# Building a strong foundation for sustainable forestry education development - Savonia AMK

> CO-FOREST builds resilient, innovation-driven forestry education for Europe’s green transition.

## Project Launch and Objectives
The CO-FOREST (Creating Opportunities for Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Training in European Forestry) project was officially launched on 11th – 12th February in Tallinn, Estonia, hosted at the Estonian Business School. The international consortium focused on building a shared direction, clear governance structures, and a strong foundation for implementation.

CO-FOREST responds to structural and emerging challenges in forestry education across Europe. The project develops innovative, inclusive, and challenge-driven training content that equips forestry professionals, students, landowners, and stakeholders with the competence required to navigate:

* Climate resilience and sustainability
* Wildfire prevention and fuel management
* Pest and disease outbreaks
* Digital transformation in forestry
* Innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship

## Pedagogical Approach
The pedagogical backbone of the project is built on Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) and Place-Based Innovation (PBI). This ensures that training programs are grounded in real-world environmental and economic challenges, while remaining sensitive to the context of regional forestry. By aligning education with industry needs and innovation ecosystems, the project contributes to workforce readiness, green job creation, and regional competitiveness.

## Societal Impact
At the societal level, the project contributes to building a more resilient and adaptive forestry sector. By addressing climate resilience, fire resistance, professional needs, and pest and disease challenges, CO-FOREST supports long-term sustainability goals. The ambition extends to influencing organizational practices and embedding sustainable forestry approaches into long-term policy and strategic frameworks.

## Ecosystem Insights and Site Visits
During the kick-off, the consortium gained insights into the Estonian forestry sector, emphasizing that forestry education must operate within an ecosystem perspective.

Site visits included:
* **Lift99 Telliskivi Hub** (https://www.lift99.co/)
* **Arbonics** (https://www.arbonics.com): A company building the New Forest Economy by using data, technology, and forests to remove carbon dioxide and protect biodiversity.
* **Loodushoiu Fond SA**: A presentation by Pille Ligi on achievements in sustainable land management.

These encounters illustrated the entrepreneurial, technological, and systemic competences required by future forestry professionals and the importance of connecting education with startups and green technology actors.

## Guiding Principles for Implementation
The kick-off clarified several guiding principles:
* Early and structured co-creation strengthens long-term collaboration and impact.
* Training development must be grounded in systematic stakeholder mapping and need assessment.
* Anticipating future skill requirements requires scenario-based thinking alongside current realities.
* Forestry education must integrate with broader innovation ecosystems to remain relevant and transformative.

## Consortium and Funding
Bringing together partners from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and France, CO-FOREST establishes a transnational platform for the European forestry sector.

CO-FOREST is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

**Authors:**
* Jade Hirvonen, RDI Specialist, Food System research unit
* Minna Luoto, RDI Specialist, Food System research unit