The forests of Western Macedonia cover approximately 24.3% of the total area of the Region (229,555.3Ha). The Regional Unit of Grevena has the largest area with 78,050 Ha, while the Regional Unit of Kastoria follows with 68,384 Ha. Smaller but equally important areas are available to the Regional Units of Florina and Kozani with 46,895Ha and 36,225 Ha.

The landscape encompasses 12 municipalities. Local forestry businesses are on average very small to small enterprises (from 1 to 3 employees), producing mainly firewood, sold directly to local home owners or retail businesses.

According to the forest ownership, the public owns 62.21% in Western Macedonia. The second largest forest owner is the Municipalities, approximately 23.88% of the total forests. The remaining 14% belongs to private individuals, the Church or in co-ownership.

About land cover and use:

• Agricultural land, 22.3%
• Mixed forests, 3.45%
• Coniferous forests, 4.52%
• Broad-leaved forests, 16.95%
• Transitional woodland / shrub, 21.89%
• Lakes, 65% of country’s total
• Pastures, 11.64%
• 24 NATURA 2000 areas

The current partnerships of the Western Macedonia Model Forest consists of 13 groups and  53 individuals.

The types of stakeholders are:

• Region authority
• Communities & municipalities
• NGOs
• Industries
• Private sector (forestry)/ Forest Cooperatives
• Chambers
• Associations (Mountaineering, Cultural-Folklore)

The Board of Directors consists of five permanent and five deputy members elected by the General Assembly. The permanent members are:

1. the President (Dimitris Tsimplinas),
2. the Vice President (Christos Papaioannou),
3. the General Secretary (Maria Pavlina Kordista),
4. the Treasurer (Anastasia Petsi) and
5. a member (Efrosyni Ntio).

The mandate of the Board is three years.

Two managers of the WM Model Forest Initiative were elected:

There are four thematic commissions:

1. Environment and Society ( Education, activities, projects)
2. Culture and Tourism
3. Productive sectors (wood and non wood forest products/ local products e.t.c) and
4. International Relations (social media, networking, press releases e.t.c)

Each commission has the task to develop actions and projects that correlate with the general objectives of the Strategic Plan adopted by the NGO.

Here the complete list of the associates. 

Strategic goals:

• Identification of sustainable forest management methods to increase and exploit wood and non wood forest products.
• Support the institution of environmental education through Environmental Education Centers and schools, in order to increase student’s awareness about environment.
• Increase the local and regional development by creating new jobs in the countryside and preserving natural and cultural heritage.
• Protect and promote biodiversity of plants and animals, plus improve local soil conditions.
• Rebuild animal habitats, restore soil and critical watersheds, and improve the lives of the communities who most rely on the forests.
• The reduction of negative interactions as well as the enhancement and diffusion of socio-economic benefits, which implies the presence and coexistence of the bear and wild pigs with humans in the area.
• Increase forest workers’ capacities for sustainable forest management.

You can see extensively all the projects on the strategic plan.