EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

field researchers acquire a better understanding of the opportunities presently available via the
application of current molecular techniques.
6. 2. Training programme
In this network, ERS will develop an ability to work in groups. On completion of the project,
transferable and specific skills will enable them to overtake responsibilities in collaborative
research, to understand and predict the direct and indirect effects of forest management.
6.2.1 Early stage researchers (ESRs)
Early stage researchers employed in this program will receive a contract for 1–3 years in one
of the seven research teams in the network. It is foreseen that they will focus on the following
topics: Genetic causes for spatial variations in production, structure, texture, natural
disturbances and regeneration within a primeval forests sample: 2 ESR (ZVO, GOT); Site
factors and variations in primeval forests patterns: 3 ESR (RAK, ZVO, GOT); Interactions
between primeval forests patterns, biodiversity, populations and ecosystems fragmentation: 2
ESR (RAK, ZVO, BA, GOT); Regulation functions of primeval forests compared to managed
forests (torrent control and flood avoidance, replenishment of water reservoirs, carbon
accumulation in forest ecosystems, landslide and erosion control an others): 3 ESR (DUB,
ZVO, BRA); Temporal changes and predictions of primeval forests dynamics: 3 ESR (TOR,
ZVO); Emulating primeval forests processes and patterns in managed forests: 5 ESR (ZVO,
RAK, GOT, TOR, DUB).
The total estimated number of ESR is between 15 and 20 which corresponds to approximately
600 person months. Over the period of the contract, each ESR will spend at least two months
with at least two other tams in compliance with his o her Personal Career Development Plan,
elaborated in co-operation with personal supervisors recruited from among the respective
partner faculty. During periods of intensive field work, ESR will work together at particular
locations in association with the local task leader and scientists, post graduate students, and
undergraduate assistants. During winter months, ESR will visit other laboratories and work
closely with faculty and staff involved in the statistical analyses of material and data gathered
in the field season and the modeling. The visits and secondments will be coordinated in order
to fit the schedule of structured training courses provided by the network partners, summer
schools, workshops and network wide training activities, including E-learning, data
visualisation, as well as joint database development on web-platforms. A particularly strong
emphasis will be put on a simple access to structured and, wherever possible, visualized data
across the entire network. All relevant information and data will be available to the network
partners, ESRs and ERs on the internet site currently under development
(www.virginforests.sk). The teams will provide the ESRs with training in techniques
presented in Training needs section (6.1).
6.2.2 Experienced researchers (ERs)
The ER will be given the opportunity to visit two other laboratories in the network for one
month per year of their contract. This mobility is essential to the transfer of knowledge,
research collaboration as well as to the training of ESR. Two meetings will be organized by
the network (years 2 and 3) in which all ESR and ER in the network will give presentations
and discuss progress and conclusions. All ESR and ER will be strongly encouraged to
participate in staff development programs in the institutions where they are employed, annual
career development appraisals will be carried out, and training progress will be subject to
annual reports.
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