AFRICA

From March 14-15, representatives from women’s groups, traditional authorities, local NGO’s, government, the church, forest- and agro-industrial companies, the mining industry, hunters and Baka pygmy indigenous peoples held a workshop to plan joint activities in the newly formed Dja et Mpomo Model Forest in eastern Cameroon, the country’s second site. Poverty alleviation and conflict reduction plans were among the priorities discussed.

With more knowledge about adding value to forest products, logging companies and the agro-forestry industry profit from forest resources more so than local indigenous populations. This situation causes conflicts between the different forest actors. The Cameroonian government has introduced management plans to come to a more equitable use of, and benefits from, forest resources and revenues. Unfortunately, collaboration between different management units is sometimes weak. With the Model Forest now in place, these units constitute a coherent network for experimenting with sustainable management principles on the basis of voluntary partnerships.

ASIA

A recent CIFOR publication highlights the launching of Indonesia’s Model Forest program. The official launching by the Minister of Forestry took place in Jakarta in December 2004. The publication, “Proceedings of Launching Model Forest Indonesia as Part of the International Model Forest Network, Jakarta, 2 December 2004”, (3.6 MB) can be downloaded from CIFOR’s web site at: www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/books/Model_Forest_Indonesia.pdf

The Ulot Watershed Model Forest Stakeholders Federation and other partners conducted a multi-sectoral ecotourism management planning workshop at the Leyte State University in Baybay, Leyte, Philippines, May 18–20, 2006. The workshop emphasized the importance of the ecotourism industry and the economic benefits it could bring. Participants identified potential ecotourism sites in the Model Forest area, prioritized the sites for initial development, organized the Technical Planning Group (TPG) to package the ecotourism plan and plotted out succeeding activities. The final ecotourism plan is expected to be completed in September 2006 in time for the launching of the ecotourism project for the Ulot Watershed Model Forest.

CANADA

Valued IMFN Secretariat colleague Kaye Meikle is moving on. After 8 years as Coordinator with IMFNS, Kaye has accepted a position with IDRC’s Grant Administration Division. Her tireless efforts, attention to detail and in-depth knowledge of the Model Forest program will be sincerely missed by all. Best of luck Kaye in your new job—we couldn’t have done it without you!

Good bye message from Kaye:

“After more than 8 years, it is with very mixed feelings that I am leaving the IMFNS. I would like to take this opportunity to say good-bye to all the wonderful Model Forest people that I have come to know over the years, some in person and some only through e-mail, though we’ve corresponded for so many years that I feel like we are old friends. I have accepted a position elsewhere in IDRC and hope to have the pleasure of working with some of you again in my new capacity. Wishing you all success and happiness in your future. Keep up the good work and take care.”Kaye Meikle

The Canadian Model Forest Network is pleased to announce the establishment of the J. Michael Waldram Memorial Model Forest Fellowship. The Fellowship, valued at up to $1000, will be open to all Canadian Aboriginal youth enrolled in either a degree or diploma program in natural resource management at a Canadian university or college. One award will be granted annually. The Fellowship will be administered by the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF).

J. Michael (Mike) Waldram, RPF was the General Manager of the Manitoba Model Forest since its inception in 1992 until his passing in January, 2006.  Mike strove to enhance the participation of indigenous peoples in the Model Forest program as well as in forest management decision making. In particular, Mike viewed the participation of indigenous youth as an integral component of the Model Forest program and the future of indigenous involvement in all aspects of natural resource management.

EUROPE/RUSSIA

The Parc naturel régional du Morvan, located in the Bourgogne region of France, includes 106 towns and eight cities. The Park structures its actions around a project which aims to ensure the sustainable and balanced protection, management and development of its territory.In July of 2001, the sustainable management concept resulting from the Rio Summit resulted in new forest legislation, introducing forest charters and allowing the implementation of multi-year action programs developed by the regions and mobilized around local forestry issues. The partnership-oriented and contractual logic of these projects, coupled with the need to affirm a multi-functional approach in the Morvan forest, motivated the Parc naturel régional du Morvan to adopt such a system.

