FORET MODELE - MED Programme 2007-2013: Coordination of regional policies for the forest with the help of a new governance instrument: the "model forest" - (2008-2012)

ICALPE has provided technical assistance for the conception and preparation of the application, within the frame of its support mission to the Region of Castilla y Leon (Spain) for the development of the Mediterranean Model Forest Network.

BACKGROUND

The « Model Forest » concept, first initiated in Canada, has been developed through the world. He defines a «development process based upon partnership, through which individuals and groups representing a diversity of values work together in a common vision for the sustainable development of a landscape in which forests represent a critical feature ». This concept appears as a new and original instrument of territorial governance, well adapted to address the recurrent challenges of the Mediterranean forest, which requires a large and multifunctional approach.

OBJECTIVES

The MED “FORET MODELE” project aims at setting up a new coordination method of regional policies related to the forest and to improve the territorial governance by testing and adapting the “model forest” concept to the Mediterranean. The common definition of a “Mediterranean model” for model forest and its concrete implementation by the creation of the first model forest in each region (the second in the case of Castilla y Leon) are the main objectives of the project.

PARTNERSHIP

The partnership is composed of 8 partners from France (Corsica, lead partner, and Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur), Italy (Sardinia), Spain (Murcia and Castilla y Leon), Croatia (Istria) and Greece (Western Macedonia and Magnesia). External experts from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey will be invited to participate to technical meetings. The partnership is representing diversified and complementary situations in terms of ecologic, economic, social and institutional backgrounds, that will allow to extrapolate the results of the project to most of the Mediterranean contexts.

ACTIVITIES

The 3^rd Component defines the conceptual and methodological basis of “model forest” adapted to the Mediterranean. The 4^th Component uses these basis to create a Model Forest in each partner region in order to test its relevance. The 5^th Component will study the contribution of the “model forest” tool to the improvement of regional policies by the creation of a new tool for territorial governance. The 1^st Component (communication) makes the most of the results of all the components and the 2^nd Component (Management) ensures the proper development of the activities as a whole.

MAIN OUTPUTS

A methodological guide for model forest creation on the Mediterranean, result of the Component 3 and 4, will be disseminated to the Mediterranean countries and regions. A video and 2 leaflets for local communication will be translated in 6 languages. A database on Mediterranean Model Forests will be available online on the project website. Each partner will produce an application file for integrating the International Model Forest Network, including as a minimum a description of the goverance structure and the strategy  of the Model Forest. The final publication will gather the results and conclusions of the exchanges and reflexions among partners.

RESULTS

The main results will be

• at the transnational level, the implementation of a sustainable coordination of regional policies for forsts, based on an innovative method and relying on the existence of the Mediterranean Model Forest network

• at the level of the involved regions, the creation of large partnership according to Model Forest criterias delivering new territorial governance tools.