The Institute of Aviation and the Forest Research Institute were organizers of an international conference „European Oak Decline Phenomenon – causes, monitoring and possible mitigation measures”. The aim of the meeting was to present the progress of the HESOFF project, focused on the integration of up-to-date technologies with innovative methods of forests cultivation. The project is co-financed by the European Commission within the EU’s financial instrument LIFE + and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.
The first day of the conference was held at the Novotel Airport Hotel in Warsaw where several presentations were given. The topics are: threats to forest stands with invasive pathogens of the Phytophthora root, their molecular identification methods and opportunities to prevent them from spreading.
The second day began at the Institute of Aviation. The participants could learn more about the Remote Sensing Department activities, in particular the HESOFF project and the Operations Center for the Earth Observation Missions (COMOZ). Next they visited rooms with the test apparatus used in the HESOFF project (Quercus spectral camera) and the COMOZ. There was also a possibility to see an UAV used for obtaining aerial photos. An additional attraction was a trip to Institute’s aerodynamic tunnels. Afterwards participants were transported to the Forest Research Institute in Sękocin Stary where scientific sessions and a farewell gala dinner took place.
