The main objective of the project is to strengthen institutional changes and capacities of the forest sector of the Russian Federation. The main activities of the project will be focused on development of the conditions, methodological provision, infrastructure and staff's capacity in Mari State Technical University with the help and expertise of EU consortium organizations. During the project it is planned to (re)train chief foresters from the forestry enterprises of the Privolzski Federal district and authorities of Federal Forestry Agencies with respect to the state-of-art of sustainable forest management. Considerable part of the project has been devoted to the development of new courses, distance learning class and network of forestry enterprises in the region in order to sustainably continue the training after the project.