The Morvan Forest Charter has brought a new dimension to the debate on forest management by including actors who were previously excluded from the decision-making process. Thus, cooperation between different categories of actors, as well as the meeting of diverse ideas and sensibilities, have made it possible to adopt a transversal approach to the forest and its many uses. Our approach based on the charter closely matches the definition of the Model Forest concept: a large land base, a sustainable forest management approach and a partnership. This is why it seems natural for us to work with the International Model Forest Network in order to share experiences concerning this type of approach.

Russia’s Model Forests met during the recently held Canada-Russia Boreal Forest Workshop (St. Petersburg, May 29 – June 2) to discuss ways of improving their interaction and effectiveness. The five Model Forests—Kovdozersky, Pskov, Komi, Kologrivski and Gassinski—concluded their meetings with an agreement to establish a Russian National Model Forest Network initiative. Next steps include development of specific plans and strategies for collaboration and consideration of ways to strengthen bilateral (Canada-Russia) and circumboreal ties through Model Forests.

Slow economic development in the state forestry department, and a lack of resources for road construction, has led Gassinski Model Forest stakeholders to selectively harvest timber in accessible forest stands near existing roads. This harvesting method has led to the unusual mosaic pattern where canopy densities within 5-10 km of existing forest roads do not exceed 25-40%, while remote forest stands remain untouched. GMF scientific partners are now investigating how this type of forest management influences local wildlife habitat, the conservation of biodiversity and the reproductive potential of logged forest stands. The key question guiding researchers is: Are the logged forest sites resilient?

On May 24, the Swedish Forestry Agency, at its headquarters in Jönköping, hosted a 1-day seminar on landscape approaches to sustainable forest management by looking at the Model Forest approach. In addition to a keynote presentation delivered by Peter Besseau, Executive Director, IMFNS, presentations were made by representatives of two Swedish Model Forests

that are in early stages of operation—Vilhelmina and Bergslagen—and two that are being considered—Leipipir and Kristianstad. Johan Svensson of the Swedish Forestry Agency also delivered a presentation on the “Baltic Forest” initiative looking at the feasibility of applying the Model Forest approach in eight north European countries. The presentations are available at http://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/minskog/templates/Page.asp?id=18427

The EU Interreg supported “Baltic Forest” initiative will host its second meeting in Tallin, Estonia, September 28 and 29. The initiative brings together representatives from eight north European countries to enhance sustainable regional development in the Baltic Sea region based on the management and use of forests as a resource. By establishing and employing multi-purpose, cross-sectoral and trans-national forest-sector cooperation the Baltic Forest will test the feasibility and utility of applying Model Forests to address specific national issues and to strengthen inter-regional ties in areas of shared interest and importance.

LAC

Chiloé Model Forest mourns loss of strong supporter. We have received sad news of the death of Grand Chief Carlos Lincoman, one of our advisers and co-founder of the Chiloé Model Forest. With his enthusiasm and wisdom, Mr. Lincoman was a worthy representative of the General Council of Buta Wuapi Chilhue Chiefs on the Board of Directors of the Model Forest. He shared the visions and interests of the Huilliche communities with the board members, advancing proposals for local development that fostered the full participation of the communities and promoting a respectful and harmonious coexistence with the environment of Chiloé.

The developing Model Forest Eco-enterprise Directory continues to make headway. Don Giannace of the Regional Model Forest Network for LAC will be sending out instructions for eco-enterprise data collection to each Model Forest. Please watch for it in your inbox.

The22nd and 23rd of June Sabana Yegua Model Forest hosted a regular meeting of the LAC-Net board of directors. The central theme of the meeting was Governance. Washington Alvarado, manager of the Araucarias del Alto Malleco Model Forest presented a proposal relating to the participation of Model Forest general managers on the LAC-Net board.

On the 27th of April, the General Manager of the Honduran Forestry Development Corporation (AFE-COHDEFOR) formally requested membership for Honduras into LAC-Net.

On May 25th la Junta de Castilla y León (autonomous government of Castilla y León) communicated their interest in joining the International Model Forest Network. Authorities from this government were invited to participate in the Latin American and Caribbean Board of Directors meeting in the Dominican Republic June 22-23.

CIFOR is searching for contributions for a book on community management of tropical forests (CMF) in the Americas. This publication will focus on themes such as experiences, lessons learned and challenges for the future. The proposed book will examine CMF initiatives in Latin America allowing for critical reflection on the positive and negative aspects of CMF in the region and analyze the context that favours its implementation.