**2. Development of the initial strategy**

In order to develop the strategy framework, the DXM relied upon guiding principles and foundations of SFM gleaned from international, European Union (EU) and Spanish policies and agreements. Although a wide range of documents were reviewed, the following agreements and resolutions were seen as being most relevant:


Furthermore, in order to ensure that a new strategy and its related programs would be consistent with forestry and environmental policy of the EU, the DXM reviewed and summarized documentation concerning relevant Community programs and initiatives.

Further inspiration for the development of a new forest strategy was drawn from the concepts of hierarchical forest management (HFM) and integrated forest management (IFM). HFM is based upon the tenets of hierarchical production planning as described by such authors as Hax and Candea (1984). Explanations of the hierarchical approach to forest management can be found in various documents, but a paper by Weintraub and Davis (1996) is especially recommended.

The term IFM has been used to describe several distinct (though related) concepts, but in the case of the strategy development effort in Galicia, IFM was taken to mean the integration of management processes and systems to ensure that the objectives of HFM are achieved (Gallis & Robak, 1997; Robak, 1996).

Based upon these foundations, a Strategy for Sustainable Forest Management for Galicia was developed and unveiled in the spring of 2002. (DXM, 2002)
