Think Tank on Sustainable Forest Management
On 22 and 23 of February, FOREST EUROPE launched its new Think Tank to discuss with its signatories and other stakeholders on how to make the Pan-European concept of sustainable forest management (SFM) fit for the future.
In the 30 years since the concept of SFM was agreed, the climatic context as well as societal demands on forests have been evolving. SFM is a dynamic concept and forest owners and managers are committed to adapt forest management to these developments.
In this context, SFM is among the priorities of FOREST EUROPE work programme 2021-2024, and a Think Tank was established to keep the SFM concept fit for the future. The final outputs will explore all tools in the context of current challenges to further strengthen the role of SFM in policy and practice. The Think Tank is intended to be an open discussion forum to include all views aside of other political processes and official negotiation bodies.
From a forest owner’s view the work of the Think Tank is especially interesting in relation to the EU’s new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (EUFS). In the EUFS, the European Commission states that “building on the FOREST EUROPE sustainable forest management criteria, the Commission, together with the Member States and in close cooperation with different forest stakeholders, will identify additional indicators as well as thresholds or ranges for sustainable forest management concerning forest ecosystem conditions, such as health, biodiversity and climate objectives”. To avoid duplication of work, risks of incoherence and issues in the implementation of new SFM criteria, CEPF considers that it will be crucial that the work of the European Commission under the EUFS will be aligned with FOREST EUROPE.
To know more about the Think Tank meetings on 22 and 23 February click here.
Grow Green Jobs campaign
On 11 February, FOREST EUROPE kicked off an Instagram campaign called Grow Green Jobs. The campaign showcases forest-related jobs from all over Europe in the format of one-minute videos. It aims at raising awareness among students and young professionals in the fields of forestry, natural sciences, agriculture, and agroforestry about the existing professions and career paths that are fostering a transition to a more sustainable economy in Europe. FOREST EUROPE invites students and young professionals to participate to the campaign by posting videos of their projects.
Follow the campaign on Instagram at @foresteuropedotorg and read more here.
