1st SMURF open call for small forest owners’ organizations
ClosedDescription
The 1st SMURF open call for small forest owners’ organizations aims to increase the participation of small forest owner groups across Europe. Running from September 2, 2024, to October 30, 2024, this call will provide up to €200,000 in grants, with each organization eligible for up to €5,000. The goal is to fund at least 40 organizations, fostering knowledge exchange and networking among forest associations and cooperatives throughout all 27 EU member states. Aligned with the EU Forest Strategy, the SMURF project seeks to promote sustainable forest management by developing innovative organizational and business models tailored to small forest holdings. The project will offer training, digital tools, and policy guidelines to support closer-to-nature forestry practices and establish standardized remuneration systems for ecosystem services. For this first call, funded organizations are expected to conduct surveys and interviews to profile forest associations and holdings, analyze legal and support frameworks, and participate in the Small Forest Holding Conference. They will also communicate project outcomes to their networks. Applications must be submitted in English, and any unallocated funds will be carried over to future calls.
Beneficiary & submission
The SMURF project will open its first call for applications on September 2nd, 2024. Online information sessions are scheduled for September 18th and October 16th. The submission deadline is October 30th at 17:00 CET. Organizations may submit one application through the SMURF website, including a mandatory commitment letter using the provided template. Incomplete applications will be rejected. After submission, applications will be reviewed for admissibility and eligibility. Eligible applications will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee according to the specified guidelines. Final decisions and rankings will be announced on December 20, 2024.
Further information
Details available at www.smurfproject.eu;
Email address for further information: info@smurfproject.eu