RMK opened an application round for research projects 19.02

As of today, the application round for funding new applied research projects that support sustainable forestry is open. The RMK Research Council is awaiting funding applications until the beginning of April. This year, up to EUR 200,000 will be allocated to applied research projects.
The RMK Research Council, comprised of researchers and specialists, has selected ten thematic areas, for the closer investigation of which more specific ideas are awaited in the opened application round.

These include the more efficient use of energy wood, forest disturbance regime, management of deciduous stands, potential for selective and design cutting in Estonia, assessing the efficiency of forest cultivation activities, ecological functionality of protected areas, long-term growth trends of stands, potential for timber in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industry, the effect of climate change and management on carbon circulation in Estonian forests and the impact of viral diseases on Estonian forests.

In mid-January, RMK called on all interested parties to take a moment and think about the topics related to sustainable forest management in Estonia which, first and foremost, need examining. “The research council received a total of 17 proposals; three of them were related to the more efficient use of energy wood and two involved the biorefining of wood,” Kristjan Tõnisson commented. “Most of the proposals were a good match to the priority topics established beforehand by the research council; as a new research topic, we added to the list the impact of viral diseases on Estonian forests On behalf of the research council, I thank all those who submitted proposals.”

RMK awaits funding applications for applied research projects until 1 April 2015, at teadus@rmk.ee; all necessary application forms can be found at www.rmk.ee/teadus. Applications are welcome, above all, from research institutions, and priority is given to those applied research projects which are prepared in cooperation with different research institutions and offer complex solutions to the problems.

RMK began targeted support for research work in 2008. To date, 11 applied research projects have been funded in the total sum of EUR 1.1 million.

Last week, RMK held its fourth research seminar, in the course of which it introduced the previously supported research projects and the results of other research studies of interest. The conference presentations are available here.

RMK is the keeper, protector and manager of the forest and other natural biotic communities belonging to the Republic of Estonia. RMK earns a profit for the state through forest management, growing reforestation material, and organising forest and nature conservation works. In addition, RMK establishes opportunities for nature walking in recreational and protected areas and shapes nature awareness. RMK consists of the Sagadi Forest Centre, the Elistvere Animal Park, the Tartu Tree Nursery, AS Eesti Metsataim and the Põlula Fish Farm. More than 700 people work for RMK.

Further information:
Kristjan Tõnisson
RMK Nature Protection Department Chief Specialist
telephone: 5691 8728
e-mail kristjan.tonisson@rmk.ee 
www.rmk.ee/teadus