DERRY CITY COUNCIL PROJECT TITLE: North West European Networks

Derry City Council is the lead partner in the North West European Network project. Through its outward and forward looking region programme, the Council, and its sister Councils in the North West, is keen to share its creative ideas and to build mutually beneficial relationships with other regions. The North West European Network project will bring the North West closer to Europe by creating a network of information, expertise, research and knowledge on European issues, and by implementing a series of collaborative projects with other regions in Europe. Derry has a large hinterland of smaller urban centres and rural districts. A key feature of the Northwest European Network project is the creation of a EU Funders Forum facilitated by the Derry Local Strategy Partnership which brings together practitioners from the LSPs and LEADER + Groups within the wider North West Region. The aim of this forum is to develop local capacity and to identify development opportunities for the Northwest region beyond the current round of EU funding.

The deliverables for the North West European Network project are:

a directory of EU expertise within the North West, a programme to raise awareness of EU issues and to enhance existing European networking activities within the North West a baseline report to benchmark the Northwest region within a European Spatial Development perspective and to identify development priorities and collaboration opportunities. a programme of study visits to targeted European regions, follow-up seminars and the development of additional trans-national projects

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DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL PROJECT TITLE: Forest Link Forest Link is focussed on the creation and enhancement of linkages, examination of EU and international models of best practice and development of an awareness of best practice with regard to the to adding value to timber resources and the development of community forests in County Donegal. The project provides an opportunity to exchange

information, learn from models of best practice and promote collaborative partnerships.

It is hoped that the knowledge gained from networking with those involved in projects that demonstrate best practice will lead to the creation of employment opportunities for local communities. It is anticipated that the network will include countries with a long forestry traditions such as Belgium, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland and the UK. The models of best practice identified will demonstrate the diversity of the growing sector and the realities of the industry in Donegal, particularly its economies of scale and markets.

The project aims to maximise the economic, environmental and social benefits of forestry as a renewable natural resource in Donegal. It will act as a catalyst in the strengthening of the forestry sector in the county. New opportunities will be promoted for the growth and development of the forestry sector. This will be of particular benefit to more geographically isolated parts of the county where employment levels are low and where there is a need to diversify land use in order to sustain local communities.