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Upcoming LAURUS Network Webinar: Operational Groups as a Driver for Innovation in Forest Ownership

Smurf Project

SMURF – The Forest Owners’ Project is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity for the forestry community: a new webinar within the Laurus Network titled “Operational Groups as a Tool for Forest Owners: From Needs to Innovative Solutions.”

This event sheds light on one of the most effective mechanisms within the EU framework to foster innovation directly from the ground up. Operational Groups (OGs) are powerful tools that help forest owners and their associations transform real needs into collaborative, funded and impactful solutions.

📅 Date: 17 December 2025
🕒 Time: 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Format: 1.5-hour webinar + 30-minute Q&A session
📝 Registration: Free link to the form

About the Webinar

The Laurus Network continues to strengthen its training activities by offering a dedicated session on how Operational Groups function and how they can be leveraged to support innovation in the forestry sector.

The webinar is supported by FOREST4EU, an Horizon Europe project committed to improving knowledge exchange, best practices and innovation across European Operational Groups.

What Participants Will Learn

  1. This webinar will provide practical and strategic insights, including:
  2. How Operational Groups work and why they are important for the development of private forest ownership in Europe.
  3. How OGs stimulate forest-focused innovation, addressing concrete challenges faced by forest owners and their associations.
  4. Real examples of successful OG projects, showcasing long-term benefits related to sustainability and profitability.
  5. Guidance for forestry associations, including key steps, requirements and best practices for applying to OG funding and building strong multi-actor partnerships.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is relevant for:

  1. Technical staff from forestry associations
  2. Forest owners
  3. Consultants and rural development experts
  4. Policy authorities
  5. Anyone interested in innovation mechanisms within the forestry sector

By promoting this event, SMURF supports knowledge exchange and capacity building among forest owners, helping strengthen innovation ecosystems across Europe.

If you are interested in tools that support forest management, cooperation, and innovation, this webinar will offer valuable insights.