menfri success stories related to mediterranean … traditional management...the success stories...
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MENFRI Success stories related to Mediterranean forestry
www.menfri.eu 1
MENFRI Success stories related to Mediterranean forestry
Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 2
Purpose ........................................................................................................................ 3
Components of the Compilation .................................................................................... 4
Spanish success stories ............................................................................................... 5
Italian success stories ................................................................................................... 8
Moroccan success stories ........................................................................................... 10
Tunisian success stories ............................................................................................. 13
Analysis of the Mediterranean innovative management success ................................ 16
www.menfri.eu 2
Abstract
The Success stories related to Mediterranean forestry is a set of tools which include a
scientific bibliography, reports and links with sources of information, as well as
assistance, designed to be used by scientists, stakeholders and the forestry industry for
both research development and business innovation purposes. It is a public resource
offered by the MENFRI project and the information is thus presented in a comprehensive,
interesting and useful way.
Please cite as: Doblas-Miranda E., Khaldi A., Nafaa R., Rossi G., Rovira J. (Eds.) 2016.
Success stories related to Mediterranean forestry. MENFRI.
www.menfri.eu 3
Purpose
The principal objective of the current toolkit was to search for and compile all information
related to traditional forest management strategies and actions within the Mediterranean
(especially in Spain, Italy, Tunisia and Morocco) in order to respond to changing global
conditions and to investigate possible eco-innovations.
This compilation was conceived with the goal of evaluating which areas have the greatest
need for management guidance and investment in order to obtain a complete view of the
management resources of the Mediterranean forests.
In order to follow the particular objective of the assessment so as to consider the quality
and value of the information with the aim of mutually benefiting and providing reciprocity
between the European and the Maghreb countries, it was decided during the project to
change the idea of traditional management to alternative management (non-wood forest
products, other uses of wood, etc.), conducted in the search of eco-innovation.
Since a lot of information is available but it is not applied, the MENFRI assessment was
focussed on lessons learned - from interesting success cases to problems related to
previous mistakes. This new point of view was very well received by the European
Commission, which also considered imperative to evaluate not only the needs but also
to provide potential solutions and recommendations (to policy, technology and
communication issues).
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Components of the Compilation
The present Traditional Management Compilation toolkit includes brief descriptions of
several success stories all over the Mediterranean (5 from Spain, 3 from Italy, 7 from
Morocco and 6 from Tunisia). These stories were used to extract the principal guidelines
and show principal bottlenecks to forestry innovation in the Mediterranean Region by a
comparative analysis, which is included at the end of the document.
In the end, our aim is to offer useful facts, outline the needs and problems and, most of
all, to suggest potential solutions supporting innovation in the Mediterranean Region
forestry sector.
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Spanish success stories
Name: SocialForest Location: Spain (and Germany)
Product: Forestry works, forest fires prevention works, writing and execution of forestry
management plans, courses related to the forest sector
Eco-innovation or extra value: Social inclusion, sustainable forest management, work
creating business, forest pedagogy
Problems faced: Climate change, exclusion, lack of education or training
Success quantified: Part of Seforïs (European social entrepreneurship programme) and the
Catalan LandLife Stewardship Network (XCT), PEFC certification, collaboration agreement
with the Company Stihlthe, the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications
(CREAF) and the Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia (CTFC).
