Success stories

The success stories we present :

are examples of practical sustainability, with some years of experience,
integrate several topics (energy, agriculture, education, biodiversity, cultural heritage etc..) and pursue economic, environmental, social and democratic goals of sustainable development.
are based in, or include active partnership with, the local community
are linked to a rural or periurban territory.

We are also gathering innovative experiences, which are newest initiatives aiming at answering to the new challenges rural actors are facing in their territory.

#Peripheral Encounters: rural networks for art, culture and youth in Alto Palancia territory, Spain
“Hands on the Lands for Food Sovereignty”
► Bisses, a traditional irrigation system from the Alps, candidat to intangible heritage
► CONECT-E, a participatory online platform that documents and share traditional ecological knowledge in Spain
► From action to knowledge: market gardeners have their say!
► Grassland with tradition: surveying traditionally managed ecosystems in the Carpathians
A collection of knowledge on natural grassland seed harvesting in the Massif Central, France
A global 2000 m² - field in Pankow.
AGROECOPOLIS - A young grassroots network for Agroecology, Food Sovereignty & Access to Land in Greece
Apsyrtides, a new energy cooperative is created on Cres&Lošinj archipelago (Croatia).
Bergwaldprojekt, involving volunteers to protect and conserve forests in mountain areas in Germany
Black Sea Initiative
Butterfly Conservation Research on Continous Cover Forestry (CCF) and Biodiversity, UK
Cloughjordan Community Farm:
cob/ αειphόria cooperative, a permaculture and natural building farm in Greece
Creative Entrepreneurship Network - Fostering young people creativity in a cross-border region BG-MK
EU renewable energy policy and the pressure this is putting on forests
Examples of Continous Cover Forestry practise in Estonia, EE
Fundación Monte Mediterráneo, a foundation dedicated to the management of “Dehesa”, an agroforestry ecosystem in Andalusia, Spain.
Gemer Region Forest Owners Association, a private organisation promoting the legitimate interests of private forest owners in Slovakia
Hemp: a sustainable alternative for a farm
Hermon Community Center
HNV Link: High Nature Value Farming: Learning Innovation and Knowledge, Bulgaria
Industrial hemp growth.
La sylviculture écologique dans la forêt communale de Lübeck, DE
Landscape Park Forest Knyszyńska
Les Petits Producteurs – a successful food co-operative in Liege area
Lesachtal valley, a journey to authenticity in the Austrian Alps
Località il Piano, an agrotourism and teaching farm in the Appenine mountains, Italy
Mediterranean Diet Route - Rota da Dieta Mediterranica, Algarve (Portugal)
Natura 2000 communication between stakeholders and share of close-to-nature forest management experiences in Hungary
Nature-oriented forestry in the municipal forest of Lübeck, DE
OURganic gardens, a community led social enterprise based in Gortahork (Ireland) .
Peliti Seed Festival
Porto di Terra, a community experimenting agroecology and permaculture in Sicily
Production de chanvre
Regional food hub for local products in Romania
Rural community development in Shirak region, Armenia.
The National Forest Company, one of the biggest environmental initiatives creating and managing woodlands in the UK
The Redon Sustainable Food Consortium
Toi l’arbre, a foundation to enhance the well-being of trees and landscapes in France.
Traditional fruit varieties orchards in Odorhei Region
Trinity Farm, a biodinamic farm in Greece
Two publicly-owned woods rescued from neglect in Beaminster, Dorset, England, UK
Use of wooden biomass in two municipalities in Serbia
Villages on move in Baltic countries
When a social enterprise brings new activities to Kalavan village in Armenia
[EXP] « The insect clearing » : a haven of « ordinary » biodiversity in SW France
[EXP] A participative approach to preserving agricultural activities in the Saclay plateau: the Terre et Cité initiative in the Paris region
[EXP] Advocating for the reincorporation of trees and the ecological services of forests into modern agricultural practices.
[EXP] Agricultura Nuova, a multifunctional Cooperative Farm integrated in its territory in the periphery of Rome (Italy).
[EXP] AMAP, un exemple de Soutien à l’agriculture de proximité en France
[EXP] Ancient fruit varieties turned economic tonic in French Pyrenees, promoted by RENOVA.
[EXP] Ardelaine: a cooperative project based on wool-processing becomes a driving force for local development.
[EXP] Balancing nature and coastal protection with sustainable local development Pellworm, a small North Frisian island below sea level.
[EXP] Buschberghof CSA, a multifunctional farm successful for more than 20 years
[EXP] Buying collectively farmland: how Terre de Liens encourages the access to land and settlement of organic and peasant farmers in France.
[EXP] Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Europe’s leading Eco-Centre
[EXP] Coed Cymru, helping Welsh landowners to manage native woodlands sustainably, for environmental and economic gain
[EXP] Community supported Agriculture and Organic box schemes helping local French farmers and consumers
[EXP] Conserving and promoting the natural and cultural heritage of Foula, Shetland’s most remote island
[EXP] Cooperation and urban-rural solutions in Dolina Strugu polish region
[EXP] Devon Hedge Group, an example of partnership of local bodies to protect and promote Devon’s world class hedges (UK)
