RECOMMENDATIONSfor the European Commission

ContentsThe ROBINWOOD PLUS project

The work methodology

Multifunctional development of the forest :

Five priority concernsForest and environmental education

Forest development and management

Biodiversity and biomass

Wood and local know-how

Tourism in forest areas

Strategic recommendations

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THE ROBINWOOD PLUSPROJECT

Regional Initiative Project – Miniprogramme

Italie, Roumanie, Finlande and France

Total budget: € 3,063,463.56Of which subprojects: € 1,300,000.00 (42%)Of which ERDF: € 2,358,322.67 (76%)

36 MonthsJanuary 2010 – December 2013

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Main aimMain aim

promotepromote

developdevelop

Multifunctional forestry

Multifunctional forestry

Multifunctionality of the forest

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societyEnvironnement economy

multifunctionality

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5 keys areas

Improve regional and local policies

Improve governance

Improve knowledge

Development of an international social network

Exchange of experience between regions

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Partner regions

Forest areas

Forest cover territories (en %)

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The challenges facing the mini-program

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THE WORK METHODOLOGYParticipation and consensus

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Participatory process

Participatory process

methodmethod

Responsibilities of each partners

Responsibilities of each partners

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stages

Drafting reports1

consultation2

Reporting process3

seminar4

Summary and formulation of the final guide5

Presentation of the guide and recommendations with DG6

Finalization and publishing7

Circulated to European politicians8

5 PRIORITY AREASMultifunctional development of the forest

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Enlighten the populations as regards the valuable heritage their forests represent to encourage them to get involved in their participatory

management 1

Encourage stakeholders to work together to implement sustainable and multifunctional management plans for forests 2

Reconcile renewable energy generation using forest biomass, preservation of biodiversity and development of quality woods in wood-

processing sectors 3

Optimize the economic development of wood resources through local expertise and retain the added value in the territories; 4

Innovate to put forest areas on the tourism market. 5

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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONSo the European citizens can regard forests as a heritage of value for

everyone

Communicate to engage

Build a shared forestry culture

Targeted, decentralized and long-term initiatives

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Consider environmental education and communication as a priority1

Adapt communication themes and tools to local audiences and specifics2

Secure long-term funding for communication campaigns on a European scale3

Target a wide audience4

RECOMMENDATIONS

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Communicate with potential consumers of wood products5

Run positive communication campaigns focusing on the benefits for the target populations6

Communicate about the origin of forests landscapes ( human activitie)7

Conduct environmental education and communication campaigns8

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Ensure these communication campaigns can be conducted at local level9

Continue environmental education projects already in place10

Supplement environmental education programmes with technical training11

Include economic and social issues in environmental education programmes12

FOREST DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Pursue sustainable management policies for forest regions

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Strategic challenges

A worrying situation

Acting together at the relevant level

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Implement energy, environmental and industrial policies in a balanced and harmonized manner1

Promote participatory planning2

Promote market development for high valued-added manufactured wood products3

Foster cross-border cooperation in developing a sustainable management model for forests4

RECOMMANDATIONS

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Support the development of wood certification (origin and chain) 5

Facilitate the structuring of the wood sector on a European scale6

Facilitate the structuring of the wood supply chain on a European scale through direct financial aids and tax incentives 7

Put in place financial compensation mechanisms in favour of public and private-sector stakeholders involved in environment protection and

the preservation of biodiversity8

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Clarify the status of operators and their eligibility for subsidies9

Back and assist the implementation of projects in areas10

Roll out management plans on the relevant scale within the framework of a participatory approach inspired by forestry charters11

Foster the development of short wood processing channels12

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Support studies measuring available forestry resources and estimates of biodiversity and above all support all projects following

on from such studies13

Assist territories by giving them the means to adopt the FLEGT approach and to implement wood regulations and thereby effectively

combat the fraudulent use of wood14

BIODIVERSITY AND BIOMASSMobilize the wood sector while preserving

the biodiversity of European forests

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Take local issues into account to etablish a balance

