The Process 2009-2012

The foundation process of the Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest took place between 2009 and 2012.

First Stepsy

The process officially started in 2009 when the Region of Tuscany joined the Mediterranean Model Forest Network. The area designated was within the boundaries of the old Mountain Community "Montagna Fiorentina" (today Union of Municipalities of Valdarno and Valdisieve), in the eastern part of the province of Florence.
After joining, started a period of survey, aiming to study the Model Forest approach together with public and private actors. Very significant has been the visit to the Urbion Model Forest in Spain that took place in March 2010.

Starting the Process

Taking the opportunity given by a call for financial contribution by G.A.L. START inside the European Rural Development Plan, inherent to process and product innovation, we have been able to develop a project around specific needs - both the production and professional qualification - strongly felt by local operators in the timber industry as well as by organizations of public administration, environmental protection and technological research. This has formalized a core group of partners interested in starting the process of Model Forest, through the project called A.PRO.FO.MO. (Initiating the process of Model Forest).

Preparatory meetings

In addition to the appointments offered by Mediterranean and International Networks at local level, the process has been officially launched with a special meeting in December 2010 followed, in January 2011, by public meetings open to anyone who was interested in contributing.
For each meeting were discussed:

• The Strategic Plan of the Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest;
• The organization, according to a program that would make clear goals and methods of development;
• The coordination, in a way that the interaction creates functional objectives of the expression and synthesis of the Model Forest
• recording of requests and suggestions coming from participants and stakeholders.

Depending on the composition of participants, several groups of interaction have been create, according to their objects, to discuss several aspects of a forest area. This division proved to be functional and was not changed during the all the process.
Proposals were collected and arguments were discussed during the meetings, and they were all registered completly according to five areas, named:

• Timber industry
• Qualification of labor in the forest
• Fauna and territory
• Multifunctionality of the forest land
• Valorisation of local products

Recognition from the Network

In October 2011, an Evaluative Visit from the Delegation of IMFN took place, then followed, in November 2011, by the recognition of Montagne Fiorentine Model Forests by the international network. The nomination took place during the MedForum held in Ramatuelle (France) on November 22nd -24th of 2011.

Birth of our Model Forest

On February 28, 2012 our Association was officially established!

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