-2015. Labora certification by Barcelona’s Council
-2014. Social project awarded by La Caixa Foundation
-2014. Innovative social ideas winner, Network of social innovation of the Vallès Occidental
Contact: Joachim Englert
+34 600 696 913
Web: www.socialforest.org
Name: Quality Suber Location: Catalonia - Spain
Product: Cork
Eco-innovation or extra value: Business creation, sustainable forest management in cork
forests, local cooperation among producers
Problems faced: Lack of market opportunities, supply atomization, need for increased value,
chain collaboration to improve economic viability of cork sector
Success quantified: Market share, increasing average prices and involvement in innovation
processes to improve product quality, classification and logistics. Milestones:
-2015. PEFC Certification in process -2015. public recognition as Producers Organization under the Rural Development Policy Plan (COM 1305/2013) -2014–2016. Collaboration with the regional forest owners cooperative (www.serveisforestals.cat ) in a project to improve local cork value chain viability -2014–2017. Participation in the advisory committee of LIFE13 ENV/ES/000255 - "Integrative management for an improved adaptation of cork oak forests to climate change" -2013. Agreement to start producers and industry collaboration from a business approach: QUALITY SUBER
Contact: Joan Rovira Web: http://www.qualitysuber.com/
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+34 617 446 590
Name: Consorci Forestal de Catalunya Location: Catalonia - Spain
Product: Support and assessment to private forest owners, lobbing, training and technology
transfer activities, dissemination
Eco-innovation or extra value: Capacity building through associating forest owners, private
initiative, improved networking and collaboration among members and with other
associations/institutions, improving assessment services due to economies of scale
Problems faced: Atomization of the property, private sector facing many challenges,
difficulties to discus and canalize proposals and initiatives, need to organize private sector to
facilitate communication with many actors (public administration, media, NGOs, industry, etc.)
Success quantified: Market share, increasing average prices and involvement in innovation
processes to improve product quality, classification and logistics. Milestones:
-2015. Support to the Law of the Forest Property Centre. Approval of the 2nd General Plan of
Forest Politics of Catalonia
-2013. Simplification of the Instruments of Forest Planning (PTGMF and PSGF). Inclusion of
forest owners in governmental reviews of the urban and territorial planning laws. National
proposal of the 30% bonus if existing Technical Plan. Creation of Quality Suber SL.
-2012. Local proposal of a 30% bonus for the investments in management on forest properties
with a Technical Plan. Pilot tests for the control of the cork woodworm
-2011. Bonus of 95% of the Heritage Tax in forest properties with a Technical Plan
-2010. Stop the dissolution of the Centre of the Forest Property. Pressure for the approbation
of a budget of €9,5m of aids to the sector in the face of windstorm disturbances. Stop of a
Biodiversity Law with no recognition of forest owners role in conservation
-2009. Support to the Plan of Wood Mobilization
-2008. 50% extension of budget aid to the Sustainable Forest Management for private forests.
Proposal of modification of the collection and commercialization of pine fruit regulation.
-2007. Repeal of the mandatory study of environmental impact for reconstruction of paths if
already existing a Technical Plan. Creation of the Association of Silviculturists of the
Mediterranean Arch (ARCMED)
-2002–2004. CFC leads the creation of PEFC Spain and the implantation of the system of
regional forest certification in Spain and Catalonia
-1990's. Approval of the Law of the Centre of the Forest Property. The Consortium achieves
big improvements of the forest tax laws at the Catalonian and Spanish level
Contact: Joan Rovira
+34 617 446 590
Web: www.forestal.cat
Name: Centre de la Propietat Forestal Location: Catalonia - Spain
Product: Support and assessment to private forest owners, dissemination
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Eco-innovation or extra value: Improving governance and co-responsibility of forest owners in
developing forest policy, agency model to simplify and improve public action in forest policy
Problems faced: Difficulties due to the rigidity, fragmentation and lack of agility of different
administrations with responsibilities in the forest field
Success quantified: Leading private forest planning in Spain (30% of total private forest
owner’s forests), 70% of local round wood harvested coming from forests with forest
management plan, 90% of cork harvested coming from forests with forest management plan,
implementation of forest certification, technical and administrative support to the regional
association that promotes it, collaboration in most of the projects related to promote and support
private forestry in Catalonia and currently participating in 4 LIFE projects
Contact: Juan Luis Abián
+34 935 747 039
Web: http://cpf.gencat.cat/en
Name: Jornades Tècniques Silvícoles Emili
Garolera
Location: Catalonia - Spain
Product: Technology transfer and dissemination of best practices in private forestry
Eco-innovation or extra value: Dissemination and discussion around different forest
management techniques, practical experience, fostering discussion (among technicians,
administration, owners and students), compilation of best experiences facilitates further
dissemination and transfer activities around the Mediterranean area
Problems faced: Lack of practical education and training related with forest management.
