MODEL FOREST “RIVER MIRNA BASIN” STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PERIOD 2014 – 2018 Content INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 WHAT IS A MODEL FOREST? ........................................................................................................................................ 4 INTERNATIONAL MODEL FOREST NETWORK ...................................................................................... 5 THE MEDITERRANEAN MODEL FOREST NETWORK ............................................................................. 6 FIVE STEPS FOR A MODEL FOREST CREATION ..................................................................................... 6 THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF MODEL FORESTS .................................................................................. 8 ESTABLISHING A MODEL FOREST “RIVER MIRNA BASIN” .......................................................................... 11 MODEL FOREST „RIVER MIRNA BASIN“ ............................................................................................................... 16 Size and fundamental spatial characteristics .................................................................................... 16 GEOMORPHOLOGICAL AND CLIMATE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA .......................................... 21 Climate ........................................................................................................................................... 22 PROTECTED AREAS ........................................................................................................................ 22 FORESTRY .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Forest associations ............................................................................................................................ 28 About the Motovun forest and the river Mirna waterflow ........................................................... 30 HUNTING ............................................................................................................................................................................ 32 NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS ....................................................................................................... 33 Mushrooms ....................................................................................................................................... 35 Truffles ........................................................................................................................................... 36 AGRICULTURE .................................................................................................................................... 38 Fishery ............................................................................................................................................... 39 TOURISM ........................................................................................................................................... 40 CULTURAL,HISTORICAL AND TRADITIONAL HERITAGE OF THE TERRITORY................................... 42 MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIES ON THE TERRITORY OF THE MODEL FOREST “RIVER MIRNA BASIN” ... 44 Swot analysis .................................................................................................................................................................... 46 MAIN CHALLENGES OF THE MF TERRITORY ..................................................................................................... 46 TODAY ................................................................................................................................................ 46 TOMORROW ...................................................................................................................................... 46 Strength ............................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Possibilities ........................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Weakness ............................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Challenges .......................................................................................................................................................................... 46 STRATEGIC PLANNING IN A MODEL FOREST “RIVER MIRNA BASIN” .................................................... 47 2 FRAMEWORK FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION ................................................................................... 58 LOGICAL MODEL ................................................................................................................................ 59 FINANCIAL PLAN OF THE MODEL FOREST „RIVER MIRNA BASIN“ ......................................................... 60 2014- 2018 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 60 GOVERNANCE IN THE MODEL FOREST “RIVER MIRNA BASIN” ................................................................ 62 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................................................... 69 INTRODUCTION The idea of establishing a Model Forest “River Mirna Basin” resulted from the need to affiliate all representatives of the territory in order to gather knowledge and encourage the participation in the valorisation and management of natural resources. The Model Forest is trying to include both economic and social development and, within the scope of the common vision, achieve a sustainable development of the rural territory. Partnership of the Model Forest consists of municipalities and cities, tourist offices, private and public agencies, public institutions, private and public businesses, trades, associations and individuals. The Region of Istria became a member of the International and Mediterranean Model Forest Network by signing the Memorandum of understanding with which all interested parties declare to actively participate in the Network activities and support the creation of at least one Model Forest on its territory. The regional government has on its meeting on the 13th of May, 2008 issued a decision to accept the Memorandum of understanding and to become a member of the Mediterranean Model Forest Network. The members of the Model Forest could be regions of the European Union and potential member countries, as well as national administrative bodies in charge of development of forestry and the Model Forest in the Mediterranean region. All activities that preceded the registration of the association Model Forest “River Mirna Basin” have been done in the period between 2009 and 2012 through the project of the European programme for territorial cooperation MED which had included regions on the Northern rim of the Mediterranean. This project included the Region of Istria, Regions Castilla y Leon and Murcia from Spain, Provence and Azure coast, and Corsica from France, Sardinia from Italy and two Greek regions Magnesia and Western Macedonia. The content of the project “Model Forest – new tool for territorial governance” was the research of the concept Model Forest on the Mediterranean and coordination of regional forest policies with the goal of improving territorial governance. 3 Thus, the Model Forest concept is an innovative instrument of “territorial governance” with a comprehensive approach which is fully compatible with the modern needs of forestry on the Mediterranean. WHAT IS A MODEL FOREST? A Model Forest is both a large territory where the forest represents an important issue, and a partnership-based approach for sustainable forest based landscapes and natural resources. The Model Forest approach can be defined as « a partnership based process through which individuals and groups, representing a diversity of values, work together toward a common vision of sustainable development for a landscape in which forests are an important feature. » In a Model Forest a variety of people with differing interests and needs form a neutral partnership which will define management of their own natural resources in a way that makes the most sense to them, given their history, economic situation, cultural identities and sustainable future. The « Model Forest » concept was born at the beginning of the 90s in Canada and it was first presented in 1992 on the United Nations Conference for the Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. Today, more than 60 Model Forests are active all over the world 4 and together they form the International Model Forest Network and their six regional networks. INTERNATIONAL MODEL FOREST NETWORK Asian Model Forest Network African Model Forest Network Ibero-American Model Forest Network Canadian Model Forest Network Baltic Model Forest Network Everywhere in the world this innovative approach is based on the idea that a dynamic partnership which is inclusive of all institutions, communities and people can create beneficial conditions