• Joining the Network
• Becoming a Member

Joining the network

Model Forest projects could be established in any region of the world, but as a network of sites, they should represent the ecological diversity of forests.

A broad set of criteria were defined to guide the development of proposals in areas that wished to join the model forest program. These criteria are at once very flexible, but also challenging to meet in practice.

In essence, the development of a model forest proposal meant that several organizations and interest groups had to meet, understand each other and seek consensus on the broad vision of the values of the forests and the actions needed to sustain those values.

Criteria for the Establishment of a Model Forest Project

All projects should be sponsored by the government of the country concerned, and should retain as many of the following key criteria as possible:

1. A model forest has a partnership committee of participants who identify the goals for forest and resource management, set priorities and development targets, and establish policy guidelines for the overall program. 
2. A model forest is managed by a partnership of key stakeholders that can include industry, community groups, government agencies, non-governmental environmental and forestry groups, academic and educational institutions, national parks, aboriginal groups, private landowners and others as appropriate. 
3. A model forest is managed by consensus and the process of management should be transparent. 
4. A model forest is oriented to the needs of local and indigenous people as well as to the conservation and wise use of the forests and natural resources of the area. 
5. A model forest is managed in an integrated manner for all forest values identified to be of importance and will consider social, economic, ecological and historical dimensions. In addition to traditional timber and pulp products, values may include food, medicines, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and quantity, soil conservation recreation, spiritual, aesthetics and conservation of biodiversity. 
6. A model forest must be of a working size and representative of the region, rather than a small-scale demonstration forest. For example, model forests in Canada were greater than 100,000 ha. 
7. A model forest uses and demonstrates the most environmentally appropriate forestry practices and techniques and supports, to the degree possible, scientific research and the application of new technologies. 
8. A model forest establishes a series of technical committees to guide and develop the program and report to the partnership committee. 
9. A model forest partnership has a long-term commitment to the concept of sustainable development and will support research and technology transfer on this subject. 
10. A model forest will be an active partner in the IMFN and share experiences, successes and failures with other model forests. 
11. A model forest will have the support of the appropriate national, regional or local legislature that has jurisdiction over the land and its program will relate to an overall national or regional forest sector plan. 
12. A model forest carries out an education and training program within its area to ensure that local communities and individuals become more aware of the program and gain an increased understanding of each other. 

General process for establishing a model forest project

• Government of country initiates process 
• Meeting with representatives of model forest secretariat (IMFNS) 
• Workshop with government agencies and interest groups, and briefing by established model forest groups and secretariat 
• Partner group is formed/prepares letter of intent and submits it to government 
• Government submits letter of intent to secretariat and letter is reviewed 
• Technical workshop with partnership group and technical experts to discuss proposal development 
• Proposal development by partnership, and submission to government and submission to the IMFN 
• Model forest secretariat reviews proposal and provide advice 
• Negotiation of model forest agreement 
• Identifying and securing financial support 
• Project commencement 

The process could take up to 24 months. The IMFN is not a donor agency, but it will provide assistance where necessary in the country's pursuit of funding from international donors.

Becoming a Partner

The Forest Principles established as part of the UNCED provided the first broad international consensus on the scope and central elements that are considered to be included in the concept of sustainable management of forests.

A critical theme in the forest principles is the need for international partnership in the development of new approaches to involving local people in decision-making, applying new knowledge and technologies in forest management, and in harmonizing the objectives of many interests across diverse sectors of society in relation to the forest. Definition of principles are a first step towards positive change. But aggressive action is then needed to translate those principles into reality.

If your organization is interested in exploring the possibilities of collaborating with any of the model forest sites, please contact that model forest.