Project closed, 2008-03-31

ELAV - Enhancing Local Activity and Values from forest land through community-led strategic planning

I want to thank everyone who contributed to the ELAV project. It has been very interesting and instructive. Communication amongst forest land stakeholders can be tricky but also so enjoyable and productive! To everyone who participated I just want to say:

You did a terrific job! Continue with your ideas and believe in yourself and remember to take care of others' interests as well. Good luck in the future! 

/Denise Fahlander, project officer ELAV Sweden

About ELAV:
This project has worked with rural communities, municipalities, forest companies, landowners and forest authorities to action sustainable rural development based on strategic forest planning for the development of multipurpose use of natural/forest resources.

ELAV is an international project and covered 16 partners in five countries, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Scotland and Sweden. ELAV started in February 2005 and finished Marsh 31 2008. The project was partly funded by EU and the Northern Periphery Programme.

This project did involve local communities in forest planning at the strategic level, with a focus on identifying opportunities to adapt forest management regimes to better deliver rural development objectives, specifically in tourism, exploitation of non-timber forest resources and local processing, to provide a forum for identification and dissemination of necessary silvicultural and technical expertise, and to develop and refine spatial planning methodologies and tools for use elsewhere