The aim of this project was to extend, adapt and improve forest management practices in order to enable woodlands (of the cross border region) to respond to new and changing conditions that they have to face. To achieve this aim, partners developed a joint cross-border strategy composed of concrete actions with the objectives of:
- improving knowledge and understanding of the impact of global change on forests ecosystems via the study of different constituent parts of the forest ecosystem, including biodiversity;
- Undertaking concrete experimental work and to find species that could adapt to global change and raising the awareness of landowners, forestry managers and the wider public;
- educating children and the wider public about the situation of the forest by opening up private forests to then and by creating joint educational tools;
- developing practical tools to help stakeholders to reconcile the socio-economic activities associated with the forest and the environmental conservation.
- promoting the development of wood fuel by setting up pilot sites and the creation of joint tools for the buyers and suppliers of wood energy;
These actions were undertaken jointly through shared organizational networks on both sides of the Channel.

The activities implemented during this project can be divided into eight different topics:

- Climate change and forest adaptation (1.1 and 1.2): PP (project partners) monitored and studied the impact of climate (past and current) on trees on both sides of the Channel. For example, CRPF (Centre Régional de la Propriété Forestière) and FR (Forest Research) both monitored phenology on stands in France and England over four years.

- Genetic study (1.3): For this topic, project partners implemented seed germination trials. For example, CRPF and FR studied the germination of seeds (beech in France and oak and alder in England) sourced from different areas in Europe.

- Biodiversity (1.4): The objective of the project partners in this topic was to assess biodiversity.

They exchanged views and tested different ways of evaluating this important part of forest ecosystems. CRPF, FR and ECC (Essex County Council) studied methods of assessing biodiversity.

- Multifunctional forest management (2.1, 2.2 and 2.3): Many actions were implemented within this topic. The objective of all of these actions was to encourage forest owners and managers to integrate multifunctionality into their management practices. This topic included outreach events and documentation (sometimes bilingual), training sessions and advice for forest owners and managers.

There were many exchanges of views between partners concerning the definition of multifunctionality and how it is taken into account on both sides of the Channel.

- Social function of forests (2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3): To welcome the general public and tourists into some forests (on both sides of the Channel), facilities such as information boards or wooden paths were established or upgraded.

- Raise awareness of the young (3): As children are the forest managers of tomorrow, some PP (CRPF, KCC and High Weald AONB Unit) were involved with this specific target: educational walks and cross-border exchanges were organized on the topic of multifunctionality and sustainable forest management.

Climate change and forest adaptation (1.1 and 1.2):

-4 annual reports on the results of the OREF written,

-3 reports and papers giving the first results of the studies written, Meetings organized (workshops), 4 species trials (CRPF) and 1 provenance trial (FR) set up to find species / provenances better adapted to future climate.

Genetic study (1.3):

-2 seed germination trials set up

Biodiversity (1.4):

-5 reports written to assess the different methods of biodiversity evaluation

-1 important survey and 1 conference held by ECC concerning the saproxylic beetle diversity.

Multifunctional forest management (2.1, 2.2 and 2.3):

-34 meetings, workshops and other events organized

-6 sites set up to train forest owners and managers

-4 woodland management plans taking multifunctionality into account written

Social function of forests (2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3): 5 woodlands where this function has been improved and 1 cross border bilingual guide edited

Development of the wood fuel sector (2.4 and 3):

-89 studies for the installation of biomass boilers implemented leading to the installation of more than 1MW capacity of biomass heating

-21 conferences and workshops organized

Forest connectivity and afforestation (2.5):

- 2 guides edited

-185 diagnostic visits for afforestation project (223ha)

Yes, each target group identified in the application form benefited from the project:

-Forest managers were provided with a lot of support, advice and solutions for better management of woodlands including the implementation of multifunctionality and climate change adaptation.

-Thanks to this better management, woodland owners will have healthier forests so they are also benefiting from the project.

-The wider public including children and forest users will be able to discover forest ecosystems and will have new places to go for recreation.

-Regional decision makers also benefited from the project: they now have more information on climate change and on the wood fuel sector to help them make decisions and create policies adapted to the changing environment. They were also provided with the tools to recreate actions (such as creating a local wood fuel supply chain) in other areas.

National forest research organizations benefited from the project thanks to the dissemination of the studies’ results and the exchanges of views and knowledge between partners particularly on climate change.

