Forestry workshop registration, Youth scholarship, FS Journey book

3rd Forestry workshop in October: registration and programme available!
As already announced, from 18 - 21st October 2018,the 3rd Forestry workshop in a series of four will be held in Alutaguse Parish, Estonia. Co-organising partners will be the Estonian Fund for Nature and EuCAN UK (head of the sustainable Forestry working group). One of the topics will be “Policies (National and European), local initiatives, regional initiatives and sustainability in woodland management”.
Background information, a short description of earlier outputs (WS1, WS2) and main topics as well as goals of the 3rd workshop are available on our website. The draft programme is also available.You can already make use of our online registration form. Registration will be open until 28-09-2018.

For any kind of information please contact: Simone Matouch (info@forum-synergies.eu)

2nd European Herb Gathering : herbal projects, common goods and legal framework

The 2nd European Herb Gathering took place from 26-29 April 2018 in Transylvania, Romania. 38 participants from 12 different countries discovered herbal initiatives and projects in the region of Odorheiu Secuiesc. The visits to commercial initiatives, social farming or social inclusion projects linked to aromatic, cosmetic and medicinal plants were an opportunity to identify their positive environmental and social aspects for rural development but also where there was space for improvement. Working sessions in groups or plenary focused on on three main objectives: 1/ Common proposals on how herbal projects can contribute to sustainable rural development; 2/ Achieve some common understanding on the meaning of common goods in the context of traditional knowledge about aromatic and medicinal healing; 3/ Common proposals on how to improve the legal framework on EU/ national level and finding good practices on how rural actors for health can deal with the legal framework
A report will be available in Autumn!

New FS youth scholarship starting with CEEweb for Biodiversity in Autumn

A new scholarship will start in September 2018. CEEweb for Biodiversity will host a young lady from Albania. She will be involved in INSiGHTS, an INTERREG Project. INSiGHTS is a transnational sustainable tourism project between 8 regions of the Danube. Apart from protecting natural resources, the goal of the project is to make the regions attractive for slow, healthy and green tourism. One of the main outcomes of the project is developing 8 integrated sustainable tourism strategies which will be adapted among the stakeholders i.e. local authorities, tourism sector, and other organisations working with health, transport, environment and hospitality.

Forum Synergies‘ Journey Book Through Rural Sustainability’

Some of our core partners and members may already know that we wanted to take a chance to reflect on our activities, on the way we work and also on sustainable development practices and rural initiatives we have discovered all over Europe for more than 20 years.
The idea is starting to take form: on June 15-17th, we defined chapters and content as well as in a fruitful working session inspired by the rural landscape and way of life of slovenian Istria. Many thanks to Camille Dressler, Jenny Gkiougki, Monika Pakot, Helene Schulze and Anita Selicka for their inputs and agreeing to join the writing team!
We will share the first elements in the next monthes !

30 years of Pellworm island association” Ökologisch Wirtschaften”. To celebrate its 30 years, the association has produced a brochure (in German) “Über Leben unter dem Meeresspiegel” / Surviving below sea level. Interviews with older and new generation, reflection on what has been achieved (100% renewable energy produced on the island, fishing activity maintained among others) and what are the challenges for the next 30 years.

Toolbox for Youth Participation in the Alps - CIPRA. The project partners in the INTERREG Alpine Space Project Gaya (Governance and Youth in the Alps) have developed a toolbox for youth participation: the GaYA Toolbox for Youth Participation demonstrates new ways and approaches to participation to meet the needs of both young people and politicians. The Toolbox contains selected case studies from throughout the Alps that show the diversity of participation processes, from simple steps such as listening to young people, to more complex and comprehensive activities aimed at involving youth in sharing power and responsibilities. Templates make it easier to create individual participation processes, while cards suggest solutions to common problems, such as the alleged lack of interest or unrealistic demands.

Young Leadership Programme Mediterranean edition 2018. European Forest Institute (EFI) )'s Young Leadership Programme – Mediterranean edition (YLP-MED) provides training, knowledge sharing and networking on Mediterranean forest-based value chains and their contribution to a circular bioeconomy.

AGFORWARD: outputs on agroforestry practices throughout Europe. For four years (2014-2017), the AGFORWARD project has been developing scientific and technical knowledge related to agroforestry practices across Europe. In this context, a synthesis of the innovative practices implemented in the 13 partner countries of the project has been produced, through 46 technical data sheets such as: “Sheep grazing under walnut trees”; “Cereals and timber trees”; “Wild asparagus in olive groves” etc.