Yesterday in Helsinki, an agreement was signed establishing an office of the European Forest Institute/EFI in Rome. EFI, an international organisation for forestry research-based in Finland- counts 29 European States and 120 associated and affiliated organisations in 38 countries. The Italian Ambassador in Helsinki, Sergio Pagano, and Marc Palahí, Director of the Institute, signed the Agreement. It is the first significant step, in synergy with MIPAAF, enabling Italy to strengthen its international role in scientific research and support management policies to protect and conserve forests.
EFI’s activities include facilitating and stimulating the creation of forest-related networks, promoting the dissemination of unbiased and policy-relevant information on forests and forestry, supporting forestry research, and using scientifically valid information as a basis for forestry policies. EFI’s presence in Rome will also allow for new forms of collaboration with other Rome-based international organisations dealing with sustainable natural resource management, including FAO and IFAD.
