Ministerium für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen

Their core work

MULNV NRW is the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous federal state. In H2020 projects, the ministry contributes policy expertise and regional governance capacity in sustainable forestry, wood mobilisation, and nature-based solutions. Their involvement bridges the gap between EU-level research and on-the-ground implementation of climate and forest policy at the regional level. Through their forestry arm (Wald und Holz NRW), they bring practical land management experience and regulatory authority to research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their earliest project (CARE4C, 2018) focused on carbon-smart forestry with an academic flavour — carbon sequestration modelling and portfolio theory applied to forest risk. From 2020 onward, their participation shifted toward applied, implementation-oriented work: wood mobilisation networks (ROSEWOOD4.0), nature-based solutions (CONEXUS), and skills development (Skill-For.Action). The trajectory shows a move from theoretical carbon forestry research toward practical deployment of sustainable land-use strategies and resource efficiency.

Moving from research participation toward implementation-focused projects in forestry digitalisation, nature-based solutions, and resource efficiency — expect future involvement in applied climate adaptation and circular bioeconomy initiatives.

How they like to work

MULNV NRW participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a government ministry that contributes policy context and regional implementation capacity rather than leading research. Despite only four projects, they have worked with 72 unique partners across 27 countries, indicating they join large, well-connected consortia. This makes them a valuable consortium member for projects needing a strong public-sector anchor in Germany's largest state.

With 72 unique partners across 27 countries from just 4 projects, MULNV NRW is embedded in broad European consortia — averaging 18 partners per project. Their network spans most of Europe, reflecting the pan-European scope of forestry and climate action research.

What sets them apart

As a German state ministry responsible for environment and forestry in North Rhine-Westphalia (population 18 million), MULNV NRW brings something most research partners cannot: direct regulatory authority and policy implementation capacity. For any consortium needing a strong public-sector partner in western Germany — particularly for forestry, land use, or nature-based solution projects — they offer both institutional weight and practical on-the-ground reach. Their forestry agency (Wald und Holz NRW) manages significant forest areas, making them a credible partner for pilot demonstrations and policy uptake.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ROSEWOOD4.0
  Their largest funded project (EUR 181,100), building a EU-wide network of regions for sustainable wood mobilisation with a digitalisation focus.
• CARE4C
  An MSCA training network on carbon-smart forestry — unusual for a ministry to participate in researcher training, showing commitment to capacity building.
• CONEXUS
  Represents their expansion into urban nature-based solutions, a departure from their core forestry domain into transdisciplinary urban sustainability.