Success quantified: 33 years of experience, yearly courses during 8 weeks and an average
of 40 persons per journey, public recognition and support from the agricultural Ministry and
forest University, support from six other regional organizations working with the forest sector,
involving private companies in financing costs, comprehensive communication through mass
media and technical magazines
Contact: Josep M Tusell
+34 972 842 708
Web: www.forestal.cat
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Italian success stories
Name: Flexible and demand-oriented power
production
Location: Italy
Product: Raised public awareness/acceptance on biogas and renewable energies, demand-
oriented power production
Eco-innovation or extra value: Biofuels by agriculture residues (maize silage, rye whole plant
silage, grass silage, pig slurry), electricity goes to “energy market” and heat to heating of
households, use of digestate as fertilizer
Problems faced: Climate change, greenhouses gases decrease, biogas plants network
Success quantified: 837 kWel installed, running 16 h/d (in average 563 kWel), 2300000 Nmt/a,
263 Nm3/h, digester 1900 m3, gas storage 6000 m3, HRT 100 days, process temperature 40 °C,
the average FIT is for a plant of this size approx. 19,21 €/kWhel
Contact: Andrea Colantoni
+39 0761 357 356
Web:
Name: Finato Martinati farm & BTS Biogas Location: Concamarise,
Province of Verona -Italy
Product: Biogas power plant
Eco-innovation or extra value: Biofuels by agriculture residues (cattle slurry, maize silage and
ryegrass silage), higher biogas output or methane content, improved mixing, higher efficiency,
use of digestate as fertilizer
Problems faced: Climate change, greenhouses gases decrease, agriculture wastes, electric
and heat energy production
Success quantified: 703 kW biogas plant operated for over 8600 hours, average daily
production of 16,870 kW, 68 m3 of digested waste, energy efficiency level of over 85%
-Record performance in 2013 (included the percentage of unfermented biomass, cost, quality,
the level of forage conversion and the percentage of manure used)
Contact: BTS Biogas Srl/GmbH
San Lorenzo, 34 St. Lorenznerstr. I-39031
Brunico/Bruneck (BZ)
+39 0474 37 01 19
Web:
Name: BiocharLazio Location: Province of Viterbo
Italy
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Product: high quality syngas gasifier, small-size scale plants, biochar production
Eco-innovation or extra value: small-size plants, forest biomass use, low costs for the farms,
no environmental impact, biochar production to soil improvement, to create an energetic-agro
district
Problems faced: carbon sequestrations, greenhouses gases reduce, syngas to engine and
electric and heat energy production, low costs
Success quantified: 40 kWth heat power and 20 kWel electricity from fuels at a 15-20 kg/h rate
Contact: Andrea Colantoni
+39 0761 357 356
Web: www.biocharlazio.it
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Moroccan success stories
Name: Association Salma Location: Morocco
Product: Forest goat breeding and traditional cheese
Eco-innovation or extra value: Local & bio-product, work creating business, women
empowerment, education
Problems faced: Climate change, land use change, social and political exclusion, lack of
education or training, lack of raw materials
Success quantified: Partially financed by the National Initiative for the Human Development
(INDH), agreement between the Agricultural School Sidi Mohammed, the Agricultural Regional
Directorate and the Social Division of the Mohammedia Prefecture
Contact: Rachida Nafaa
Web:
Name: Association ‘’Douari’’ dans le
Developpement Durable
Location: Benslimane -
Morocco
Product: Local tourism, local and natural products (principally aromatics herbs and related
products)
Eco-innovation or extra value: sustainable agriculture, work creating business, women and
young girls empowerment
Problems faced: Global warming, women exclusion, lack of education, training, business
opportunities and equipment
Success quantified: Young girls training by international partnership, 10-25% increase of
local population income, social work awarded by the Moroccan Office du Developpement et de
la Cooperation
Contact: Malika Indalabi
+212 661 261 948
Web:
Name: Cooperative Agricole Feminine
‘’Albadaouia’’
Location: Benslimane -
Morocco
Product: Local and natural non-wood products (principally aromatics herbs and related
products), tourism
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Eco-innovation or extra value: social inclusion, sustainable agriculture, work creating
business, women empowerment, waste reuse, BIO certification