We can say that all territories within the project area benefited from MULTIFOR’s actions. Indeed, the project led to the afforestation of more than 80 ha on both sides of the Channel. The advice given for a better forest management will improve the quality of the forests and therefore of the regions.

This project had many effects on the territories involved.

As forest managers and regional decision makers have a better knowledge of the regional forest stakes, they will be able to adapt their management and policies accordingly. Forests in these territories will therefore be healthier, more profitable, more welcoming, etc. Some woodlands have been opened to the public. This will also have a positive impact on the local population’s well-being as it will provide them with a more beautiful environment.

Thanks to the afforestation of some lands, the territories will be able to store more carbon which benefits the population as a whole.

Finally, the installation of biomass boilers helps to strengthen and structure the regional forest sectors which will boost the local economy.

Our two countries have quite different practical experiences and yet we share a common challenge and similar forest types. With the Kyoto protocol, and the subsequent establishment of climate change action plans, the need to increase carbon sinks and use sustainable materials has generated a renewed interest in forest productivity.

The project has delivered an added value across borders and has helped engender a joint vision and the creation of useful, replicable tools. The development of these tools has provided an opportunity to make the most of and improve partner’s different and complementary approaches.

In respect of the question of climate change, the cross-border dimension is fundamental: the larger the biogeographic area used for research on given forest types is, the more useful the analysis is because variability in forest ecosystem response to climatic gradients is better accounted for.

As a result of the project, the Project Partners has strengthened links with other Interreg projects in the England (such as Ecotec 21, Greenov, and the various initiatives that form the Low Carbon Kent business network) and in France (such as Eurowood and Transpop 2).

Project lead partner CRPF insisted on regular communication between the project partners with a particular emphasis on bi-lingual communication. Also, the technical workshop and Steering committee meetings were extremely important for building and maintaining close cooperation and exchange between PP. These, in combination, were essential for transparency and the building of trust between the PP and the Lead Partner which are essential for building long term cooperation.

In project management terms a distinct period of time is required between the end of the preparation phase and the start of implementation. Indeed, the PP and the Lead Partner should build strong administrative bases before the technical actions are implemented. It is essential that each project manages these aspects carefully.

The implementation of actions has now ended but the effects of the project will continue to be observable in the next few years: For example, all documents and tools prepared within the framework of the project will continue to be disseminated. This is important as the topics tackled by the project will continue to be relevant many years into the future. The data collected for the cross-border network observatory of the forest ecosystems will also help produced more robust analysis of the impact of the climate changes in the future.
The advice given to the stakeholders engaged with during the project will help improve the implementation of future projects, primarily those involving afforestation, biomass boiler installations, woodland management and wood fuel supply. Overall the cross-border cooperation achieved during this project has provided a better understanding of the practices on both side of the channel and this will help improve future cross-border cooperation. This understanding has already led to a new INTERREG project (ADAFOR) and project partners are continuing to provide advice and support developed during MULTIFOR to new stakeholders.

With the experience acquired from the MULTI-FOR Project, most of Project partners and some new stakeholders from the forestry sector have decided to coordinate and pool their resources on both sides of the Channel through the ADAFOR project; their common objective is to consider shared solutions to the problems currently facing the forestry sector: How can we adapt sustainable forestry management practices within the cross-border area at a time of constant and fundamental change?. Three main topics will be developed: improvement of management of forests both in quantity and qualitatively through the renewal and enhancement of their ecosystem services, monitoring the cross-border observatory of forest ecosystems to the climate change and supporting the development of silvicultural operations, especially mechanized operations, those respect the environment. The project period will be from 2013 until 2015.
At the local level, each project partner has the objective to consolidate the partnership developed with stakeholders during MULTIFOR. Indeed, the partnerships reinforced or created within the framework of the project seem to be sustainable.

The MULTI-FOR project delivered against the pillar “Sustainable Growth” of the EU 2020 Strategy. The promotion of multifunctional forest management contributes to sustainable timber and wood fuel production and links strongly to the development of low-carbon economies. In addition the better understanding of how climate change will impact on forest ecosystems is one of the keystones of forest sustainability: For example, if woodlands are not well-adapted to future climate conditions, forest ecosystems will be less able to meet future socio-economic needs.

Therefore, only the sub-actions 1.1 and 1.2 of MULTI-FOR project will continue with new project as monitoring for climate change requires research over a long time scale. So, the partnership created with MULTI-FOR will be conserved and developed and the results accumulated will be useful for future analysis.