Combined FutMon/ICP Forests Expert Meeting

February 15th-19th 2010, Tampere, Finland

	NEW - More photos taken during the meeting

Background and purpose of the meeting

During 2009–2010 a part of the Pan-European forest condition monitoring programme is being carried out within the FutMon project , co-financed by the Life+ programme of the European Union. Twenty-three member states are participating in the project, which is being co-ordinated by Germany . The project aims at the further development of an integrated pan-European forest monitoring system, that will serve as a basis for the provision of forest-related information in the European Union. One of the primary aims of the project is to improve current methodology for monitoring the effects of e.g. climate change and air pollution on forest condition and forest ecosystem functioning.

The purpose of this Combined FutMon/ICP Forests (www.icp-forests.org/) Expert Meeting is to assess the current status of FutMon actions D1, D2, D3 and C1-QA (QA/QC of the whole programme) in the individual countries and at the project level, to formulate strategies required to ensure that the progress of the project continues according to plan, and to ensure that the FutMon methodologies are harmonized with the related ICP Forests monitoring manuals. Parallel ICP Forests expert panel meetings for Growth, Biodiversity, Ambient air, Deposition, Crown condition and Meteorology will be held for this purpose, as well as to address other matters related to expert panel activities. The project co-ordinator, Martin Lorenz, will also provide the participants with an overall project update, and a help desk for financial and other matters will be arranged.

National experience in related forest monitoring is of particular interest. Participants are asked to contact the chairs of the individual meetings if they want to make a presentation during the meeting.

Programme

Please see the timetable page. Most of the agendas have been added.

Venue

The meeting will take place at Cumulus Pinja, Tampere , Finland (map).

Tampere is located in Southern Finland, about 200 km north
from Helsinki (www.gotampere.fi/eng)

Address: Satakunnankatu 10, 33100 Tampere
Tel: +358 3 241 5111
Fax: +358 3 241 5555
pinja.cumulus@restel.fi
www.cumulus.fi/hotellit/pinja/en_GB/pinja/

Please note, that the weather in Finland is very cold at the moment and we have a lot of snow.

Top of page

Registration

Please use this on-line registration form. Deadline for registration: 7 January 2010. There will be a registration desk in the lobby of Pinja, where you will receive your meeting documents, name badge, agenda etc.

Conference fee

The conference fee is 41 euros/day (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), and includes morning and afternoon coffee/tea, and lunch. Exceptions are Monday 15th, fee is 20 euros (lunch not included), Friday 19th, 32 euros. All fees included value added tax (VAT) 22%. Attention! Because of a problem with our billing department, the deadline for payment will be the one mentioned in your invoice.

Payment methods: credit card (please, use FutMon payment form) or invoice. If paying by invoice remember to mark it on your registration form and you will receive the invoice by ordinary mail.

If you have any questions or requests regarding your registration or payments, please contact futmon@metla.fi

Accommodation

A limited number of rooms at or close to the meeting venue in Tampere have been reserved for the Combined FutMon/ICP Forests Expert Meeting participants (booking code FutMon).

Please note that participants are requested to make their own hotel reservation directly to the hotel of their choice. Remember to refer to the booking code FutMon when making your reservations. Please make your reservation by e-mail by 25th of January:
Cumulus Pinja: pinja.cumulus@restel.fi
Cumulus Koskikatu: koskikatu.cumulus@restel.fi
In addition there are plenty of other hotels available in Tampere, see www.hotelworld.fi

Top of page

Banquet

A banquet dinner will be held on Wednesday, 17th of February, at Museum Centre Vapriikki (www.tampere.fi/english/vapriikki.html). Vapriikki is located at walking distance from the conference venue. The cost of the dinner is 45 euros/person, which should be paid in cash at the registration desk.

How to reach Tampere

Direct flights to Tampere are available from Riga (Latvia), Stockholm (Sweden), Bremen (Germany), Hahn (Germany), London (UK), Milan (Italy) (Ryanair, air Baltic). From Helsinki there are bus and train connections to Tampere (about 1,5h to 2 hours) (www.vr.fi/eng). More information, see www.gotampere.fi/eng/usefulinformation/travel

Top of page

More information

Any person who needs an individual invitation (for national administrations; visa applications etc.) should inform us as soon as possible at futmon@metla.fi

For general information related to the meeting please contact:
richard.fischer@vti.bund.de
martin.lorenz@vti.bund.de
john.derome@metla.fi
liisa.ukonmaanaho@metla.fi

For specific questions concerning the topics dealt with during the sessions please take contact with the chairs of the sessions.

We are looking forward to meet you in Tampere, Finland.

Top of page