Problems faced: Women exclusion, lack of education, training, business opportunities and
equipment
Success quantified: 10-25% increase of local population income, social work awarded by the
Moroccan Office du Developpement et de la Cooperation
Contact: Malika Indalabi
+212 661 261 948
Web:
Name: Coopérative Fal Al Khaïr Location: Sidi Moussa Ben Ali,
Sidi Moussa El Majdoub and
Echellalat - Morocco
Product: Cactus oil
Eco-innovation or extra value: Agriculture development, soil protection, younger inclusion
Problems faced: Soil erosion, climate change, desertification
Success quantified: Project “Projet de réhabilitation et d’extension du cactus Majdoubia”
followed by DPA Casablanca, production increase from 10 to 15 T/ha, employment creation
from 7500 to 15 000 days of work per year, increase of farmer incomes from 3000 to 24280
DH
Contact: Mme Farkacha Amal (Chef de
Service des Produits de Terroir- DPA)
Mme Khadija Jilal (Chef des Affaires
Rurales)
+212 661 825 773
Web:
Name: Coopérative Zenata Location: Oued El Maleh -
Morocco
Product: Production and commercialization of hot peppers
Eco-innovation or extra value: Increased product value through a transformation unit,
unemployment decrease, BIO certification
Problems faced: Lack of equipment, technical assistance and support
Success quantified: Production increase from 12 T/ha to 25T/ha, increase of farmer incomes
from 13000 DH to 40700 DH, 16500 days of work
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Contact: Mme Khadija Jilal (Chef des
Affaires Rurales)
+212 661 825 773
Web:
Name: Association Régionale des Apiculteurs
du Grand Casablanca
Location: Préfecture de
Mohammedia - Morocco
Product: Production of natural honey
Eco-innovation or extra value: Favor biodiversity, unemployment decrease, inclusion of
senior and new beekeepers, initial inversion in material (2000 new beehives to substitute old
ones and directly create)
Problems faced: Climate change, drought, lack of organization
Success quantified: Supported by the project “Projet d’Intensification et valorisation des
produits de la ruche” from the “Plan Maroc Vert, projet pilier II”, production increase from 14
kg/hive to 20 Kg/hive resulting in a total production increase from 35T to 100T, beekeeper
income increase from 4100 DH to 49230 DH per year, creation of 10000 new days of work
Contact: Mme Khadija Jilal (Chef des
Affaires Rurales)
+212 661 825 773
Web:
Name: Coopérative Oued El Maleh Coings
Location: El Maleh, Sidi Moussa
Ben Ali, Mohammedia - Morocco
Product: Quince tree
Eco-innovation or extra value: Rehabilitation and extension of quince tree culture and quince
as agricultural product, natural resources conservation, biodiversity protection
Problems faced: Climate change, unemployment, land abandonment
Success quantified: Agriculture development within the framework “Plan Maroc Vert”, production increase from 15 T/ha to 25T/ha, increase of farmer incomes from 37500 DH/ha to
70070 DH/ha, 7584 days of work
Contact: Mme Khadija Jilal (Chef des
Affaires Rurales)
Direction Provinciale de l’Agriculture de
Casablanca
+212 661 825 773
Web:
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Tunisian success stories
Name: Agricultural Development Associations
Dmaein and Khorgalia
Location: Nefza - Tunisia
Product: Pine nuts
Eco-innovation or extra value: Sustainable forest management, work creating business,
forest pedagogy, public-private partnership, research monitoring, protection
Problems faced: Climate change, poverty, lack of education or training, lack of business
opportunities
Success quantified: 10-27% increase of pine nut production and 50% increase of local
population income
2014-New project on pine value chain financed by GIZ
Contact: Abdelhamid Khaldi
Web:
Name: Agriculture Development Association
Oued Elmaaden Nefza
Location: Beja - Tunisia
Product: Cane (Ampelodesma mauritanica), handcraft making of carpets and umbrellas
Eco-innovation or extra value: Social inclusion, work creating business, women
empowerment, new valorisation
Problems faced: Climate change (fire risk), poverty, lack of education and training, lack of
business opportunities
Success quantified: 30 persons were trained (15 women), added income for women of almost
200$ per year per women
Contact: Chokri Taboubi
(contact through Abdelhamid Khaldi
Web:
Name: Intensification of home gardening in
forest clearings at Ain Snoussi forest
Location: Jandouba - Tunisia
Product: Micro-farming
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Eco-innovation or extra value: Social inclusion, sustainable forest management, job creating
women empowerment, intensification of farming (irrigation, added value agriculture legumes of
small areas 50 to 250 m2).
