UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden1 Presidency report GCM October 2008 Gmunden (Austria) - Educational matters and exchange activities –

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden2 Activities and projects 3 main topics: 1. „Forestry Workcamp“ 2. Contact to IFSA 3. new: „fieldtrip project“

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden3 1. Cooperation project „International Forestry Workcamp“ 2005 decision taken in Freising to create a permanent exchange facility 2006 UEF became a partner of the yearly held Workcamp in Germany 2007 first workcamp supported by UEF in the frame of the cooperation agreement

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden4 XII. International Forestry Workcamp held in July 2008 (4 weeks) Participants from 9 countries (Belgium, France, Ireland, Serbia, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Australia and South Korea) 3 participants from UEF member organisations (2 from Poland, 1 from Ireland): each supported by UEF by a travel expense subsidy of 150 €

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden5 Some pictures of the UEFsupported excursion (16. August, Forestry in biosphere reverse „Palatinate Forest“ and visit to the local Research Institute)

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden6 2. Contact to IFSA Existing contacts to IFSA for years in the past no concrete cooperation Last contact 2007 in Nancy Key action 2008: Visit to 36th International Forest Students` Symposium (IFSS) in Sofia

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden7 IFSS 2008 Sofia ( August delegates from 32 countries Presentation about UEF Official talk: state forest agency, University, UEF, IUFRO and EFI Fruitful discussion about IFSA membership of UEF youth oganizations New contacts to Estonian and Czech Foresters Organizations => The cooperation with IFSA should be continued and intensified!!

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden8 3. „fieldtrip project“ 5 day METO fieldtrip with forest students to Germany in April 2008:

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden9 Two basic aspects about international fieldtrips A good choice between a perfect host and no host might be an effective host; 2 keys to become more effective: „division of labor“ and „repeating“ International fieldtrips are long distant fieldtrips; There is a need for: External money and/or cheap travel connections

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden10 The aim Creating a (cheap) permanent fieldtrip offer 2 or 3 fieldtrips every year for groups with 15 persons Each fieldtrip 4-5 days, main theme: silviculture and climate change in forests (storm damages and windmills in the forests) Location: Forest district of Kastellaun; 15 km to low cost airport Hahn, good car or railroad connections Financial support from external side

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden11 State of the art and next steps First talks about an official cooperation between and seems to be accepted as an official supporter Possible division of tasks: personal and organisation by Stateforest, money and travel organization by Hertie Foundation (maybe 50% of travel, accomodation, food and transport, max. 5000€), international contacts by UEF Final proposal with all details (finances, programme, etc) will hopefully accepted till the end of year

UEF Presidency GCM Gmunden12 Conclusions Continuing of the Workcamp cooperation Deepening of IFSA cooperation Establishing new cooperation „fieldtrips“ Additional offers of exchange facilities for students by memberorganisations?