Towards the integration of PES into EU funding frameworks
Final Workshop of LIFE ProForPES Project
- Date: 26 March 2026 – full day
- Place: Wien, Boku University, Franz Schwackhöfer Haus, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82
- Organized by: European Forest Institute (EFI), Etifor | Valuing Nature, and Boku University
- Full agenda and registrations here
Organised by EFI and Etifor | Valuing Nature, and hosted by BOKU University, this exclusive workshop will bring together key European stakeholders to explore and validate how PES can be more effectively integrated into EU funding programmes, building on the latest research outcomes of the LIFE ProForPES project.
We are inviting a selected group of participants to ensure focused, high-quality discussions, diverse viewpoints and meaningful exchanges. Among them: selected forest owners and land managers, policymakers and public authorities, NGOs and facilitators, researchers and innovation platforms, as well as market actors and private-sector representatives.
This is not just another project workshop: it is a strategic space to influence the policies that will shape the future of PES in Europe. More than 100 stakeholders have been engaged so far by LIFE ProForPes in this process, ensuring that the outcomes are inclusive, practical, and policy-relevant.
The workshop is designed to be dynamic: plenary sessions in the morning will set the stage with key results and insights, while the afternoon will be dedicated to thematic discussions and smaller working groups, allowing participants to engage more deeply and bring their expertise to the table.
Adding to the value of the day, we will count on a special guest, Dr Sven Wunder, one of the world’s leading experts and pioneers of PES, whose groundbreaking work and extensive experience have shaped the global debate on ecosystem service markets and incentives.
Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to:
• Review and validate preliminary guidelines and recommendations on the integration of PES into European frameworks, making sure they reflect the reality of practice on the ground.
• Discuss concrete options for incorporating PES into financial programmes and state aid systems, identifying opportunities and barriers from your perspective.
• Co-create a shared vision for the next generation of funding programmes, contributing your concerns, ideas, and priorities in an open and constructive format.
• Be inspired by high-level speakers.
Are you involved in PES as a practitioner, policymaker, researcher, or supporter of PES initiatives? This workshop is an opportunity to share your experience and contribute to the ongoing discussion on how PES schemes can be better integrated into future European funding programmes.
Participation is by invitation and free of charge, to ensure focused and high-quality discussions among experts. Kindly note that participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation expenses.
If you have not received an invitation but believe your expertise or network could add value, or if you’d like to suggest someone who should be involved, please contact us at info@lifeproforpes.eu.
The event is hosted by BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, a hub of excellence in forestry and environmental sciences.
🇪🇺 This event is co-funded by the European Union.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
