Volodymyr Kravets: Developing Communication and Negotiation Skills

As the Head of the FOREST EUROPE Sub-Commission in IFSA, Volodymyr Kravets has had the unique opportunity to engage in High-Level Policy Dialogues, Expert Level Meetings, and preparations for the upcoming 9th Ministerial Conference. He shares, “These experiences allowed me to see political dialogue and negotiations on an international level, and even participate directly. FOREST EUROPE’s strong capacity support helped us communicate our ideas effectively, leading to impactful suggestions.”

Volodymyr’s involvement has not only sharpened his communication skills but also provided insights into political trends and the demand for forestry specialists. “The skills and knowledge gained in policy development and negotiations open new opportunities and give insights into what actual work can be like,” he adds.

Lea Arbogast: Overcoming Intimidation in Political Processes

Lea Arbogast, who is currently writing her Bachelor’s Thesis on youth integration in environmental political processes, reflects on her experiences with FOREST EUROPE. “Through this event, I learned to be less afraid of political processes and the people involved. Everyone is only human and learns together, regardless of age,” she says.

FOREST EUROPE has provided a platform for youth to have an active voice in shaping their future. “They gave us the platform to have an active voice on equal ground, which is truly empowering,” Lea emphasizes.

Nikolina Mencin: Gaining Insights into Sustainable Forest Management

Nikolina Mencin highlights the knowledge she gained about sustainable forest management and the role of forests in achieving a sustainable economy. “Working with FOREST EUROPE, I learned about the importance of collaboration and skilled workforces,” she notes.

Her experience in policy dialogues and effective communication within a pan-European context has enriched her understanding of forest governance and sustainability, equipping her to contribute meaningfully to the field.

Raghav Sharma: Participating in High-Level Discussions

Raghav Sharma shares how FOREST EUROPE actively involves youth in meaningful ways. “FOREST EUROPE includes young people in Expert Level Meetings and collaborates with IFSA to gather youth perspectives,” he explains. Workshops conducted by FOREST EUROPE have gathered valuable insights from young foresters, which will be presented at the 9th Ministerial Conference.

“Participating in these high-level discussions has been an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. It significantly enhanced my knowledge and boosted my confidence,” Raghav adds.

Alina Lehikoinen: Building Confidence and Leadership

Alina Lehikoinen’s work with FOREST EUROPE has made her feel like a true equal in the forestry field. “This has meant opportunities for leadership while having a space to learn and ask questions without judgment,” she shares.

The inclusive and supportive environment created by FOREST EUROPE has inspired Alina to improve other working environments. “I have tried to develop my working environments in a collaborative, respectful, and encouraging direction,” she notes.

These stories from IFSA members underscore the significant impact FOREST EUROPE has on young professionals in the forestry sector. By providing opportunities for active participation, skill development, and leadership, FOREST EUROPE is helping to shape the future of sustainable forest management with the valuable input of the next generation. The entire interview with all the IFSA delegates can be found here.

As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, we recognize the importance of such collaborations in fostering the growth and development of young professionals who are passionate about making a difference in the world.

The post World Youth Skills Day: Insights from IFSA Members on Working with FOREST EUROPE first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

This year, the International Day of Forests (IDF) theme is ‘Forests and Innovation.’ In alignment with this theme, FOREST EUROPE organized a webinar on 14 March 2024 to commemorate the day. The IDF, which is celebrated annually on 21 March, celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. More than 110 participants joined our webinar, which aimed to highlight the importance of innovation by showcasing existing innovative practices and exploring ways of addressing the topic at the policy level.

Representatives of networks, including the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP), WoodPoP, and Future Forest Initiative (FFI), as well as start-ups like Breeze Technologies and Forest Mapping Management, provided insights from the practical perspective. They highlighted the uniqueness of their work ranging from their mission, roles, business models for forest owners and other stakeholders, and the integration of technology to address challenges such as wildfire detection and forest mapping processes. Speakers from Austria and Spain shared knowledge about their countries’ innovation ecosystems, contributing to a deeper understanding of the existing policies and the innovation-friendly environment they create. Structures and strategies directed towards foresters and government are necessary for the achievement of smooth dynamics between practice and policy.

