After the University of Rothenburg (Germany) in 2023 and the Montes University in Madrid in 2024, ENSTIB, located in Épinal at the heart of the University of Lorraine, welcomed around twenty academics from across Europe in early April 2025 for a working seminar of the Erasmus Forestry Network. The event was coordinated by Arnaud Besserer, Head of International Relations at ENSTIB, and David Sís from Mendel University in Brno (Czech Republic), the network chairman. It brought together representatives from twelve countries including the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain and Serbia. All participants are involved in teaching and research in the fields of forest and forestry sciences.
The seminar, held on the Wood Campus of the University of Lorraine, spanned two days. The first was dedicated to the network’s dynamics and projects, while the second gave participants the opportunity to discover the exceptional forest of Darney-la-Vôge, its exemplary project, and its magnificent oak trees.
The Erasmus Forestry Network brings together more than 35 European universities engaged in higher education and research in forest sciences and related disciplines. Active for over thirty years, its goals are to strengthen international cooperation, promote mobility among students, teachers and researchers, and develop collaborative initiatives rooted in exchange and innovation.
A first day dedicated to the network and discovery of the Wood Campus
The first day began with opening remarks from Arnaud Besserer and David Sís, followed by a presentation of ENSTIB and the University of Lorraine, the host institutions. Each partner was then invited to introduce themselves to encourage interaction and foster mutual understanding.
David Sís then gave a detailed presentation of the EFN’s organization, its members, website, new visual identity, and communication strategy, sparking enriching discussion among the participants. The morning continued with a joint talk by AgroParisTech and Fibois Grand Est, offering insights into the French wood sector and opportunities for transversal action among the various partners.
The afternoon was devoted to presentations by new member institutions, including those joining remotely. A guided tour of the Wood Campus, its laboratories and research centers, then offered a deeper understanding of the site’s facilities and expertise. The day concluded with a collaborative brainstorming session on ongoing projects, potential synergies with other European networks, prospects for international collaboration, and challenges in education, research, student recruitment, and the emergence of new ideas.
A second day in the field
The participants departed the Wood Campus early in the morning, accompanied by Arnaud Besserer and Flavie Najean, Head of Communications at ENSTIB, to travel to La Maison de la Belle Forêt, in the heart of the Darney forest. There, a delegation of stakeholders involved in the Forêt d’Exception® (FODEX) project welcomed them for a theoretical and practical presentation of this ambitious certification initiative.
Among the guests welcoming the group were Pierre Sylvestre, Mayor of Monthureux-sur-Saône and President of the Darney-la-Vôge Forêt d’Exception initiative, Alain Roussel, President of the “Les Vosges Côté Sud-Ouest” community of municipalities and Departmental Councillor for forestry, Christian Vitu, Vice-President and Mayor of Raon-aux-Bois, Yves Desvernes, Mayor of Darney, Anne Soyer, project manager for “Petites Villes de demain” in Monthureux-sur-Saône, Denis Jeanjacquot, Principal of the local middle school, as well as several ONF (National Forest Office) representatives: Timothée Daguinot, project manager, Olivier Pivot, head of the Darney territorial unit, and Marie-Charlotte, an ONF intern.
The group learned about the major phases of the FODEX project, from its inception to the awarding of the label. The Darney-La Vôge forest stands out for the diversity of its statuses – state-owned, municipal, and private – requiring close coordination among many stakeholders. From the start, over 80 meetings were held to unite and gain the support of the 81 municipalities involved. In March 2022, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the mayors. Three working groups, bringing together elected officials, associations, and experts, then collaborated around three key themes: the forest (facing climate challenges), wood (as a source of territorial value), and society (with a renewed societal pact). This collective effort led, in September 2023, to the awarding of the Forêt d’Exception® label, granted unanimously by the ONF’s general management in Paris. “It is because we are a rural territory with a low population density that we have learned to work together in a constructive and united way. The awarding of the Forêt d’Exception label is a testament to this mindset,” said Pierre Sylvestre.
The visit continued on the ground, deep in the forest, with a focus on oak cultivation led by ONF representatives. The participants explored regular oak stands and visited an overstocked reserve plot, illustrating the challenges of sustainable forest management. In southwest Vosges, centuries-old oak trees are renowned for their exceptional timber quality, highly prized by wine barrel manufacturers. Merrain International, a stave producer employing about one hundred people, is based in Monthureux. The rich and fertile sandstone substrate of the plateaus and valleys fosters a high ecological diversity and the development of tall, straight stands, where each tree is a pillar of the region’s forest heritage across nearly 20,000 hectares.
To close this day full of discovery, the participants were welcomed at the educational space in Monthureux, where they were introduced to local forestry awareness initiatives for young audiences. They particularly enjoyed this “forest of knowledge”, which, in a bucolic setting, offers exceptional opportunities to explore the forest and wood sector.
Before returning to the Wood Campus, the group stopped at the Hôtel Innovation Bois in Épinal, where Quentin Remy, ENSTIB engineer, presented this engineering hub inaugurated in 2021 by the Greater Épinal Community. Designed to stimulate innovation and collaboration in the wood sector, this exemplary building – constructed with local Douglas fir timber – promotes the creation of innovative businesses and serves as a showcase for regional expertise in sustainable construction.
This seminar organized by ENSTIB strengthened ties between Erasmus Forestry Network partners, encouraged the sharing of experiences, broadened prospects for international cooperation, and highlighted exemplary local initiatives such as the Darney-la-Vôge Forêt d’Exception. These two intense days showcased the richness of European exchange in the forestry sector and reaffirmed the central role of ENSTIB and the Wood Campus in Épinal as active contributors to ecological transition, education, and innovation for the forests of tomorrow. The next meeting is scheduled for late March 2026, in Poznań, Poland, at the University of Life Sciences.
