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.

 

With the Oslo Ministerial Decision on European Forests 2020 FOREST EUROPE’s signatories defined a shared vision:

 

To shape a future where all European forests are vital, productive and multifunctional. Where forests contribute effectively to sustainable development, through ensuring human well-being, a healthy environment and economic development in Europe and across the globe. Where the forests’ unique potential to support a green economy, livelihoods, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, enhancing water quality and combating desertification is realized to the benefit of society.

 

Accordingly we have taken on a clear mission to advance the realization of the shared vision, goals and 2020 targets:

 

FOREST EUROPE enhances the cooperation on forest policies in Europe under the leadership of ministers, and secures and promotes Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) with the aim of maintaining the multiple functions of forests crucial to society.

 

To fulfil this mission, FOREST EUROPE will undertake tasks that include developing and updating policies and tools for sustainable management, monitoring, assessing and implementing commitments on forests, promoting education and research and raising awareness and understanding of the contributions of FOREST EUROPE to Sustainable Forest Management.