The First Transnational Workshop of the SCAN-DANUBE, Vienna 11. - 12. September 2025

The 1st Transnational workshop was hosted and organised by BFW Vienna (PP2). The event was attended by representatives of all project partners, including representatives of associated strategic partners and other stakeholders.

 The first day took place at the BFW´s premises. The morning sessions were attended only by project partners. The lead partner presented an overview of upcoming communication activities, including a proposal for their implementation. It was agreed that individual partners would prepare implementation plans at the national level, which would be presented and discussed at a joint online meeting in late October/early November. It was followed by the presentations delivered by respective activity leaders (A.1.2, A.1.3, A2.1, A.2.2, A.3.1, A.3.2) focused on overview of partial steps already implemented and proposals/inputs for further steps. Individual partners were invited to provide their feedback and inputs in the context of partner national level. The partners also agreed on further thematic online meetings (within the entire consortium or bilateral) organised by respective activity leaders.

Katharina Schwanda, the project coordinator of BFW Vienna, welcomed representatives of associated strategic partners and other stakeholders that joined the project partners for the afternoon sessions.

Bernhard Perny, an invited expert of BFW Vienna delivered the presentation on Bark beetles and Emerald ash borer.  Pavel Beran, an invited expert from South Bohemia University, presented a potential of lamp assay in identifying ash tree species. Thematic activity leaders (A.1.2, A.1.3, A2.1, A.2.2, A.3.1, A.3.2) presented the progress made so far and proposed further joint action/methodology, focusing on discussing these proposals and, above all, obtaining feedback from ASP and stakeholders.

On the second day, we visited BFW´s Experimental Garden in Tulln working on seed and seedling production. Excursion participants got familiar with experiences with the preservation of narrow leaved ash (NA) gained within the framework of an Austrian national project QEsche performing a selection and mapping of field resistant trees, seed harvesting, propagations from cuttlings, seed preparation, sowing and growing of seedlings and trial with seedlings and cuttlings to assess ADB symptoms and identify tolerant NA trees. The QEsche and Ash in distress projects, their aim, activities and results were presented. The gardeners also provided participants with practical demonstrations on cutting propagation and grafting.