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

9h00	Welcoming participants
9:30 AM	Opening remarks - Prof. Marnik Vanclooster & Prof. Quentin Ponette
9h45	Continuous cover forestry: principles, challenges, and future perspectives - Prof. Tomas Vrska
10h15	Q&A
10h30	Coffee break
11h00	The ForDiL project: background and objectives - Diane Doucet
11h15	Design and development of the ForDiL application - Igor Blervaque
11h35	Downloadable application, marteloscopes and travaille scopes: linking digital tools with field experience - Grégory Timal
11h55	Continuous cover forestry and the foresters of tomorrow: student involvement and educational perspectives - Pavlína Pancová Šimková
12h15	Q&A
12h30	Lunch provided
13h30	Field visit: marteloscope and travaille scope in the Bois de Lauzelle
16h30	Closing of the event

Lieu de rendez‑vous

It will be sent to you in the confirmation letter.

Les frais d’organisation

GRATUIT

Registration

Inscription avant le 22 May 2026