Problems faced: Exclusion, lack of education or training, lack of business opportunities, lack
of market
Success quantified: Tunisian-Corean pilot project, added income of families between 100$ to
800 $ per year
Contact: Abdelhamid Khaldi
Web: www.inrgref.agrinet.tn
Name: Agriculture Development Association
Hammam Kesra and Jebal Zaghouan
Location: Silana and Zaghouan
- Tunisie
Product: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)
Eco-innovation or extra value: Business creation for distillation by the encouragement of
public-private partnership, preservation of know-how of the local population, sustainable forest
management, certification and product labeling
Problems faced: Climate change, overexploitation and lack of operating rules, poverty, lack
of business opportunities, organization of users, supervision and training, rosemary sector has
several weak links whatsoever to upstream or downstream of the activity (the tender systems,
operating and processing, the industry has no pricing policy or technological support standby)
Success quantified: rosemary ranks first with an average of 108 tons or 41% of total
production, the 2nd Tunisian flagship product PAM, it offers the equivalent of 250 000 work
days per year, improving conditions life of local people by promoting GDA
Contact: Jellali Khalifa
Web:
Name: Agricultural Development Association
Bouabdallah and Tabouba
Location: Siliana and Beja -
Tunisia
Product: Non wood products from Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) “Zgougou”.
Eco-innovation or extra value: Social inclusion, sustainable forest management, monitoring
of research, protection, product marketing, diversity of products (juices, candies, creams, ice
cream, pastries, zgougou paste and vegetable oil zgougou for the manufacture of sunscreen)
Problems faced: Climate change, overexploitation of cones and early exploitation, poverty,
lack of business opportunities and organization, attacks of processionary caterpillar, overriding
interest in wood for DGF, trade control failure, deforestation, fires.
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Success quantified: Job creation, improvement of living conditions of local people by
promoting GDA (Source of Income), market increase of "zgougou" products at national level,
unsaturated market (market size is estimated a minimum 500 t bulk seeds / year, price is almost
8 $ per kg)
Contact: Jellali Khalifa
+216 97418885
Web:
Name : Agricultural Development Association
Oued El Maden
Location: Tunisia
Product: Fixed oil of mastic (Pistacia lentiscus)
Eco-innovation or extra value: Valorization of a NWFP, improvement of household income,
poverty reduction, sustainable forest management, conservation of forest resources
Problems faced: Poverty, difficult working conditions, lack of expertise, market restrictions,
lack of marketing
Success quantified: 40% increase of oil yield, increase of oil quality, increase of household
income
Contact: Abdelhamid Khaldi & Faten
Mezni
[email protected] & faten-
Web:
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Analysis of the Mediterranean innovative
management success
The previous examples of success stories by non-wood forest products and alternative
ways of management were used to perform a comparative analysis in order to extract
useful facts, outline the relevant needs and problems and, most of all, to suggest
potential solutions to support innovation in the Mediterranean Region forestry sector.
