WWF FOREST CONSERVATION STRATEGY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE CAPACITY BUILDING COMPONENT

PREPARED BY NORA BERRAHMOUNI
WWF - mediterranean programme

INTRODUCTION

The overall goal of WWF Forest Conservation Strategy in the Mediterranean is to work towards: conserving, managing and restoring the region's natural forest landscapes, ensuring that resources are used in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all and safeguarding respect for the region's unique social and cultural characteristics.

WWF is implementing its forest strategy in several countries, such as Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Croatia, and Turkey. These actions are carried out in partnership with local NGOs, research institutions, governmental bodies and international organizations.

WWF is well conscious that the long-term success of the activities it supports can only be reached through the active participation and the empowerment of local individuals, groups and organizations. WWF has thus decided to concentrate its effort on helping build the capacity of grassroots and local environmental groups of the region. The main tool to achieve this is "Across the Waters"; the WWF capacity building programme. This programme started in 1994 with the opening of a WWF project office in Barcelona.

ACROSS THE WATERS: THE CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME

Across the Waters aims to support the development of environmental NGOs and institutions through:

1. The organization of Mediterranean Schools, a range of thematic, tailor-made training courses addressing those issues that are a priority for the conservation of the region. A range of 12 to 15 participants from the whole Mediterranean basin attend each course (which lasts around 12 - 15 days) each year. Travel grants are provided for participants from developing countries in North Africa, Middle East and the Balkans.

• Silva Course: conservation and management of Mediterranean forests
• Sun School: environmental education methodologies & techniques
• Wild School: management of protected areas in the Mediterranean region

The general objectives of the above mentioned courses are:

• Build the capacity of NGOs and institutions of the Mediterranean countries to initiate and develop forest projects in the Mediterranean, integrating conservation and development of rural areas based on a landscape conservation approach (within and/or outside protected areas);
• Provide useful methodologies and tools (through lectures, case studies, workshops,    field activities, biblio-graphical materials) to integrate forests conservation and develop-ment and develop environmental education initiatives on Mediterranean forests;
• Promote networking among Medi-terranean organizations (including NGOs and governmental institutions) to promote conservation, on a common basis

2. Providing a range of grants for NGOs: including funds to implement short-term projects; purchase of materials and equipment.

3. Developing and facilitating an exchange programme: through its exchange programme, WWF aims to increase and improve the conservation and environmental protection initiatives by overcoming the lack of information and problematic access to worthwhile experiences and model practices. WWF role is to facilitate the circulation of people, ideas, experiences and best practices among all stakeholders in the Mediterranean region. An exchange programme is yearly published and broadly disseminated to different organizations in the Mediterranean.

4. Developing and facilitating an Information Hub: through this tool, WWF aims to put in place an information channel and make relevant information available to NGOs, local communities and other organizations in the region. A "Mediterranean Environmental Organizations Directory" was published and the related database is accessible through the Across the Waters Web Site: www.atw-wwf.org. Moreover, WWF publishes a bimonthly newsletter "Posidonia: The Mediterranean Newsletter" disseminated to its worldwide network.