ENFORS (European Network for long-term Forest Ecosystem and Landscape Research, 2001-2005) is an activity within "European Cooperation in Science and Technical Research” (COST) and its "Committee for Forests and Forestry Products". Its political framework and scientific background is based on the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE), and its resolutions.
The aims of ENFORS - COST Action E25 as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding:
Establishing a broad European network of field research facilities of relevance for sustainable forest management;
Developing a meta-database of European field experiments relevant to sustainable forest management;
Elaborating and initiating a common scientific research programme on forest ecosystems also focusing on the landscape level and long-term perspective.
This report presents the main arguments for a common strategy for research and development for forest ecosystem and landscape forestry aiming at sustainable forest management. The strategy includes policy, planning and management aspects in different sectors on one side, and discusses the methodological challenges of both doing research on basic and applied, natural and social sciences and to integrate them, on the other. It is intended to serve as a base for future European collaboration among institutes, scientists and field research facilities across Europe.