Over 30 participants from 10 countries including Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon and Turkey attended an international workshop on forest communication in Rabat, Morocco from 13 to 15 May 2014.
Facilitated by FAO, the main aims of this workshop were to develop and strengthen forestry communications capacity in the region and to explore the possibility of establishing a self-sustaining sub-regional network of communication practitioners. Representatives from government agencies and NGOs from around the Mediterranean and Near East region recognized the need to better coordinate and communicate forest issues and a working group was established. The participants will give communication support for the forthcoming Mediterranean Forest Week in Barcelona in 2015.
Main objectives
1. To provide a platform for communication of important and reliable information related to forests for all concerned stakeholders.
2. To promote the understanding that forests are vital to life on Earth and if sustainably managed would provide a multitude of goods and services.
3. To raise awareness on the importance of our forests while highlighting the threats and challenges they face.
4. To increase the use of sustainably produced wood and other forest products as climate friendly materials and renewable energy sources.
5. To provide important information and influence national and regional strategies on forests 6. To make forestry research available for forest managers and decision makers, and to the general public.
7. To define a common and shared vision of our MED and NE forests in line with focussed messages.
To learn more: Forestry communication toolkit
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