.png){kind=small}
Dear Pilot Projects partners and friends,
We’re excited to bring you the latest developments from our team including the 3ème Édition de la Conférence sur la Préservation des Forêts in Paris, and FLARE’s Annual Meeting in Rome. Your commitment to sustainability drives our work, and we’re continuously inspired by the collaboration within our community. Together, we are making significant strides toward impactful outcomes for our cities and forests!
Announcing the WoodHub
Based on our years of work with cities and sustainable wood sourcing, we’re thrilled to introduce a replicable and customizable model for WoodHubs — shared spaces equipped with tools and resources to support interdependent sustainable wood initiatives.
The WoodHub is designed to tackle municipal procurement challenges while enhancing local resource-sharing and collaboration inside and between cities. By addressing procurement barriers close to home, local WoodHubs will accelerate cities' access to sustainable wood choices. Building on the insights of the global Cities4Forests network, the initiative aims to co-create resilient local supply systems and extend capacity by sharing knowledge and best practices throughout the network of 100+ cities.
These pioneering WoodHubs will feature advanced inventory management for local, circular, and imported conservation timber. Resources may include sawmills, kilns, warehousing, and workforce development programs. A peer-to-peer network will also help sustain, scale, and share these initiatives. By integrating urban tree processing, circular timber solutions, job training, and policy development, local WoodHubs will strengthen sustainable forestry and procurement systems.
Please share your projects and ideas on how we can establish a WoodHub in your city.
Scott Francisco from Pilot Projects delivered his debut public speech in French, warmly welcoming the representatives.
The transcript of his speech (in French and English) is available on the event page.
3ème Édition de la Conférence sur la Préservation des Forêts
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the expanding network of international leaders who gathered in Paris in early October to attend the Conférence sur la Préservation des Forêts hosted in Paris, France. Over the past year, Pilot Projects has collaborated with the Délégation générale aux relations internationales team from the Ville de Paris to develop agenda items and recommend leaders for the event. Together, we initiated a draft declaration to guide our shared path to COP 30 in Belém, Brazil. We are honoured to partner with Paris and numerous other cities and organizations on this significant declaration.
Special thanks to Chief Irene Neeposh who represented the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, Canada. Invitees included Francophone mayors from France, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo , and Mauritania. Also in attendance was National forestry ministers, leading conservation NGOs, development agencies, architects, and private sector leaders. These leaders focused on a collective agreement that cities will play a pivotal role in the conservation of these intrinsically valuable forest landscapes which also protect our shared future via carbon and biodiversity.
FLARE Annual Meeting in Rome
Promoting our work with youth in forest communities, Scott Francisco and Valeria Romaro Lara from Pilot Projects presented the Future of Forest Work at the FLARE Annual Meeting in Rome in early October, where they also hosted a workshop on Youth Visioning Workshops. Events like FLARE are essential for fostering international cooperation, and reassessing the most urgent issues facing forests and the people who live closest to them. Youth engagement came up time and again in the dozens of presentations by esteemed global researchers and practitioners.
We were especially inspired by attendees from India, Myanmar, Peru, Mexico and Indonesia, whose stories highlighted the significance of the Future of Forest Work. Discussions revealed a strong consensus on the need for increased youth involvement from forest communities, with participants sharing firsthand experiences.
A standout moment was engaging with young scientists and researchers who are supporting research in rural communities and the growing interest among youth to have more active participation in forest positive climate and biodiversity action. Our session also covered community nominations and workshop coordination, with intake still ongoing.
10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns in Aalborg, Denmark
Scott announced the launch of the WoodHub at the Solutions Pitch Space during the ESCT Conference. We are looking for more cities to join this initiative, offering European cities new ways to grow and thrive by using bio-based and circular materials, while having a positive impact on the natural environment. When it comes to current urban wood choices, restrictive procurement policies and large-scale suppliers have led to reduced diversity of local and sustainable timber in European cities.
Members of Galway County Council admiring the Partner Forest Program display inside of the council building in Galway city. From left: Tina Ryan, Climate Action Coordinator; Denise Feeney, Community Climate Action Officer; Rebecca Mooney, Climate Action Officer; Uinsinn Finn, Director of Services; Liam Conneally, Chief Executive; Albert Dolan, Cathoirleach (Mayor); Brent Mostert, Executive Architect.
Benches to Stand On: A New Chapter for Forest Conservation in Galway!
We're excited to share updates on the first Irish Partner Forest Program with Galway County Council and ATU Connemara! After months of collaboration, we are celebrating the installation of the ATU Connemara Conservation Timber furniture. Student-designed benches and an information wall are now prominently displayed at the Galway County Council building, offering visitors a chance to experience the project firsthand. Additional pieces, previously featured in ATU Connemara's 'Icons 24' furniture exhibition, are set to enhance outdoor public spaces in Clifden as part of the town's regeneration plan.
Earlier this year, several students had the opportunity to visit the Guatemalan community forests of Uaxactún and Carmelita to connect local craftsmanship and global conservation efforts.
These furniture pieces stand as tangible symbols of Galway’s dedication to sustainability and forest conservation and we look forward to continuing our work in creating forest-positive urban environments.
Join us at Upcoming Events in Brazil
Our team will be participating in the following events on our journey towards COP 30 in Belém. Please reach out to us if you or one of your colleagues will be attending as we would love to connect in person!
October 31, Belém, Brazil
November 5-7, at the University of the Amazon (UNAMA), in Belém, Brazil
November 6-8, Belém, Brazil
Mass Timber Tipping Point Update
The final Mass Timber Tipping Point Workshop of 2024 is scheduled for the end of October. Launched this spring in collaboration with Architecture 2030, these workshops with selected firms have provided a platform for participants to explore a diverse range of perspectives, challenges, and visions regarding the use of mass timber in today's and tomorrow's built environment.
We will also be participating in the Portland Mass Timber Conference in early 2024 to discuss the recommendations, suggestions and learnings from this extensive project. More information about the conference and planned activities in Portland will be shared in a future newsletter!
Upcoming Partner Events
If you have an event or resource you think our audience would appreciate, please send the details to us at info@pilot-projects.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Join the Tropical Timber Trade Mission to Selva Maya!
Following-up on our Selva Maya Conservation Timber Summit, from November 17-23, our partners at Rainforest Alliance, FSC, and Probos will lead a second trade mission to the Selva Maya, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the Americas. This offers new market opportunities while championing forest conservation and boosting the economic resilience of forest communities in Mexico and Guatemala.
Discover sustainably managed tropical timber species, meet key suppliers, and be part of a growing movement to drive sustainability in global markets.
The Cecobois Challenge
Calling all engineering and architecture students—and those who support or work with them! From January 9 to 12, 2025, the Cecobois Challenge returns for its 14th year at Université Laval, Québec. The project they'll build won’t be revealed until the competition begins, and teams will be evaluated on structural integrity, originality, design, and more.
If you work with students in these fields, please share this opportunity! Registration opens Monday, October 28, 2024, and closes Sunday, November 24, 2024. Visit deficecobois.com for more details and to register!
Comments