In addition, participants had the opportunity to network with other start-ups and networks in the ‘Room for Innovation’ session, comprising of 4 breakout rooms: EFI Bioregions Facility, Firepoctep+ project, Lykaia and Forest.io. See here all the presentations.

Some of the key messages from the speakers on how to promote innovation in the forest sector included the importance of aligning priorities, coordinating policies, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, creating enabling environments, including funding opportunities and other support services, and integrating policy, science, and practice at all levels. Embracing digital skills and fostering cooperation and co-creation were also emphasized.

Watch here the recorded webinar

The next webinar from the “From the Roots to the Canopy” series will be Spotlight on Forest Genetics: An Unseen Ally in Adapting Forests to Drought on 15 April 2024, 10:00-12:00 CEST, in collaboration with FORGENIUS and EUFORGEN. Mark your calendars and watch the webinar live on youtube.com/foresteurope/live

The post The roots of innovation – setting the course for innovation and sustainable growth in the forest sector first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

(Download this document here.)

We are living in times of drastic changes challenging forests all over Europe.

Our forests are facing disturbances that are increasing in severity, scale, and frequency due to climate change, thus leading to rapidly advancing tree mortality and canopy loss in Europe. Moreover, disturbance events are becoming increasingly complex as different and sometimes emerging disturbances are linked, occur simultaneously, or reinforce each other, exacerbating the current challenges at the national and regional levels. The unprecedented forest damages all over Europe require rethinking and constant analysis of adaptation strategies and approaches to enhance the resilience of forests, landscapes, and society.

So, what do we mean by resilience? Resilience indicates the ability of a system to absorb or withstand changes and disturbance while also maintaining important ecosystem processes and functions. Since 2018, an increase in the disturbance frequency has been observed, and it is likely that forests in Europe may no longer be able to recover from or absorb the damage. The impact on society and the loss of essential ecosystem services and functions that forests provide (e.g., carbon sequestration, healthy soil, drinking water, and wood products) could be irreversible. Therefore, when dealing with resilience in forests and landscapes, we need a holistic approach that considers societal needs, the entire value chain of the forest process, and ecosystem integrity and conservation.

Increasing resilience through SFM practices could provide a way out of the combined climate and biodiversity crisis our forests face.

We may not be able to prevent the disturbances, but every crisis is also an opportunity to transform forests into more resilient ecosystems with enhanced biodiversity. SFM and the integration of nature conservation in active forest management practices have proven successful all over Europe. SFM is a dynamic concept, able to be adapted to changes, and remains the conceptual backbone for the future of European forests. Increasing forest resilience through SFM practices will be instrumental in reinforcing and maintaining the adaptive capacity of forest landscapes and their ability to cope with the tremendous speed and pressure that climate change effects exert on them.

Enhancing forest resilience in Sustainable Forest Management practices includes:

• Pro-active management to prevent and prepare for forest disturbances and mitigate future impacts, for example, by increasing the diversity of tree species, structures, and management methods to create more diverse forests and landscapes to face an uncertain future. Considering most climate-adapted provenances and tree species can be taken up as an option. From the perspective of genetic sciences, it’s important to note that these may not necessarily be native species. Therefore, in shaping future species mixes to enhance resilience against potential disturbances, it’s essential also to consider tested non-native species.
• Comprehensive recovery approaches need to combine forest restoration and climate change adaptation at the same time. In addition, we need to consider different dimensions from the smaller to the larger scale; forests need to be managed as part of the landscape and become an integrative part of landscape restoration concepts.
• Not only do forests and forest management need to become resilient, but also forest value chains and society. With increasing and competitive demands for forest products and services, we must ensure that forest resources and services are put to the best possible use and strike the right balance. This requires developing new technologies and products, well-trained, informed, and receptive personnel as well as efficient communication strategies.
• We need more science to inform decision-makers and practitioners and implement more effectively. There is an increasing need for monitoring disturbances and early warning systems to improve our understanding of forest risks. More research on unmanaged areas should be conducted to comprehend natural adaptation processes better.
• Private forest owners often face new and seemingly insurmountable challenges that may force them to abandon their land. Providing assistance and training to landowners needs to go beyond subsidies and regulatory frameworks; it is necessary to understand their values and objectives while developing policies and increasing awareness.

