CV Gerd Herren

1. Name :

HERREN Gerd
12/09/1959
Belgian, Married to Véronique Meeùs, Agricultural Engineer with 3 children

2. Current Address :

22,Avenue Dr. Pierre Gaspar
B - 4900 SPA / Belgique
Tél./Fax 32-87-77.16.27
info@spalywood.be

3. Present position :

Freelance forestry and wildlife management consultant, management director of "Spalywood sprl-film production”

4. Professional Experience and Record :

4.1. 1988... :
Bureau Herren, own consultancy created in 1988. Consulting engineers, forestry - wood and environment.

4.1.1. Broadcast-film production since 1999 “Spalywood filmproduction sprl”.

Since January 1999, I have built up my own film production department based on my own DVCPRO HD cameras and Avid editing computer) . The aim is to produce documentaries and educational films about environmental management projects and Wildlife.

4.1.2. Consulting activities:
  • Market study for a new Longwood-slicing-technology-: determination and research on the potential users in many wood sectors in 7 European countries- for the EC’s Directorate General XIII and the private sector.
  • Feasibility study for a forestry co-operation project in Chile - for the EC’s DG I (1.350 mil ECU)
  • Participation in the Development of the most sold forest computer calliper in the world. (Mantax computer/Haglöf -Sweden). Buildin up a group of programmers for the calliper’s software development.
  • Promotion and technical advice for the construction of wooden framework houses for the Belgian Walloon Region: large scale and technical publicity for wood use.
  • Consultant for the German mobile-sawmill Serra: technical support.
  • Realisation and co-ordination of environmental impact assessments (High speed train, new estates).
  • Expert for different Belgian tribunals.
  • Advice and coordination on the game management and development in the Belgian State-owned forests and in the Royal Hunting territories.
  • Planning of a cross border land management (watershed) project for 3 countries (Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg-Interreg-EU)

4.1.3. Training activities: training workers to directors ...
  • Conception, planning, and management of a cross border mobile-school for forestry workers’ security in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany (350 persons trained in 5 years).
  • Consultant for the “ Institut du Développement Forestier ” for a European experience-exchange program in reforestation of agricultural land. Missions in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany.
  • Chairman for 2 EC sponsored seminars in forestry politics for the national application of the EC settlement 2080/92 - reforestation of agricultural land - in Munich and Brussels.
  • Organisation of forestry educational trips in France, Germany and Spain.
  • Organisation of training courses for architects in construction of frame wood houses.
  • Programming briefings for the computer calliper.

4.1.4. Forestry management:
  • Management of 1000 ha of private forests (complete organisation of all the forestry activities).
  • Computer cartography and aerial photo interpretation.
  • Financial audits for private forests.

4.1.5. Marketing activities :
  • Development of a European network for selling, both the computer calliper and the software.
  • Taking part in the organisation of international forestry- exhibitions (Elmia, Interforst, Forexpo).
Main Public clients:
(30% of Turnover ) EC' s Directorate Generals I, V , VI and XIII; Région Wallonne, Administrations des Eaux et Forêts du Luxembourg et de Belgique, various municipal authorities, frequently appointed court expert in Belgium and Luxembourg .
TV in France, Belgium and Germany.

Main Private clients:
(70% of Turnover) , Serra/D, Compagnie immobilière de Belgique, Consultant offices in Belgium and Germany, Dupont de Nemours/Luxembourg, von Thurn und Taxis/Germany, Forest owners associations in Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg, WWF-Belgium,Spadel-Belgium, Swarovski Optik/Austria; Haglöf-Timberjack-Sweden.

4.2. January 1987 to October 1988

Research Assistant at the Belgian Forestry and Hydrobiological Research Station, working on EU Contract
  • organisation and research concerning balanced forestry production, game and tourism.
  • planning of improvement in the biotopes for 10000 ha of Royal hunting grounds.
  • advice to the Belgian Water and Forestry Authorities concerning the management of hunting territories.

4.3. July 1984 to December 1986

Forestry Expert for intergovernmental Agreement of Co-operation and Development in a bilateral co-operation project in the Peruvian Andes (CICAFOR project: Centro de investigación y capacitación forestal) :
  • organisation of research and development in the following areas: forestry plantations, integrated planning and management of plantations and wood usage.
  • organisation of conferences concerning the popularisation of forestry research.
  • training of forestry workers and technicians.

4.4. January 1983 to July 1984

Co-ordinator with the Walloon Rural Foundation :
  • establishment and control of integrated development projects in two economically poor areas of eastern Belgium.
  • organisation of conferences concerning forest management
  • management and planning of communal forests

4.5. September 1982 to December 1982

Cartography of food resources in the Royal Hunting Grounds of Belgium.

5. Education :

  • September 1977 to September 1982 :
    Agricultural Engineer (Specialised in Forestry and Water) graduated from the Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve (U.C.L./Belgium) with a distinction.
  • October 1987 to December 1988 :
    Remote sensing course at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve (U.C.L.).
  • Main seminars attended:
    • Directors seminar given by the franco-Swiss group Dynargie, concerning personal management- February 1994 - Belgium
    • Seminar concerning the construction of houses in wood with the directors of Schwäbisch Hall at Rimsting/Bavaria-Germany, July 1994

6. Language skills:

Language Reading Speaking Writing
German (Moth.tong.) 1 1 1
French 1 1 1
English 1 1 1
Spanish 1 1 1
Dutch 1 2 2
Swedish 3 3 3

(1=very good)