustainable management models, and a unified framework for ecosystem services.

Over three intensive days, 22 representatives from the 10 SMURF partners assessed progress, participated in strategic workshops, and planned key actions for 2025.

The first day of the assembly began with a welcome speech by Álvaro Picardo Nieto, project coordinator (CESEFOR), followed by the presentation of the Advisory Board and a thorough review of progress across the project’s seven work packages, laying the groundwork for future goals.

The second day focused on strengthening collaboration among partners through interactive workshops and learning sessions that covered topics such as:

  • Creating a Hub: Aiming to establish a network to foster high-value knowledge exchange, enhance technical expertise, deliver training, and promote knowledge sharing.
  • Informative sessions: Short presentations on integrating sustainability into business models, success stories in sustainable forest management, and effective communication strategies for the sector.
  • Preparation for the 1st European Conference on Small Forest Holdings, which will take place in May 2025 in Rome.
  • Discussion on the upcoming cascade funding call, where priorities and strategies were defined to continue supporting small forest owners across Europe.

Finally, the third day concluded with a field trip to Monte Amiata, where the 22 representatives had the opportunity to explore:

  • Pian dei Renai
  • Macchiafaggeta Forest
  • Pozzo Stella and Marsiliana

Thanks to this assembly, the SMURF consortium has clearly outlined the necessary steps to achieve its 2025 milestones. Key upcoming objectives include the launch of the second cascade funding call and the organisation of the conference in Rome.

At the AIR Institute, we would like to express our gratitude to the University of Florence for their excellent organisation.