The European Commission (EC) recently approved 1.35 million Euros over 3 years to enhance forest policy coordination through implementation of the model forest concept. Participants in the ‘Med Project’ as it is known held their first Steering Committee meeting in conjunction with the Mediterranean Model Forest Network (MMFN) Gereral Assembly on March 11-13, 2009. The next meeting will be held on May 14-15, 2009, in Sardinia, Italy. Other funding opportunities for non-EU member regions are being explored by the MMFN.