The Forest Research Centre/ Centro de Estudos Florestais (CEF) is a research unit devoted to the integrated investigation of forests and related ecosystems and of forest products and forest-based services, first established in 1976 within the Portuguese National Research Network, and imbedded in the School of Agronomy, in the Technical University of Lisbon.
CEF is a voluntary network of university staff, researchers and post-doctoral fellows who guide the research of post graduates: in total 95 Ph.D (69 members, 26 contributors) and 67 post-graduates.
CEF is organized in 4 different research areas under the coordination of a senior researcher: :
- Forest ecology (ForEco)
- Managing Biodiversity in Forest, Aquatic and Agroecosystems (ForBio)
- Forest ecosystems management (ForChange)
- Science and technology of forest products (ForTec)
The research strategic goal of CEF is to combine investigation on the functioning of the main forest ecosystems in Portugal and on their relevant forest products and services, with fundamental and methodological research of broad scientific interest. Therefore CEF's research goes beyond the national context into the study of current global issues such as climate change, ecology of forest ecosystems and their sustainable development, bioenergy or final products use optimization.
The objective is to have a problem-oriented research unit aimed at knowledge creation and technological development that can be used to support the formulation of public policies, and meeting research needs for territory management.
It has also the general objective of promoting scientific education, as well as public awareness in these areas.
Work is underway to create a multi-Research Centre network, under the “Associated Laboratory” concept: LEAF- Laboratory for the Environment, Agriculture and Forests.
For governance CEF has a Scientific Coordinator and an Executive Committee, a Scientific Council and an Advisory Board. The Scientific Council, comprising all the Ph.D. members, defines research policy and approves scientific and financial reports and activity plans. The Advisory Board includes international scientists who analyze CEF activities, through reports and plans. The Scientific Coordinator and two executive members have the management, administration and external promotion. A technical secretary is employed as contracted staff.
Reports include annual activity. Financing relies on a running support given by the Scientific and Technological Foundation/Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and on external project funding (national and international), postgraduate scholarships and consultancy.
Advisory Board
1998
Prof. Dr. Alan R. Ek
Professor and Head Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota
Dr. Gilbert Aussenac
Director of Forest Ecophysiology Unit, President INRA, Nancy Research Centre
Prof. Dr. Klaus von Gadow
Institut für Forsteinrichtung und Ertragskunde, Georg-August University of Gottingen
Prof. Dr. Oskar Faix
Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst und Holzwirtschaft, Institut für Holzchemie und Chemische Technologie des Holzes (in cooperation with the University of Hamburg)