The cultivation methods used today in the El Hajjaj’s lineage area in the Middle Atlas in Morocco aim to develop a significant turnover for the local populations, however the intensive cultivation of the apple tree causes significant damage to the ecosystems by directly affecting the aquifer and causing consequently a considerable drying up of the wetlands, streams, and lakes. For example: Dayet Aoua and Hachlaf lakes.

Within the framework of the European ERASMUS+ programme Forest-Ed, from 7 to 9 July, Provence Model Forest had the pleasure, together with the GRAINE PACA network, of receiving the project partners, namely

Forest ecosystems cover 42% of the EU’s total land area and strong efforts have been made to facilitate an increase of multiple forest ecosystem services.

The past year, a partnership of four private organizations based in Abruzzo (ILEX and Leaflab), in Milan (Oikos) and in Lebanon (ACS in Shouf Biosphere Reserve - SBR) with the leadership of the Municipality of Fontecchio (Abruzzo, within the candidate- Middle Aterno Valley Model Forest), applied for a grant by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS) and won a relevant subsidy to fund the project “From the Apennines to the Shouf: migrations of experiences and knowledge across the Mediterranean (Lebanon)”.

The past year, a partnership of four private organizations based in Abruzzo (ILEX and Leaflab), in Milan (Oikos) and in Lebanon (ACS in Shouf Biosphere Reserve - SBR) with the leadership of the Municipality of Fontecchio (Abruzzo, within the candidate- Middle Aterno Valley Model Forest), applied for a grant by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS) and won a relevant subsidy to fund the project “From the Apennines to the Shouf: migrations of experiences and knowledge across the Mediterranean (Lebanon)”.

The 5 meetings entitled "ACAP meets Mediterranean Model Forest", a moment of confrontation and exchange of good practices between the Network of Model Forests, in particular the Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest and the Management Committees of the Protected Areas of Southern Albania, ended last 4th May.

Through the project, several international meetings will take place in Poland, France and Croatia.

The OneForest project, funded by the H2020 program, with the Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences as coordinator, was funded.

The first official meeting between the partners of the ForestEd took place last December, the project financed by Erasmus+ which sees the Provence Model Forest as the lead partner.

It’s with great honour and pleasure that this year the two Christmas fir trees, which were placed in the atrium of the palace of the President of the Italian Republic and also in the presidential Castelporziano estate, were donated by the Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest thanks to the Municipality Union of Valdarno and Valdisieve. The trees come from the forests managed by the UCVV according to SFM principles and carry the “FMMF Il Legno” brand.

The Erasmus + "Forest Ed" project, which will start next December and will last 16 months, stems from the need for a change towards a sustainable development model, in which all of us as a society, have an important role through our actions and in which forests are essential as they are natural capital, necessary for the conservation of biodiversity and to provide ecosystem goods and services essential for well-being.