The connexion between conservation and exploitation, or in other words sustainability,
should be mentioned as a common link in all of the success stories. It is not only a desired
perspective but the leitmotiv of all the selected cases, as smart and innovative
development could not be considered without the sustainability of forest resources for
future generations (Doblas-Miranda 2013). In addition to this necessary remark, other
important common strategies were detected:
Owners association
The important advantages of association may be extracted only from several cases that
are only localized in the European Mediterranean - Quality Suber, the Consorci Forestal
and the Centre de la Propietat. It is better to face common problems are so that common
objectives may be easily achieved (Carvalho et al. 2011).
The force of the number as a pressure tool have proved to be very effective lobby
influencing local and even national governments in creating new advantages for the
forestry sector or pushing already existing ideas into real laws.
It is undeniable that business opportunities are multiplied when several forest owners
respond together, whether to consumer demands or producing and selling new products.
Usually, transformers and distributors in the value chain are better prepared to respond
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to a higher quantity of production than that provided by single and scattered forest
owners.
Last but not least, science would easily be able to be carried out, explained and applied
with the help of these organizations. This is especially important when carrying out large
scale (spatial or temporal) experiments in the need of realistic conditions. Similarly,
owners associations speed up putting in to practice successful experimental approaches,
contributing to the transference from science to innovation.
Certification
Several of the presented cases, Social Forest, Quality Suber, Consorci Forestal,
Albadaouia and Zenata cooperatives and Hammam Kesra and Jebal Zaghouan
associations, based their success on the support of sustainable certified products. In
these cases, certification is provided principally by PEFC but also BIO and others. In any
case, it is recommended to base a single product or initiative certification in a more
general national certification system (PEFC 2015).
Certification is the kind of exemplary tool that copes with the double objective of
conservation with exploitation. On the one hand, forest sustainability is assured by the
certification process, if correctly applied. On the other hand, end users will choose
certified products against other similar products if properly informed, supporting the
business.
Inclusion of local populations
Local owners, inhabitants, business people, NGOs, governments… no idea will succeed
if isolated from the most close environment. Neglecting the consideration of the local
populations is not only a question of ignoring the know-how, but is also rejecting any
possibility of long term sustainability (Herbel et al. 2012).
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Several of the explained initiatives, both in the European and in the African
Mediterranean, take the educational value into consideration (Social Forest, Consorci
Forestal, Jornades Emili Garolera and Salma, Douari, Dmaein and Khorgalia
Associations). By providing education and training to local inhabitants, capacity building
is created and the initial work is assured for the next generation.
Also, as mentioned, other success stories were based in learning from the local
populations (Associations Salma, Grand Casablanca, Oued El Maleh, Hammam Kesra
and Jebal Zaghouan). Traditional management usually implies lower energy costs and
more possibilities of increasing employment. Moreover, it assures the acceptation of the
initiative by locals.
The improvement of social conditions is not limited to educational aspects. Social
inclusion has been proved to increase success by civil society appreciation and capacity
building (Social Forest, Fal Al Khaïr Cooperative, home gardening and Bouabdallah and
Tabouba Associations). Moreover, the implicit benefits of eliminating social barriers
should be enough to consider it in any forestry initiative.
This is especially true in the case of the empowerment of women, and even more in the
Maghreb (Associations Salma, Douari and Oued Elmaaden Nefza). Women in southern
Mediterranean countries are a perfect example of know-how maintenance, support of
family business, educational needing and educational exponential benefit, etc. Moreover,
the benefits of the empowerment of women for Mediterranean forests go beyond specific
success stories as explained in the following section.
Consideration of indirect and higher scale benefits
Being open minded is necessary in order to consider the benefits to the forestry sector
of some of the presented success stories which are related to biofuels, agriculture or
goat cheese production.
