The COST EU-PoTaRCh Action establishes a network focused on the past, present, and future significance, production, and use of major forest by-products in Europe and beyond. The Action centers around forest by-products-primarily potash, tar, resin, and charcoal (PoTaRCh), along with plant extracts-which have been produced and utilized for over 100,000 years due to their unique chemical, biological, and therapeutic properties. The primary goal of the Action is to demonstrate the importance of these products for the socio-economic development of European countries and beyond, as well as their impact on biodiversity and the natural environment. The Action's objectives are organized into five Working Groups (WGs), each aligned with specific areas of interest: heritage, chemical characterization, archaeology, environmental history, and future perspectives of PoTaRCh materials. A key aspect of the Action is its support for stakeholders outside the scientific community who possess knowledge of PoTaRCh products through their use in industries such as production, education, and the promotion of forests' natural and cultural heritage. In doing so, the Action brings together stakeholders with diverse activity profiles, including museums, state forests, the forestry industry, associations dedicated to preserving traditions, and the tourism sector. The EU-PoTaRCh Action adheres to the three key principles of COST's inclusiveness policy: participation of inclusiveness target countries, gender balance, and the involvement of young researchers, including in leadership positions.
Keywords: Cultural heritage; archaeology; bio-economy; chemical compostion; forest by-products; history; physical properties.
The COST EU-PoTaRCh Action was established to gather information on the past, present, and future significance, production, and use of major forest by-products in Europe and beyond. These products include potash, tar, resin, and charcoal (PoTaRCh), as well as plant extracts. They have played a crucial role on both a micro scale, affecting the daily lives of individuals, and a macro scale, influencing socio-economic parameters and the natural environment. Given the extensive scope and historical depth of PoTaRCh production and use (with tar production dating back 100,000 years), knowledge on this subject across Europe and beyond is dispersed and highly diverse. The aim of the Action is to consolidate this information and enhance awareness of the importance of PoTaRCh products. A key aspect of the Action is supporting stakeholders who possess knowledge of PoTaRCh products and are interested in their application in production, education, and the promotion of forest natural and cultural heritage. The Action brings together partners with varied activity profiles, including museums, state forests, the forest industry, associations dedicated to preserving traditions, the tourism industry, and the scientific community. EU-PoTaRCh adheres to three key principles of COST’s inclusiveness policy: participation of Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs), gender balance, and the involvement of young researchers (YRs), including in leadership positions.
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