The basis for the project were laid at coordination meeting in Joensuu, Finland, December 1995, the presentations of which have been published in EFI Proceedings No. 9 Regional Development Based on Forest Resources . The questions of maintaining and increasing employment, regional income and value-added production in rural areas are actual throughout Europe. In this respect, the role of the forest sector could be substantial.
Different regions have their own traditions and ways to utilise their forest resources.
Their capacity in this field is varying also. By analysing the forest and forestry related resources, socio-economic circumstances and regional history in the survey regions, the project aims at identifying the possible success factors and formulating strategies that are of interest also in other parts of Europe. The survey of the role of the forest sector in the case study regions will be reported, and a limited number of voluntary papers will be presented to expand the discussion and to bring into debate the results and ideas produced in other projects. The meeting is aimed both for scientists and professionals working on the theme at regional, national or international level. Call for Papers People wishing to present a voluntary paper to the meeting should send a one-page abstract to the EFI by 28 February 1997.