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In all of the Italian cases - the demand-oriented production, Finato Martinati farm and
BiocharLazio, - all show the potential of biofuel, especially for the agricultural sector. At
a local scale, the use of forest residues for bioenergy may be sustainable, as well as
support a promising business that may help the maintenance of forest owners (Watson
et al. 2000). Indirect advantages are related to a better environment and lower
dependence from fossil fuels, thanks to the use of renewable resources, and lower
pollution potential, if digestates are used as fertilisers. The use of biogas, also, decreases
the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Forest biomass used as a
source is only shown in one case, this one of BiocharLazio, showing the potential of
forest residues, in particular for landowners sharing farming and forestry exploitations.
The empowerment of women and the increase in their employment both contribute to a
lower rate of forest intensification (Stloukal et al. 2013). Any reduction in the time that
women devote to work results in higher education and employment rates, and therefore,
a lower use of forest resources for living. In most Moroccan cases, regardless of whether
the final product is hot pepper (Zenata Cooperative), goat cheese (Salma Association)
or cactus oil (Fal Al Khaïr Cooperative), the womens’ associations contribute to a
reduction in unemployment, a reduction in the time devoted to work (as their work is
better payed), and increase education. All of these factors combined result in a reduction
of the need for forest resources for cattle or heat. Moreover, in most cases (Salma and
Douari, for example), associations build community ovens that consume less wood for
heating.
Some of the proposals advocate for the protection of biodiversity and other
environmental advantages. Conservation of local biodiversity entrains direct advantages
in some cases, as is the case for beekeepers. Nevertheless, in general, higher
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biodiversity levels implies a battery of associated environmental advantages for the
sustainability of forest and, therefore, the local economy (Ding & Nunes 2012).
Another example is the protection of soil erosion by cactus plantations; although these
cacti are more an agricultural product, this could mitigate desertification and therefore
benefit the conservation of adjacent forests.
Public-private partnerships
Most of the successful cases shown above are the result of a collaboration by both
private business and government, from the beginning or in later stages of development.
This double implication not only assures an easing related to the legal framework of the
performed activities, but increases acceptance, dissemination and long term
sustainability (USAID 2003).
In the north Mediterranean countries, it may be appreciated how government implication
and support is achieved by private association (Consorci Forestal, Centre de la
Propietat). Once the force of the numbers are shown, local administrations tend to
sustain promising business initiatives. In any case, although with certain difficulties, the
private sector exists and it is the administration which should be implicated in order to
guarantee the sustainability of the forestry sector.
On the contrary, public-private partnerships should be created in the Southern
Mediterranean. Most of the forests are publically-owned, and this is translated into feeble
controls of forest use and conservation. In the observed successful cases (Agriculture
Development Associations Hammam Kesra and Jebal Zaghouan), associations of
workers or public-private properties are the beginning of a sustainable use of the forests.
Diversification of products
Another important component of success in most of the described cases is the
confidence in innovative forest products. The wood market is dominated by northern
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countries but non-wood forest products could, in many cases, result in higher incomes,
and open new industries and value chains (Palahí et al. 2009).
Some traditionally recollected forest products could be produced on a commercial scale,
as in the case of aromatics (Albadaouia Cooperative), reducing forest intensification.
Other historically sustainable products, such as cork (Quality suber) or honey (Grand
Casablanca Association), could benefit from modern techniques of associative
landscape management and government support. Tree species with low wood value,
such as the Aleppo pine (Bouabdallah and Tabouba Associations), could become highly
profitable in the form of fruit juices, candies, creams, ice cream, pastries and vegetable
oil, and even in the cosmetic sector. Finally, there are a lot of different tree species, such
as mastic (Oued El Maden Association), cane (Oued Elmaaden Nefza Association), and
quince (Oued El Maleh Cooperative), which are not usually included in the forestry value
chain despite their great potential.
Detected problems
Although all of the presented cases are success stories, it should also be mentioned that
common barriers, even in these cases, could be detected and should be consider for
future initiatives.
