RECOMMENDATIONS for the European Commission

Contents The ROBINWOOD PLUS project The work methodology Multifunctional development of the forest : Five priority concerns Forest and environmental education Forest development and management Biodiversity and biomass Wood and local know-how Tourism in forest areas Strategic recommendations 2

3 THE ROBINWOOD PLUS PROJECT

Regional Initiative Project – Miniprogramme Italie, Roumanie, Finlande and France Total budget: € 3,063, Of which subprojects: € 1,300, (42%) Of which ERDF: € 2,358, (76%) 36 Months January 2010 – December

5 Main aim promote develop Multifunctional forestry

Multifunctionality of the forest 6 society Environnement economy multifunctionality

7 5 keys areas Improve regional and local policies Improve governance Improve knowledge Development of an international social network Exchange of experience between regions

8 Partner regions

Forest areas Forest cover territories (en %) 9

The challenges facing the mini-program 10

THE WORK METHODOLOGY Participation and consensus 11

12 Participatory process method Responsibilities of each partners

13 stages Drafting reports 1 1 consultation 2 2 Reporting process 3 3 seminar 4 4 Summary and formulation of the final guide 5 5 Presentation of the guide and recommendations with DG 6 Finalization and publishing 7 7 Circulated to European politicians 8 8

5 PRIORITY AREAS Multifunctional development of the forest 14

15 Enlighten the populations as regards the valuable heritage their forests represent to encourage them to get involved in their participatory management 1 1 Encourage stakeholders to work together to implement sustainable and multifunctional management plans for forests 2 2 Reconcile renewable energy generation using forest biomass, preservation of biodiversity and development of quality woods in wood- processing sectors 3 3 Optimize the economic development of wood resources through local expertise and retain the added value in the territories; 4 4 Innovate to put forest areas on the tourism market. 5 5

16 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION So 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 17

18 Consider environmental education and communication as a priority 1 1 Adapt communication themes and tools to local audiences and specifics Adapt communication themes and tools to local audiences and specifics 2 2 Secure long-term funding for communication campaigns on a European scale Secure long-term funding for communication campaigns on a European scale 3 3 Target a wide audience 4 4 RECOMMENDATIONS

19 Communicate with potential consumers of wood products 5 5 Run positive communication campaigns focusing on the benefits for the target populations Run positive communication campaigns focusing on the benefits for the target populations 6 6 Communicate about the origin of forests landscapes ( human activitie) 7 7 Conduct environmental education and communication campaigns 8 8

20 Ensure these communication campaigns can be conducted at local level Ensure these communication campaigns can be conducted at local level 9 9 Continue environmental education projects already in place 10 Supplement environmental education programmes with technical training Supplement environmental education programmes with technical training 11 Include economic and social issues in environmental education programmes Include economic and social issues in environmental education programmes 12

FOREST DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT Pursue sustainable management policies for forest regions 21

Strategic challenges A worrying situation Acting together at the relevant level 22

23 Implement energy, environmental and industrial policies in a balanced and harmonized manner 1 1 Promote participatory planning 2 2 Promote market development for high valued-added manufactured wood products 3 3 Foster cross-border cooperation in developing a sustainable management model for forests 4 4 RECOMMANDATIONS

24 Support the development of wood certification (origin and chain) 5 5 Facilitate the structuring of the wood sector on a European scale 6 6 Facilitate the structuring of the wood supply chain on a European scale through direct financial aids and tax incentives 7 7 Put in place financial compensation mechanisms in favour of public and private-sector stakeholders involved in environment protection and the preservation of biodiversity 8 8

25 Clarify the status of operators and their eligibility for subsidies 9 9 Back and assist the implementation of projects in areas 10 Roll out management plans on the relevant scale within the framework of a participatory approach inspired by forestry charters 11 Foster the development of short wood processing channels 12

26 Support studies measuring available forestry resources and estimates of biodiversity and above all support all projects following on from such studies Support studies measuring available forestry resources and estimates of biodiversity and above all support all projects following on from such studies 13 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 wood 14

BIODIVERSITY AND BIOMASS Mobilize the wood sector while preserving the biodiversity of European forests 27

Take local issues into account to etablish a balance Furthering our knowledge Managing energy derived from wood Conservation and development 28

29 Encourage participatory forest management 1 1 Promote the support, training and implementation of support tools for stakeholders in the wood sector Promote the support, training and implementation of support tools for stakeholders in the wood sector 2 2 Develop and implement financial compensation mechanisms for the owners and operators involved in responsible forest management 3 3 Support and promote forest owner access to the Carbon Credit market 4 4 RECOMMANDATIONS

30 Fund specific research programs 5 5 Supporting the setting up of biomass-derived bio ernergy generation plants throught communication actions 6 6 Bring forest owners together in cooperatives to attain the critical mass needed for bio energy generation, provide technical tools and financial support for investment 7 7

PROMOTION OF WOOD AND LOCAL KNOW-HOW Retain added value in the regions by developing local sectors 31

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 32

33 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 1 1 Promote the use of local wood to end consumers and local authorities through tax incentives 2 2 Develop research programmes to identify and quantify the technical properties of wood species for the furniture and construction markets 3 3 Promote the use of local wood and non wood products by including forest owners and craftsmen in these operations 4 4 RECOMMANDATIONS

34 Bridge gaps between stakeholders to structure the sectors and shorten channels 5 5 Adapt existing operating policies to the needs and difficulties specific to small-sized craft businesses 6 6 Bridge gaps between stakeholders to structure the sectors and shorten channels Bridge gaps between stakeholders to structure the sectors and shorten channels 7 7 Reduce taxes on employment to facilitate recruitment 8 8

35 Develop the teaching of wood processing and traditional know-how by creating specific training courses backed by existing training institutions 10 Introduce the teaching of wood processing in national education programs Introduce the teaching of wood processing in national education programs 11 Ensure that regulations do not discourage young people from taking up manual careers Ensure that regulations do not discourage young people from taking up manual careers 12 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 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 8 8 Finnish partners call for decision-makers to encourage innovation in wood construction techniques 9 9

TOURISM IN FOREST AREAS Development potential 36

A reserve of economic growth for the regions Sustainable tourism in a niche market Promoting endogenous development 37

38 Consider tourism in forest areas as high quality, niche market compatible with the aims of sustainability and preserving biodiversity 1 1 Pursue programmes for developing forest areas to promote the retaining of local populations and the settling of new populations 2 2 Develop ICT use and infrastructures in the areas 3 3 Promote the development of microcredit to allow local stakeholders to develop their tourism projects 4 4 RECOMMANDATIONS

39 Anticipate the development of tourism in forest areas to prevent uncontrolled development by structuring and supervising local public policies 5 5 Promote endogenous development of tourism through the emergence of and support for local small-sized operators 6 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 7 Promote the setting up of tourist routes at European level 8 8

40 Promote cooperation actions between stakeholders at local and European level 9 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 41

42 Sustainable development Major opportunities

43 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 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 1 1 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 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 2 2 Priorities

44 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 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 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 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 4 4

45 Thank you for your attention