Furthering our knowledge

Managing energy derived from wood

Conservation and development

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Encourage participatory forest management1

Promote the support, training and implementation of support tools for stakeholders in the wood sector2

Develop and implement financial compensation mechanisms for the owners and operators involved in responsible forest management3

Support and promote forest owner access to the Carbon Credit market4

RECOMMANDATIONS

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Fund specific research programs5

Supporting the setting up of biomass-derived bio ernergy generation plants throught communication actions6

Bring forest owners together in cooperatives to attain the critical mass needed for bio energy generation, provide technical tools and financial

support for investment7

PROMOTION OF WOOD AND LOCAL KNOW-HOW

Retain added value in the regions by developing local sectors

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Local development under threat

An underexploited local resource

A weakened sector

A sector penalized by regulations

A lack of skilled manpower

Wood, an underrated material

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Allow public authorities to prefer local wood in the construction of buildings and the development of public spaces in terms of

environmental criteria, by allowing the introduction of an origin of wood criterion in bidding

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Promote the use of local wood to end consumers and local authorities through tax incentives 2

Develop research programmes to identify and quantify the technical properties of wood species for the furniture and construction markets3

Promote the use of local wood and non wood products by including forest owners and craftsmen in these operations 4

RECOMMANDATIONS

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Bridge gaps between stakeholders to structure the sectors and shorten channels 5

Adapt existing operating policies to the needs and difficulties specific to small-sized craft businesses 6

Bridge gaps between stakeholders to structure the sectors and shorten channels7

Reduce taxes on employment to facilitate recruitment8

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Develop the teaching of wood processing and traditional know-how by creating specific training courses backed by existing training institutions10

Introduce the teaching of wood processing in national education programs11

Ensure that regulations do not discourage young people from taking up manual careers12

Professionals suggest the etablishing of quotas for forest utilization by local businesses and the containment of the expert of logs

and finished products by taxing exports and using this tax to fund aid to craftsmen

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Finnish partners call for decision-makers to encourage innovation in wood construction techniques 9

TOURISM IN FOREST AREAS

Development potential

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A reserve of economic growth for the regions

Sustainable tourism in a niche market

Promoting endogenous development

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Consider tourism in forest areas as high quality, niche market compatible with the aims of sustainability and preserving biodiversity 1

Pursue programmes for developing forest areas to promote the retaining of local populations and the settling of new populations 2

Develop ICT use and infrastructures in the areas3

Promote the development of microcredit to allow local stakeholders to develop their tourism projects 4

RECOMMANDATIONS

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Anticipate the development of tourism in forest areas to prevent uncontrolled development by structuring and supervising local public

policies 5

Promote endogenous development of tourism through the emergence of and support for local small-sized operators 6

Promote tourism development in widespread areas along organized routes to share the activity's economic benefits of the activity between

regions and stakeholders 7

Promote the setting up of tourist routes at European level 8

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Promote cooperation actions between stakeholders at local and European level 9

Promote the practice of regional marketing in the areas 10

Establish multi-year training programmes for local stakeholders to improve the tourist offer and the quality of customer service 11

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

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Sustainable development

Major opportunities

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Allow areas to communicate in a decentralized, sustainable way with local stakeholders to build a shared forest culture to achieve

acceptability and operational implementation of forest multifunctional development policies

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Support stakeholders in the areas by supporting their projects and developing a forest development policy governance model

to maintain the necessary balance between developing the resource, preserving biodiversity, renewable energy generation

and social demands

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Priorities

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Supporting efforts to collectively organize and thereby sustain local wood-processing sectors by improving the efficiency

of the value chain and retaining the added value in the areas 3

Support forest area development approaches to create the conditions required for endogenous development of a competitive tourism offering compatible with the sustainable development objectives

of the areas

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Thank you for your attention