Principally, there is a common problem in the Northern and Southern Mediterranean
although with opposite origins - a lack of governmental and industrial collaboration. In
Europe, a higher governmental implication may increase the number of initiatives,
innovation and business success in the forestry sector, always based on sustainable
growth. In the Maghreb, higher industrial progress and private ownership may translate
to lower forest intensification whilst increasing sustainable and inclusive development.
Another barrier to innovation more centred in Southern Mediterranean countries is
inadequate access to internet and other innovative ways of dissemination. Local and
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successful initiatives are not known by populations in similar situations and therefore,
despite their great potential, only contribute to isolated cases.
In conclusion, there is another common link in all presented cases; the contribution to
local development. Capacity building is basic for the maintenance of all the presented
initiatives, which are unable to continue isolated from the local environment. We
conceived this project and the present report based on the idea that supporting the
Mediterranean forestry sector will increase the development potential of the region. The
presented cases definitely confirm that the future of the forestry sector in Mediterranean
countries goes hand by hand with smart, sustainable and inclusive development.
www.menfri.eu 23
Selected bibliography
Carvalho M, Americo MS, Stefanek B, et al. 2011. Institutional Innovation in European
Private Forestry: the Emergence of Forest Owners' Organizations. In: Weiss G,
Pettenella D, Ollonqvist P, et al. (Eds.) Innovation in Forestry: Territorial and Value
Chain Relationships, pp 68-86.
Ding H, Nunes PALD. 2012. Modeling the links between biodiversity, ecosystem services
and human wellbeing in the context of climate change: results from an econometric
analysis on the European forest ecosystems. BC3 Working Paper Series 2012-12.
Basque Centre for Climate Change.
http://www.bc3research.org/workingpapers/2012-12.html
Doblas-Miranda E (Ed.). 2013. Conservar Aprovechando: Cómo integrar el cambio
global en la gestión de los montes españoles. CREAF. ISBN: 84-695-8587-8.
http://www.creaf.uab.es/montes/Conservar_Aprovechando_WEB.pdf
Herbel D, Crowley E, Ourabah Haddad N, Lee M. 2012 Good practices in building
innovative rural institutions to increase food security FAO, IFAD. ISBN: 978-92-5-
106898-4. http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/i2258e/i2258e00.pdf
Palahí M, Birot Y, Bravo F, Gorriz E (Eds.). 2009. Modelling, valuing and managing
Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems for Non-Timber Goods and Services. EFI
Proceedings 57. ISBN: 978-952-5453-27-0.
http://www.efi.int/files/attachments/publications/efi_proceedings57_net.pdf
PEFC. 2015. Developing a National Forest Certification System: Your Toolkit.
http://www.pefc.org/images/documents/brochures/toolkit_interactive_jan_2015.pdf
Stloukal L, Holding C, Kaaria S, Guarascio F, Gunewardena N. (2013) Forests, food
security and gender. Unasylva 64, pp 37-46. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3482e.pdf
www.menfri.eu 24
USAID Forest Program. 2003. Public-Private Partnerships in Forestry.
https://www.greenbiz.com/sites/default/files/document/CustomO16C45F64220.pdf
Watson RT, Noble IR, Bolin B, Ravindranath NH, Verardo DJ, Dokken DJ (Eds.). 2000.
4.5. Biofuels and Forest Products. In: Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry.
IPCC & Cambridge University Press.
http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/land_use/index.php?idp=205
Other interesting publications
FAO. Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests: policy orientations for integrated
management of forest ecosystems in Mediterranean landscapes.
http://www.fao.org/forestry/36306-08872a0d33e559c4f5c42304068d43763.pdf
FUTUREforest. The Voice of the Regions: Europe’s forests and climate change.
http://agricultura.gencat.cat/web/.content/mn_medi_natural/mn08_gestio_forestal/do
cuments/funcions_boscos/funcio_ambiental/fitxers_estatics/futureforest_report.pdf
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no
609542