International scientific conference THE EUROPEAN FOREST-BASED SECTOR : BIO-RESPONSES TO ADDRESS NEW CLIMATE AND ENERGY CHALLENGES?

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT - Further details will be sent in January 2008

Why? During its presidency of the European Union (second semester 2008), France wishes to contribute to the debate on the roles of forests and their products in a post-2012 climate regime.

What? The roles of the forest-based sector and perspectives for the future will be discussed under three main headings:

1. forests as carbon sinks,
2. wood-based bioproducts as carbon pools and substitutes to materials with a high energy footprint,
3. wood-based sector as a source of bioenergy. How? Invited keynote speakers in plenary sessions, voluntary contributions in parallel sessions or poster sessions.

Where? Nancy (Palais des congrès), city in the East of France (1 1/2 hour from Paris by TGV - High Speed Train)

When? 6, 7 and 8 November 2008.

Who? 350 participants - Professionals from the European forest-based sector, scientists from research centres and universities, Delegates from European member States and the European Commission, Delegates from other national or international bodies.

THE FRENCH ADMINISTRATION (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries) and AGROPARISTECH-ENGREF (Nancy) and ECOFOR -- Olivier BOUYER Chargé de mission "Effet de serre et forêt" Direction générale de la forêt et des affaires rurales Ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche 19, avenue du Maine 75732 PARIS Cedex 15 Tél : 33 (0) 1 49 55 51 35 Fax : 33 (0) 1 49 55 40 76 Mèl :