FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Sub-regional Office
for Central and Eastern Europe (SEUR)

FINALISATION OF THE PROJECT TCP/HUN/3003 (A)

A comprehensive summery report of the project "Support to the design and development of innovative forest management schemes" has been finalised and will be published in April 2008. The summary report in Hungarian "Innovatív erdogazdálkodási rendszerek megtervezésének és kialakításának támogatása" will be distributed in the forestry journal "Erdészeti Lapok" with a total number of 3500 copies.

Already at this point in time the project can report about first implementations of recommendations as considerable efforts have been undertaken, particularly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hungary to make use of project outcomes.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT TCP/HUN/3003 (A) In accordance with the agreement signed on September 8th 2004, FAO will grant a US $ 271,000 project lauched by HM Budapesti Erdõgazdaság Rt. (Forestry of Budapest Co. under Ministry of Defence) for development and enhancement of initiative forest management methods and operations. The intention of FAO is to assist technically to help to develop innovative forest management schemes which could address the current problems and future demands, working in line with the EU requirements and the National Forest Programme. See project proposal document

Ceremony of handing over of re-printed version of Pro Silva Hungary Brochure. 12 May 2006.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS
The main objectives are to:
- analyze existing and alternative silvicultural and forest harvesting systems with a view to selecting the most appropriate solution to specific circumstances;
- develop multifunctional forest management models adapted to different biophysical and socio-economic conditions;
- develop improved marketing strategies for wood and non-wood goods and services;
- strenghten the capacity to manage forests for multiple uses, taking into account their productive and protective functions as well as recreational demands;
- ensure legal consistency of the proposed changes in silviculture and forest management and the National Forest Programme.

The expected outputs of the project include the following:
- improved silvicultural systems and criteria for their application;
- efficient, cost-effective harvesting techniques identified and tested;
- feasibility studies and guidance on ecotourism and forest recreation development as alternative income generating activities for disadvantaged rural communities;
- improved marketing strategies for wood and non-wood goods and services to be developed;
- innovative multifunctional forest management schemes for different types of enterprises and adapted to diverse social and economic requirements are developed;
- strategic proposals concerning the application of different management models are prepared and discussed with relevant stakeholders including the State Forestry Service;
- amendment of the legal and regulatory frameworks related to forest management and the national forest programme and strategy, taking into account the new silviculture and forest management directions;
- manuals and guidelines are prepared;
- study tours to countries using advanced harvesting techniques and with profitable forest ecotourism and recreation developments undertaken;
- at least 60 forest owners and managers trained in new approaches in silviculture, forest harvesting and forest recreation/ecotourism development;
- relevant documentation and technical reports prepared and disseminated

STEERING COMMITTEE
The main function of the Steering Committee is to assist for the enforcement of effective accomplishing of the project activities and outcomes and to give advice and guidance to the agents involved in the project.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES
For the correct development of the project the managers decided on contracting prestigious organizations to report on the different issues where the project is organized: Silviculture, Forest Harvesting, Ecotourism and Visitor Survey. Moreover consultancy services on these and other aspects are provided from both FAO and external resources.
See activites and outcomes

EVENTS

2007	Location	Title
23 February	Budapest SEUR Office	PROJECT-CLOSING CONFERENCE TCP/HUN/3003 "Support to the Design and Development of Innovative Forest Management Schemes"
2006	Location	Title
12-16 June	Slovakia	Study Tour on Nature Oriented Forest Management Methods and Recreation Oportunities
2006	Location	Title
30-31 May	Eger,Hungary	Workshop on Training on "Support to the design and development of innovative forest management schemes"
2006	Location	Title
28 March	Budapest Hungary	FAO TCP/HUN/3003(A) Project, "Support to the design and development of innovative forest management schemes" - Coordination meeting
2005	Location	Title
08-09 September	Kiralyret, Hungary	Support to the design and development of innovative forest management schemes - Workshop
2005	Location	Title
24 June	Bujak, Hungary	FAO TCP/HUN/3003(A) Project, "Support to the design and development of innovative forest management schemes" - Inception workshop

CONTACTS
NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR
Mr. Attila Sinka
Marketing manager
HM Forestry of Budapest Co.
Hévízi út 4/a.
1033 Budapest, Hungary
E-mail: sinka@bp-erdo.hu

FAO BACKSTOPPING OFFICER
Mr. Volker Sasse
Forestry officer
FAO Sub-regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe
Benczur utca 34,
HU - 1068 Budapest, Hungary
E-mail: Volker.sasse@fao.org

LOA MONITORING OFFICER
Ms. Hazme Akyol
FAO Field Programme Officer, REUD
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
E-mail: hazme.akyol@fao.org

FAO TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME
The FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) supports the FAO Member Nations through small projects which address specific problems in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. The aim of a TCP project is to produce tangible and immediate results. Since its creation in 1976, the TCP has funded almost 8 700 projects for a total value of more than US$1 billion.The TCP mobilizes the technical expertise of the entire Organization. It is managed by FAO's Technical Cooperation Department and is coordinated by the Technical Cooperation Programme Service (TCOT).