**************

The Action has been terminated. The last meeting was held in 15-16 September 2003 in Vienna. However, the homepage will be partially updated also in the future. Especially, the progress concerning the preparation of National Forest Programmes in different European countries will be tried to monitor (see Links to NFPs). If you like to get some relevant information onto the homepage, please, contact Harri Hänninen, Finnish Forest Research Institute.

********************

Introduction

National forest programmes are a new tool for forest policy. It is a challenging task for European researchers to participate in the development of this tool for improved sustainable management of European forests.

The main objective of the COST E19 Action is to provide policy makers in Europe with improved means for formulating and implementing national forest programmes (NFP).

The Memorandum of Understanding of the Action was signed on June 30, 1999.

The Action lasts for four years, until June 29, 2003. It works under the supervision of the COST Forests and Forestry Products Technical Committee and is managed by a Management Committee. The main work is carried out in Working Group 1 and Working Group 2. Three seminars will be organised. Short-Term Scientific Missions will be carried out in order to enhance the exchange of knowledge.

Annual reports and seminar proceedings are published, as well as a bi-annual Newsletter.

COST E19 enhances the creation of networks by upkeeping a list of researchers, list of research projects and list of key literature on the NFPs.

The Chairperson of the Action is Professor Peter GLÜCK from the Agricultural University of Vienna (BOKU). Vice-Chairperson is Director Heikki PAJUOJA from the Vantaa Research Centre of the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla).

***