The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international body recognised through a treaty signed by European Member States. The purpose of EFI is to promote the conservation and sustainable management of European forests. Therefore, its mission is pan-European research in forest policy, including its environmental aspects, in ecology, multiple use, resources and health of Europe's forests, as well as studies of production and demand of wood and other forest products and services.
The EFI was established in 1993 as an international association governed by Finnish law with 24 affiliated members (universities and/or research centres). In 2005, by signing a new agreement, the Institute changed its status to an international body. At present, a total of 25 European states have already ratified the EFI Convention.
Spanish participation
In 2007, the first EFI Regional Office in Barcelona, EFIMED (EFI MEDiterranean Regional Office), was inaugurated, which coordinates a programme of scientific activities focused on the forestry sector of the Mediterranean. Since 2009, after analyzing the result of the EFIMED experience, other regional offices have been established and planned following the Spanish model.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and the Generalitat de Catalunya, managed to get Spain to host the office of large EFI projects, called the EFI-PAG (Policy Advice Group). EFI-PAG, located in the historic site of the Hospital de la Santa Creu Sant Pau in Barcelona and sharing premises with EFIMED, is a great centre of scientific excellence in environmental, forestry and climate change related fields both globally and in the Mediterranean. Esta oficina gestiona los proyectos FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade) y UN-REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and degradation).