ELAV – ‘Enhancing Local Activity and Values from forest land through community-led strategic planning’ – is a three year project in part sponsored through the Northern Periphery Programme. ELAV is a partnership of sixteen organisations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Scotland and Iceland. Together the partners are developing methods of involving communities (of place and of interest) in the long-term management of forest land. In each participating country a study area was selected, and during the project there will be a series of exchange visits of individuals from these areas.

The programme of exchange visits in 2007 follows:

• 21-25 May - Finland - forest planning
• 17 - 21 June - Norway - multiple use of forest land
• 6 - 10 August - Iceland - birch re-establishment
• 17 - 21 September - Finland - tourism
• 25 - 28 October - Sweden - final ELAV conference