On 2 and 3 June, Ministers, high-level officials and stakeholders from all over Europe gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, for the 10th Forest Europe Ministerial Conference.
The 10th FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference, held in Stockholm, Sweden, on 2–3 June 2026, brought together more than 130 participants from over 30 countries, including ministers, state secretaries, policymakers, researchers, international organisations, observer organisations and representatives of the forest sector. CEPF was represented by President Sven-Erik Hammar and Secretary General Fanny-Pomme Langue.
Across eight high-level sessions, participants discussed some of the most pressing challenges facing Europe's forests, including climate change, biodiversity loss, wildfires, workforce shortages, innovation, wood construction, geopolitical preparedness and the future of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
The Conference marked an important milestone for pan-European forest cooperation and reaffirmed the central role of Sustainable Forest Management in building resilient forests and resilient societies.
A key outcome of the Conference was the signing of the Stockholm Ministerial Declaration, "Sustainable Forests for Resilient Societies". The Declaration reaffirms the commitment of signatory countries to promote and implement the dynamic concept of SFM and to ensure that FOREST EUROPE remains fit for the future. It also places a strong emphasis on strengthening the resilience of forests and the forest sector across the pan-European region, including through initiatives such as FoRISK and EUFORGEN, while supporting the recovery and sustainable management of Ukrainian forests. These commitments underline the essential contribution of sustainably managed forests to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, economic development and societal well-being.
Ahead of the Ministerial Conference, CEPF joined nine other observer organisations in issuing a Joint statement calling on ministers to reaffirm their commitment to SFM as the foundation for balancing the environmental, social and economic functions of forests. The statement highlighted the vital role of actively and sustainably managed forests in delivering climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, renewable materials and rural development.
The outcomes of the Stockholm Conference send a strong signal of continued political support for SFM as the cornerstone of Europe's forest policy framework. At a time when forests face increasing pressures from climate change, pests, diseases and extreme weather events, while expectations on forests continue to grow, maintaining a balanced approach that integrates environmental, social and economic objectives remains essential.
CEPF welcomes the commitments made by participating countries and looks forward to continuing its engagement in the FOREST EUROPE process. CEPF would also like to thank the FOREST EUROPE Liaison Unit Sweden for its leadership and dedication during the Swedish Chairmanship and congratulate Albania on taking the next Chairmanship of the FOREST EUROPE process from 2027 onwards.
