Forests as a public good. Evaluation of social and environmental benefits of forests in Poland to improve management efficiency. (POLFOREX)

The purpose of the Project is to evaluate public services provided by forests and specify optimal management practices, with the overall objective to increase social and environmental benefits from forests in Poland. Reference is made to the application dated 13 April 2007 and any subsequent correspondence with the Focal Point. The completed Project shall include the following activities and results: - Review forest management policies and valuation methodologies for non-market goods; - Develop quantitative and qualitative survey instruments for analysis of demand and supply, and testing the final versions of survey instruments; - Conduct surveys, data analysis and case studies; - Organise stakeholder consultations; - Reporting and policy recommendations to decision-makers; - Dissemination (articles and conferences) and capacity building; and - Management and publicity. The Project Promoter is Warsaw Ecological Economics Center, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Warsaw University, Poland. Subject to national law, the Project shall be implemented in partnership with the Forest Research Institute in Warsaw (Poland), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Economics and Resource Management (Norway) and ECON (Norway). The Focal Point shall ensure that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education provides at least 15 percent of the estimated eligible project costs.