The European Tropical Forest Research Network (ETFRN) is a network on forests and development, which aims to ensure that European research contributes to conservation and sustainable use of forest and tree resources in tropical and subtropical countries.
ETFRN was established in 1991 in response to the growing concernes on the rapid deforestation occurring particularly in the tropics, and the European Commission's desire to mobilise European research to address this challenge.
Objectives: The goal of ETFRN is to ensure that European research contributes to conservation and sustainable management of forests and tree resources in tropics, subtropics & Mediterranean. ETFRN aims to achieve its goal by:
- promoting forest research partnerships and collaboration between the South and Europe
- developing and promoting dialogue between researchers, policy makers, and forest managers and others influencing the forest environment
- promoting increased coherence and co-ordination of European research capability in tropical forest research
Tropenbos International is ETFRN's coordinating member and national focal point in the Netherlands.
ETFRN provides a range of services, including ETFRN News, which comprises theme-based issues on current research relevant to the international development agenda, such as Financing Sustainable Forest Management; Non-Timber Forest Products; Forests, Water and Livelihoods; Forests and the MDGs, and; Forests and Conflicts.
The ETFRN website provides a key resource for forest research results and cooperation. It is an easy access to relevant web-based information, and it gives many links to opportunities for forest research in the tropics, vacancies and funding opportunities. Furthermore websites of ETFRN focal points are linked, which provide country specific information.