The “Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik” (KWF) is once again holding its innovations contest within the framework of the 15th KWF-Tagung 2008. At the same time, the BMELV is awarding money prizes totalling 10,000 Euros for “Excellent technology for small private forests”. All exhibitors are eligible for participation.

During KWF-Tagung 2008, innovative forest technology developments of the participating companies and institutes will be evaluated by a neutral expert committee. Especially promising products will be awarded with the coveted KWF-Innovations Medal. The secret of which innovation will be awarded with a prize will only be disclosed on June 5th within the framework of a ceremonial act in the KWF congress tent on the grounds of the fair in Schmallenberg, with an elaborate explanatory statement by the expert committee. All the innovative products that were suggested by the manufacturers for an award will be made available to the trade press in the form of a brief innovations list about five weeks before the start of the congress, and will also be published in the internet. For visitors to the KWF Tagung, the innovations list will be available at every information point. Furthermore, for the first time the BMELV (Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection) is awarding a money prize for excellent forest technology for use in small private forests. The use of this technology generally leads to the mobilisation of additional amounts of harvested wood and contributes to meeting the increased demand for wood on the long-term. In order to participate, interested companies have to register their innovations before April 24th 2008. The documentation for this purpose is sent to all exhibitors, but can also be downloaded at http://www.kwf-tagung.de/ or can be requested at the KWF (poguntke@kwf-online.de, Tel.: 06078/78530, Fax.: 06078/78539).