FOREST EUROPE is the brand name of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. It is the pan-European voluntary high-level political process for intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation on forest policies in Europe. FOREST EUROPE develops common strategies for its 47 signatories (46 European countries and the European Union) on how to protect and sustainably manage their forests.

Since 1990, the collaboration of the ministers responsible for forests in Europe has been setting agenda for policy making at national and European levels by providing main policy framework for sustainable forest management and balancing its economic, environmental and social pillars. FOREST EUROPE has led to achievements such as the internationally agreed guidelines, criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management.

With the aim of agreeing on how to manage forests in Europe, the FOREST EUROPE process periodically hosts ministerial level conferences where ministerial commitments and resolutions are adopted.

By endorsing the declarations, decisions and resolutions at the FOREST EUROPE platform, the signatories make clear political commitments to protect and sustainably manage their forests.

IFSA’s Engagement

IFSA is a recognised observer of the FOREST EUROPE process. Observers within FOREST EUROPE involve a wide range of stakeholders, for instance, environmental and social NGOs, forest and landowners’ federations, forest industry and the scientific community. This has resulted in intensified political and scientific communication in Europe and successful cooperation on a wide range of issues related to forests and forestry.

Through the partnership, IFSA regularly engages closely with FOREST EUROPE and actively participates in events and meetings held under the FOREST EUROPE process, such as the Ministerial Conferences, Expert Level Meetings and Round Table Meetings. Oftentimes, a small delegation of IFSA students is travelling throughout Europe to follow the developments in forest policy. Here, IFSA plays an important role in representing the opinion of the youth in forestry in the FOREST EUROPE process.

Marsia Moutzouri is Head of Forest Europe Sub-Commission