EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Pre-proposal No 1 MICKING PRIMEVAL FORESTS PATTERNS
IN NATURE-BASED FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (“PRIMEFOR”)
ledge. Methods of field work: There is little methodological standardization of field techniques employed in primeval forests and silvicultural
studies, which makes comparative studies difficult. Thus, it is essential to develop comparable methods, widely applicable with
minimum modification. Quantitative analyses of biogeochemical cycles: The biogeochemical cycling is often analyzed or modeled qualitatively,
or quantitative analyses and modeling are performed on spatially very limited compartments. Such approach can essentially
mask the overall patterns, such as the carrying capacity of sites. The use of absolute values shall be encouraged. Spatio-temporal variability:
In studying heterogeneity, what we call ground noise (or residual variance) in classical statistical inference, actually may be the
matter of our study in highly complex ecosystems. ESRs should become acquainted with a wide spectrum of statistical methods. Genetics
applied to forestry studies: Though there is no lack of general expertise in the use of molecular techniques in population biology in
Europe, there is an ever present need to help 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.
6.3 Procedure to hire early stage and experienced researchers
The vacancies will be advertised by informative folders sent to forest ecology, silviculture and forest management departments at the
universities and scientific institutes across Europe, through the IUFRO Newsletter and its division and task force meetings, national Pro
Silva organizations and ERA ENV (a new European initiative financed by the European Commission through the 6 th Framework Programme
aimed at the integration of Associated Candidate Countries and new EU member states into European Research Area by environmental
approaches). The selection will take place on a competitive base, but in case of equal scores female candidates will be preferred
to achieve a minimum 40 % representation of female ESRs and ERs.
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