In a nutshell

Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest (FMMF) is located in the region of Tuscany, in the center of Italy. More than 70% of its landscape is forested, and the predominant human activities are directly linked with forest ecosystem services: wine, olive and timber production, hiking, tourism, outdoor sports, hunting, mushroom and herb picking, to name a few.

Other highlights of the territory include:

• The first private forest certified PEFC in Tuscany (Pomino, 1,680 ha, Frescobaldi) and the second public forest with double certification – PEFC and FSC (Complesso di Rincine, 1,448 ha, managed by UCVV);
• Specific regional forest law and rules addressed towards sustainable forest management;
• Closeness with the city of Florence and its famous landscapes internationally known;
• Active economic wood production, for thermic and structural use.

The FMMF Association helps improve the integration of sustainable forest and land management practices that increase the links to and awareness of social-economic components (directly or indirectly) within the landscape. The Association is contributing to the development of a local forest economy (Aprofomo and Demoscope projects), encouraging environment protection and biodiversity conservation, supporting sustainable local tourism, and promoting local agro-food chains.

Landscape

The FMMF landscape is characterized by a “system of farms” mostly engaged in the cultivation of vineyards, olive groves and woodlands, aside from those areas where chestnut groves are maintained. Approximately 95% of the forestland area is made up of broadleaf woods, which have been historically managed by coppicing for the production of firewood with the remaining 5% in high stands of conifers arising from plantations dating from the 1950s and 60s.

The landscape encompasses 7 municipalities of the eastern province of Florence.  Local forestry businesses are on average very small to small enterprises (from 1 to 3 employees), producing mainly firewood, sold directly to local home owners or retail businesses.

The FMMF has several large protected areas of differing types such as ANPIL (local protected natural areas), SIC and SIR sites (sites with European, regional and local significance). Some of these are in the Casentino, Monte Falterona and Campigna Forests National Park.

The economy is strongly connected with agriculture, especially with wine and olive oil production, while forests are managed for centuries for wood and non-timber forest products, such as mushrooms. The economy is also influenced by the proximity of Florence, tourism and handcrafts production being important activities, especially in densely populated villages, creating a complex mosaic shaped by humans as a result of thousands of years of interventions.

Partnership

At its creation, FMMF had about 44 members among cultural and sports associations, professionals, university and companies. Today it counts over 130 active members from all sectors, from the FMMF landscape and outside.

Every four years, the Assembly of Members nominates a Steering Committee, composed of a president, a vice president, a treasure secretary and a coordinator of thematic commissions. There are four thematic commissions: Environment and Society, Culture and Tourism, Productive sectors, and International Relations. Each commission has the task to develop actions and projects that correspond to the general objectives of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Association.

Sustainability

Strategic goals:

• Development of sustainable wood and NTFP chains;
• Support sustainable local tourism;
• Enhance forest multifunctionality;
• Increase forest workers capacities for sustainable forest management.

Key actions in place to reach these goals:

• Registration at national level (Ministry) of a local wood trademark “Legno FMMF”;
• PIF project proposal (Forest Integrated Chain Project) elaborated with 24 public and private partners and involving over 6.000 hectares and over 2 million euros in investment.

Key impacts:

• Creation of the “Legno FMMF” website for trading wood products;
• Agreement of Standard Aprofomo by several forest enterprises who works on FMMF territory;
• ECST certification obtained (European Charter of Sustainable Tourism in protected areas).

Learn more about Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest 

Follow Foresta Modello Montagne Fiorentine on Facebook

News article: Foresta Modello Delle Montagne Fiorentine: la Prima in Italia (in Italian)

News article: Foresta Modello Delle Montagne Fiorentine. “Il legno”, un marchio di qualità” (in Italian)

News article: Foresta Modello. Un processo per la gestione sostenibile (in Italian)

Article: Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest Approach

Awards:

• 2013 From LEGAMBIENTE ITALIA special award “Districts of Beauty”; because the forests of this territory are managed in a sustainable way to protect the landscape and the environment, but also to create opportunities for work, income and new services to local communities and thus avoid depopulation. In this context, a network of small biomass district heating plants was built. They are fed with the residues of local forest works.
• 2017 From Europark, SlowFood, Best FESTASAGGIA (wise festival) award. Second classified.