model forest - Cuso International

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The Roots of the Model Forest Movement model forest is a place where natural resource A management best practices are developed, tested, improved, and shared as models of sustainability. Geographically, such a site must encompass an area large enough to represent all of the forest’s uses and values. It’s a working landscape of protected areas, farms, woodlots, towns, watersheds and rivers. Model forests provide a space where those who know and use woodlands can develop a common plan to achieve social benefits, environmental conservation, and economic opportunity. The approach is based on the view that broad-based local participation is the key to long-term success. At the heart of each independent model forest is a group of people who have different perspectives on the human and natural dynamics within their forestbased ecosystem – viewpoints that are all necessary to make informed, balanced and fair decisions about how to manage the forest and its resources. That participation could include woodlot owners, small-scale food harvesters, forest companies, indigenous peoples, farmers, park staff, environmentalists, researchers, community development groups, government agencies, tourism operators, hunters & trappers…all integrating their own interests into the common good. Each model forest organization is largely dependent on volunteer energy and expertise. No two model forests are identical. Some are in low population-density areas, where rural poverty and access to resources are priority issues. Other model forests may be in heavily settled areas where urban-rural issues, including water quality, recreation, conservation and biodiversity, feature prominently in the equation for sustainable forest management. The approach was first brought to the world’s attention at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At this global gathering, better known as the Earth Summit, Canada promised to “internationalize” its innovative model forest program.
“A model forest…is a process and a journey as people plan, implement and participate in projects and activities to achieve their vision. I have been privileged to live, work and learn alongside my peers here in Honduras, and to join them for part of that journey.” – Bob Sutton, a volunteer who worked with the Atlántida Model Forest in Honduras. What began with an initial 10 sites in Canada has grown to more than 55 model forests in 24 countries on five continents. Collectively, these sites make up the International Model Forest Network (IMFN). To support these efforts, the IMFN Secretariat was established in 1995. Based in Ottawa in the Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resources Canada, the Secretariat provides the day-to-day coordination of support and development services to model forests worldwide. The IMFN plants the seed of the model forest idea, and then harvests the collective experience and lessons learned from each site into services that help new ventures take root – and existing ones grow better. For more information on model forests the world over, visit www.imfn.net
Page 1: A Forest for the Trees: CUSO-VSO Vo
Page 4 and 5: A tree fell in the forest… More t
Page 6 and 7: And these volunteers heard... The m
Page 8 and 9: Marie-Eve Landry of Saint-Bruno, Qu
Page 10 and 11: Linda Vaillancourt of Wotton, Québ
Page 14 and 15: Réal Bonneville, who comes from Co
Page 16 and 17: Milka Barriga originates from La Pa
Page 18 and 19: Miriam Stein of Montreal, Quebec, i
Page 20 and 21: Jacqueline Martínez is originally
Page 22 and 23: Members of the Atlántida Model For

model forest - Cuso International

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