[EXP] Eco - Health Farm Network in Latvia
[EXP] Ecosystem of collaboration of Karditsa : developing social economy in rural Greece
[EXP] Enhancement of a rural mountainous area heritage by Paysalp association.
[EXP] Estonian Rural Parliament offers rural democracy lessons for EU partners
[EXP] Estonian village Metsanurme builds broad base of activities to support local lives
[EXP] Fédérer les acteurs d’un territoire rural grâce au programme Leader
[EXP] German eco-housing work, a guide for others
[EXP] Giving added value to local knowledge on wild fruit helps maintaining biodiversity and farmers incomes in Romania
[EXP] Gut Wulksfelde, a multifunctional and education farm at the outskirts of Hamburg city
[EXP] How to implement rural sustainable development in rural areas : the example of trainings and exchange of practices in local territories by Permanent Centres of Initiatives for the Environment (CPIE).
[EXP] Immigrant integration
[EXP] Kulturland eG: a farmers - consumers cooperative
[EXP] Landcare associations in Germany: civil society involvement in the management of ecologically sensitive areas
[EXP] Le système AMAP ou comment maintenir une agriculture proche des centres urbains
[EXP] Local rural development committees in Wallonia (Belgium): a local space for consultation and forming proposals, integrating inhabitants and elected officials.
[EXP] Macroregional Alpine strategy: an example of an institutional initiative involving States, Regions and organisations (CIPRA International)
[EXP] Mas de Noguera : an example for diversification of activities in a Mediterranean mid mountain region
[EXP] Master project: a research-action platform on mobility, welcoming new inhabitants and sustainable rural development in France. (The Ville Campagne collective)
[EXP] Mediation to manage a local dispute around the landfill site at Góra Kalwaria near Warsaw in Poland.
[EXP] Mixed-cultivation benefits build over years
[EXP] Mountain forest forums; dialogue between stakeholders and institutions for the conservation of mountain forests. The example of Bavaria in Germany.
[EXP] National Forest Company (NFC) – an exemplar of sustainability in all its aspects
[EXP] Network of Forestry alternatives, bringing together different actors in the favour of ecosystem-friendly forest management in France.
[EXP] No-till agriculture helps saving inputs in agriculture and its improves soils and biodiversity
[EXP] Open Space on food and local development: a multi-stakeholder meeting initiated by the Ceinture Aliment-Terre Liègeoise (Belgium).
[EXP] Oxfordshire Woodfuel Programmes “Logs for Labour”, an exchange between volunteers and woodland managers in UK
[EXP] Peak District Farm Holidays, a group of farming families providing quality holiday accommodation
[EXP] Peatland Restoration at Shapwick Heath on the Somerset Levels in South West England
[EXP] PLANED, working with communities to deliver local integrated development in Pembrokeshire
[EXP] Promoting actions and policies to attract and maintain new population in rural areas: the experience of Collectif Ville-Campagne in France.
[EXP] Raising public awareness on the Bourgas Wetlands, in Bulgary
[EXP] Regionalwert AG: citizen capital for a regional organic food economy
[EXP] Restoring soils through co-cultivation of trees and cereals
[EXP] Small woodland keepers in the UK
[EXP] Support to the Craft Masters of the Estonian Rural Areas
[EXP] Supporting the associations of Private Forest Owners in South East Europe
[EXP] Tablehurst and Plaw Hatch Community Farms, an example of biodynamic farm businesses owned by 600 local shareholders.(East Sussex, UK)
[EXP] TEH -Traditional European Medicine, a local network promoting traditional medicinal knowledge
[EXP] Testing structures for rural entrepreneurs in Limousin region
[EXP] The Agricultural and Rural Convention (ARC 2020): a platform of European organisations working together to develop the Common Agricultural Policy.
[EXP] The Jaglea family farm, seeking sustainability at the crossroad of tradition and innovation in the Carpathian, Romania.
[EXP] The Mourne Homesteads Project - Mourne Heritage Trust brings back to life traditional buildings in Northern Ireland
[EXP] The participatory budget of Odemira in Portugal: an example of inhabitants managing part of the public budget.
[EXP] The Sacca di Goro lagoon in Italy: involving a citizens’ panel in a consultation on sustainable water management (the Aware project).
[EXP] The village of Wulkow global ecological development strategy
[EXP] Transylvanian Herb Garden
[EXP] Village and homestead caretaker: community based services in tiny villages and remote rural areas, Hungary
[EXP] Village movement in Estonia : focusing on local governance to maintain rural villages alive
[EXP] Viva sol Lithuania, an association of cheese eaters and producers that encourages the settlement of small farmers and artisans in rural Lithuania.
[EXP] Viva sol, une association de producteurs fromagers et de consommateurs urbain pourun soutien à l’agriculture artisanale et à l’installation en milieu rural.
[EXP] Wendland renewable energy strategy
[MoI] « Create a Climate for Peace », a programme supporting activists in taking action for sustainable living and climate justice
[MoI] Forest conservation and executing national law with regard to biodiversity
[MoI]«  Créer un climat pour la paix  », un programme de soutien aux militants pour une vie durable et une justice climatique