Forest Digital Learning (ForDiL) – Final Conference

The 2026 May 29 - Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve

Objective

After several years of close collaboration between Belgian, French, and Czech partners, the ForDiL (Forest Digital Learning) project is reaching its conclusion. To mark this milestone, we are pleased to invite you to the project’s closing event on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Funded by the European Erasmus+ programme, the ForDiL project aims to promote the continuous cover forestry (CCF) approach by offering innovative and optimized training tools for forestry professionals and students.

At the heart of the project is a free digital self learning application, designed to allow users to build their skills independently, at their own pace, and without relying on instructor availability. The application is rooted in practical, on site learning tools used directly in forests : marteloscopes and travailloscopes.

By combining digital learning with real world field experience, ForDiL maintains a strong link with forest reality while opening up new and flexible training opportunities for current and future foresters.

The application can be downloaded free of charge from the project website

Speakers

• Marnik Vanclooster, President of the Earth & Life Institute (ELI), Professor Faculty of Bioengineering, UCLouvain, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium
• Quentin Ponette, Professor, Faculty of Bioengineering, UCLouvain & Researcher at ELI, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium
• Prof. Tomas Vrska, President of Pro Silva Europe & Director of the University Forest Enterprise, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
• Diane Doucet, ForDiL Project Manager, SRFB, Belgium
• Igor Blervaque, ForDiL Project Manager, SRFB, Belgium
• Grégory Timal, ForDiL Project Manager & Director, Agroforestry Development Centre of Chimay, Belgium
• Pavlína Pancová Šimková, ForDiL Project Manager & Lecturer and Researcher, Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

Program

9:00 AM	Welcoming participants
9:30 AM	Opening remarks - Prof. Marnik Vanclooster & Prof. Quentin Ponette
9:45 AM	Continuous cover forestry: principles, challenges, and future perspectives - Prof. Tomas Vrska
10:15 AM	Q&A
10:30 AM	Coffee break
11:00 AM	The ForDiL project: background and objectives - Diane Doucet
11:15 AM	Design and development of the ForDiL application - Igor Blervaque
11:35 AM	Downloadable application, marteloscopes and travaille scopes: linking digital tools with field experience - Grégory Timal
11:55 AM	Continuous cover forestry and the foresters of tomorrow: student involvement and educational perspectives - Pavlína Pancová Šimková
12:15 AM	Q&A
12:30 AM	Lunch provided
1:30 PM	Field visit: marteloscope and travaille scope in the Bois de Lauzelle
4:30 PM	Closing of the event

Partners

Meeting place

It will be sent to you in the confirmation letter.

Organization costs

FREE

Registration

Registration before the 22 May 2026