The countries involved in the ELAV project all have different forest histories and resources, but they face common challenges in respect of delivering local benefits from forestry. The ELAV project will work with rural communities, municipalities, forest companies, landowners and forest authorities to action sustainable rural development based on strategic forest planning for the development of multipurpose natural/forest resources. The project areas will act as pilots in developing strategic planning tools, which will be reviewed and refined on the basis of project experience. Three key issues have been identified for the project: Planning: how to develop community involvement with the strategic forest planning process at a sub-regional scale. Rural Development Opportunities: how to design new forests and adapt forest management regimes to optimise a full range of rural development opportunities. Silvicultural expertise: how to develop and disseminate the silvicultural expertise to support and implement community aspirations for forest design and management. Expected Results: · Establishment of 5 forums for co-operation in forestry questions involving forest managers & communities and a range of solutions for involving communities in strategic planning. Specific project areas will function as pilots in the development of nationally and transnationally appropriate methodologies and planning tools· 5 sub-regional forest plans, identifying the opportunities for forestry and forest land to better deliver rural development objectives· A management and development plan for forest research experimental plantations on Scottish islands· 8 international exchanges (four persons per trip), targeted at appropriate groups and individuals· 4 thematic reports collating experience and good practice in community engagement, tourism development, exploitation of non-timber forest products and local processing· Development and dissemination of locally appropriate silvicultural expertise and techniques to assist forest managers· A range of environmental benefits (biodiversity, visual amenity at the landscape scale) arising from enhanced management of commercial forests.