The Ibero-American Model Forest Network (IAMFN) held its first Board of Directors meeting for 2010 in the city of São Lourenço, Minas Gerais, Brazil; all 13 member countries of the Network were present. The State Forest Institute of Minas Gerais (Instituto Estadual de Florestas- IEF), hosted the event. The event was preceded by a seminar titled “Getting to Know the Model Forests” in which each country shared a successful Model Forest experience.

While in Brazil for the IAMFN Board of Directors meeting, Richard Verbisky begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Senior Advisor in the International Model Forest Network Secretariat (IMFNS), and Fernando Carrera, General Manager of the IAMFN, visited the Pandeiros Model Forest located in the north-west part of the state of Minas Gerais. Following the visit, a report was drafted that outlines the positive development of the Model Forest.

Some highlights of the report are as follows:

While the State Forest Institute of Minas Gerais (IEF) was the agency that promoted the creation and incorporation of Brazil’s two Model Forests within the IAMFN, the National Forestry Service of Brazil has now assumed the role as country representative on the IAMFN Board of Directors. The IEF has encouraged the participation of the Federal Government, represented by the National Forestry Service, in the IAMFN in order to provide an opportunity for more Model Forests to be developed within the rest of the country.

The MedForum 2010, which was recently held in Ifrane (Morocco) was a resounding success. Over 70 professionals attended the event representing 12 countries and/or regions and over 20 active stakeholders of the forest sector of the Mediterranean basin.

A new website has been developed for the organization of the 2011 Global Forum (March 24-26), as well as the International Symposium on Ecosystem and Landscape-Level Approaches to Sustainability (March 22 and 23), which precedes the Global Forum. 

We are celebrating two new websites in the IMFN:

The Canadian Model Forest Network has redesigned their web site and it has a great new look! Please log onto: http://www.modelforest.net (direct link below) to discover the CMFN’s new web site.

The Manitoba Model Forest has also redesigned their web site. Take a look at their new site too! http://www.manitobamodelforest.net (direct link below).

Congratulations to both the CMFN and the Manitoba Model Forest!

Great news: The IMFN is featured on the popular external web site of the Canadian Forest Service called Canada’s Forests! A joint project between IMFN and the CFS, we not only have the most coveted spot on the home page, but we also have a page that explains the Model Forest concept, the role of the IMFN and Regional Networks (with links!), and a page that features biodiversity in Model Forests in various parts of the world. 

Peter Besseau (IMFNS Director) convened a meeting of the IMFN International Networking Committee (INC) together with hosts at CESEFOR in Valladolid, Spain in mid-March. Representatives from all regions, save Asia, were present to draw up plans for the IMFN Global Forum in 2011. It has been agreed that the Global Forum will be held March 24-27, 2011 in Burgos, Spain, the gateway to the Urbión Model Forest! 

The director of the IMFNS, Peter Besseau, is attending the Commonwealth Forestry Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland from June 28 – July 2, 2010. Peter will present a paper entitled: “The International Model Forest Network: The Social Science of Sustainability – Engaging Local Stakeholders.” 

The IMFNS participated in a CUSO-VSO KEDLAP (Knowledge for Effective Learning and Development) workshop hosted by CATIE in Turrialba, Costa Rica from March 1-5, 2010. The workshop brought together members of Latin American Model Forests from Guatemala, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Colombia, CUSO-VSO employees and cooperants, members of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), IDRC (International Development and Research Centre), and CEBEM (Bolivian Center for Multidisciplinary Studies).