CO-FOREST officially launched in Tallinn!

The CO-FOREST project was officially launched on 11 to 12 February 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia, hosted by the Estonian Business School.

CO-FOREST responds to both structural and emerging challenges in forestry education across Europe. The project develops innovative, inclusive, and challenge-driven training content that equips forestry professionals, students, landowners, and other stakeholders with the competences needed to address climate resilience and sustainability, wildfire prevention and fuel management, pest and disease outbreaks, digital transformation in forestry, and innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship.

The pedagogical backbone of the project is built on Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) and Place-Based Innovation (PBI). This ensures that training programmes are grounded in real-world environmental and economic challenges while remaining sensitive to regional forestry contexts. Although locally embedded, the solutions developed through CO-FOREST have clear European relevance. By aligning education more closely with industry needs and innovation ecosystems, the project contributes to workforce readiness, green job creation, and regional competitiveness.

At a broader societal level, CO-FOREST contributes to building a more resilient and adaptive forestry sector. By addressing climate resilience, fire resistance, professional needs, and pest and disease challenges, the project supports long-term sustainability goals and reinforces the role of education as a driver of systemic transformation. Its ambition extends beyond individual learners to influencing organisational practices and embedding sustainable forestry approaches within long-term policy and strategic frameworks.

Bringing together partners from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and France, CO-FOREST creates a transnational platform for strengthening resilience, entrepreneurship, and sustainability in the European forestry sector.

Learning from the Estonian forest and innovation ecosystem

Over two days, the international consortium moved beyond formal introductions and focused on building a shared direction, clear governance structures, and a strong foundation for implementation. The kick-off also offered valuable insights into the Estonian forestry and innovation ecosystem. Site visits to Lift99 Telliskivi Hub and Arbonics, together with stakeholder presentations, highlighted how education, research, industry, and innovation interact in practice, and how digitalisation and the green transition are reshaping business and forestry alike.

One key insight emerged clearly: forestry education cannot stand on its own. As forests face growing pressures, from climate change and wildfire risk to pests, digital transformation, and changing skills needs, education must be connected to the wider ecosystem of practice, innovation, policy, and place. This is exactly what CO-FOREST sets out to do!