Description of the work in partner programmes

France

• National research network "Wood Construction Environment" (2003-2006), CTBAThe National Scientific Network (GIS) "Wood Construction Environment", created in 2003, gathers 12 different research organisms, which represents around 100 full time researchers. The aim of this network is t o develop the use of timber in construction.
  
  In 2000, seventeen public organisms, including seven ministries, decided to sign an agreement in order to increase by 25% the market share of wood in construction. This issue was derived in different areas, including research for which a need for better coordination was expressed. The GIS was created with this aim.
  
  Such a network follows previous networks, initiated in 1984, 1988, 1992, which focussed on wood mechanics. This new network extends the scope of wood in construction, by including durability and environment, wood processing and societal issues.
  http://www.gis-bois.com
• Wood in Construction Environment/ Forest research (2004-2007), Ministry of Agriculture & Ministry of Research, INRA;
  The focus of the programme is multidisciplinary research dedicated to improving the competitiveness and sustainability of forest management, with a strong focus on ecological aspects. The topics include e.g. Elaboration and Evaluation of Forest Resource Quality, Measuring, Analysing and Modelling Plant Architecture, Analysis of the Diversity of Forest Genetic Resources, Tree Genomics and Tree Breeding etc.
  
  Researchers (forestry, wood material science), end users (forest owners and owners, wood manufacture), and forest policy-makers form the main target group of the programme.
  www.inra.fr