The Forestry EduTrainer project created the first European training for forestry trainers.I/ BackgroundThe project was born from a survey conducted at European level on the forestry trainers’ qualification. Its results allowed the project partners to draw a situational analysis of forestry training in Europe : forestry trainers with comparable profiles ( technical experts who turned to training at one point in their career), diversity in their trainer training ( or absence of specific training), a need to gain more pedagogical and/or methodological competences. The consequences of such a situation: no worker mobility, national ( or binational) training framework, lack of capacities to transmit competences efficiently linked to a shortage of pedagogical/methodological competences, aggravation of forestry work dangerousness. II/ ObjectivesTo solve this problem, Forestry EduTrainer created 6 Intellectual Outputs for the creation of a specific training for forestry trainers, efficient, shared and laid on good practices. These Intellectual Outputs followed the usual order for creating a new training: -Creation of the Competence Standard-Creation of the Training Standard-Elaboration of the training course divided in modules and subobjectives.-Work on the way to deliver the training: transfer of the training course onto a learning platform and creation of digital materials-Experimenting with the training, and training of the future trainers on this training: the EduCoaches-Ensuring the sustainability of the training course and its future developmentIII/ Partnership and participantsThe Forestry EduTrainer project was lead by 7 well-known organisations in Europe in the wood and training sectors:-Le Centre Forestier de la région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France, coordinateur-Centre Tecnologic Forestal de Catalunya, Espagne-Kuratorium Fur Waldarbeit Und Forsttechnik (KWF) GMBH, Allemagne-Landerbetrieb Forst Brandenburg/Waldarbeitsschule Kunsterspring, Allemagne-Natuurinvest, Belgique-Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza, Italie-Jyväskylän koulutuskuntayhtymä, FinlandeEach of these organisations dedicated to the project experts in forestry training and/or blended-learning, project managers and technicians in charge of the translation of the training course.Also took part to the project and the experimentation of the Forestry EduTrainer course a total of 31 forestry trainers coming from 6 European countries.Finally, the multiplier events organised by all project partners allowed to target more than 150 people coming or not from the forestry sector or from partners’ countries, potential future trainees on the course thanks to the organisation of events held face-to-face or online.IV/ ActivitiesThe Forestry EduTrainer partners realised 6 Intellectual Outputs by creating and disseminating divers’ surveys and through intense research, and by sharing their knowledge.During the 3 and a half years of the project (prorogation due to the pandemic), the project partners met 18 times, whether online or during transnational meetings.A total of 7 experimental trainings were organised, whether or not funded at European level. They allowed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the training course and work on their solving.Finally, 11 multiplier events were held.V/ Results, impacts and benefits at long-termThe Forestry EduTrainer project has thus succeeded in creating the first European training for Forestry trainers and in ensuring its sustainability.The training answers the needs identified in the situational analysis, by offering to the forestry trainers a singular training in Europe created thanks to collective intelligence and good practices, et mainly focused on the pedagogy and methodology needed in forestry training. The Forestry EduTrainer training is proposed by recognised organisations at national and European level, which will provide it at European scale and work towards its improvement through the sustainability strategy worked upon. Many trainers and/or forestry training organisations have already expressed their interest in the Forestry EduTrainer training.At mid and long-term, the benefits of Forestry EduTrainer will be a better qualification of forestry trainers as well as trainings of higher quality, thus permitting more efficiency and work quality in the next-to-be forestry professionals as well as a diminution of the number and gravity of accidents.

The FORESTS FOR HEALTH project idea was born in Geneva as part of the Think Tank on Green Jobs in the forest sector (Team of Specialists on Green Jobs in the Forest Sector - Joint UNECE/FAO/ILO Expert Network).The idea was developed on two observations, which have found some validation through surveys sent among the partnership network :- there is a development of forest-based health and well-being practices in European countries, some being more advanced than others. The idea behind this concept is that human beings can benefit greatly from the forest environment in health and well-being related matters. However these practices are often developed on no empirical science ground, and are being implemented without an understanding of, or respect for, preserving and conserving the natural environment. This is of major concern in light of the burgeoning interest in sylvotherapy and Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing) and the need to protect biodiversity in the current climate emergency. At present many practices are taking place in un-adapted forests and/or without adhering to the rules and regulations of the forest environment and its requirements.- As a result of a recent surge in awareness among the general population of the need to protect natural environments, many people perceive the forest as the last refuge of wild nature. Therefore, some people prioritise forests as places to be respected, protected, and above all preserved. This position however is in direct conflict with a true understanding of the forests, and of sustainable forest management which validates human intervention in the forests for a better growth of the trees and sustainability of forest massifs.As a result was identified the need to professionalise the practice and make sure forest understanding is guaranteed while conducting forest-related health sessions. The FORESTS FOR HEALTH project thus aims at the training of “Forests For Health Coaches” with dual competences in forest-health practices and comprehension of forests and forestry. The FORESTS FOR HEALTH Coaches will be trained on a training course created by the project partnership, supported by European competence and training standards, and provided in a blended-learning format. The partnership will thus train FORESTS FOR HEALTH Trainers to conduct the training. These FORESTS FOR HEALTH trainers will themselves have been the first persons trained on the training course content and on the FFH methods for the organisation of forest-health sessions through the conduct of 4 short-term joint staff training events. A total of 9 FORESTS FOR HEALTH Trainers will have been trained throughout the project, as well as 9 FORESTS FOR HEALTH Coaches. Throughtout the project, the person trained pertained to the partners’ organisations and had competences in forest-health or forest and forestry. The project is conducted by a partnership of 9 organisations from the forestry vocational training sector and organisations specialised in the organisation of forest-health sessions. To achieve the goal of the project, these organisations will work on creating :- a competence standard,- a training standard- a training course developed on the aforementioned standards- an elearning platform- a training curriculum and a curriculum for the conduct of forest-health sessions- a strategy for the recognition by national authorities of the training course The impact envisaged of the project is the development and generalisation of forest-health Coaches with a dual competence in forest-health and forest thanks to the FORESTS FOR HEALTH Certificate. Thanks to the development of the training course and European certificate, the project will foster at intermediate and long term the recognition of forest-health practices at European level, the harmonisation of the concept and of its practices, and will contribute to raise awareness on the forest environment, its benefits and its functions.