The need to act on the climate and biodiversity crisis together is growing, requiring international and coordinated actions.

Countries face different challenges at different times, and priorities regarding risk management differ. Climate change and biodiversity loss do not respect borders, and urgency is an issue; solutions must be developed by joining forces, always keeping the country’s differences in mind. As there is “no one-size-fits-all,” locally adapted solutions need to be elaborated, with the transparent involvement of different interest groups.

Several participants highlighted the urgency of strengthening cross-border collaboration and transparent dialogues through a FOREST EUROPE Forest Risk Facility (FoRISK). Such pan-European cooperation platform on risk prevention and management is currently being examined by the FOREST EUROPE’s signatories and envisaged to be adopted at the 9th Ministerial Conference on 1-2 October 2024 (further information on the Ministerial decision under preparation can be obtained from the Liaison Unit Bonn upon request).

This discussion prepared the ground for further investigation of the relationship and potential synergies between the two concepts of SFM and resilience building.

The post Take-home messages from the High-Level Talks 2023 first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

The current scenario we are facing at the national and international forestry level leads to a critical debate: How can Sustainable Forest Management maintain and enhance resilience in your forest, considering social, economic, and environmental factors?

This event will be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Berlin having a hybrid character. FOREST EUROPE high-level policymakers responsible for forests and forestry and high-level representatives from FOREST EUROPE observer organizations and other interested stakeholders will be invited to this meeting. The interested public can join this event in Berlin or online.

The host of this event is the German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Cem Özdemir. Our panel discussions in Berlin will bring together ministers and other high-level policymakers with representatives of environmental organizations, forest practitioners, researchers, youth, and landowners to provide a space promoting shared understanding and synergies in the pan-European region and beyond.

The event will have two consecutive panel discussions where participants can interact directly with high-level speakers during the debate. To set the scene, renowned researchers will present their latest findings.

Check our High-Level Talks website to stay updated.

The post High-Level Talks 2023 | Growing healthier forests: How can Sustainable Forest Management enhance resilience? first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

The conference will have well-known forest policy experts that will explain how forest policy works and bring real world examples. It is an opportunity to actively get involved in policy and learn how to make a difference. Meet other youth with similar interest, network with policy expert and get inspired to take actions.

The event is planned on two days with different activities:

• Workshop day: there will be three workshops on capacity building, soft skills and interaction with experts, exchange of skills knowledge outside the usual curriculum and networking with fellow students or early career scientists. The Living Library will be presented as an innovative format that raise awareness of the obstacles, challenges or solutions other people faced in their professional lives.
• Conference day: main focus on the importance of global forest policies, what they have achieved, and also where their limitations are. There will be an introduction to international Forest Policy, the role of youth in forest policy, with real-world examples of implemented forest policy, finalizing with a Panel discussion with all major stakeholders.

Register here!

The post Youth Forest Policy Days first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

The High Level Policy Dialogue 2022 is organised in line with the Bratislava Ministerial Declaration 2021 as well as the Forest Europe Work Programme priorities and follows guidance provided by the General Coordinating Committee (GCC). The host of this event is the German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Cem Özdemir.

We will discuss to what extent Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) can maintain and eventually enhance forest biological diversity, and how to ensure the balance with other forest ecosystem services?

Our panel discussions will bring together ministers and other high-level policy makers with representatives of environmental organizations, forest managers, senior researchers, youth and landowners to provide a space for knowledge exchange and to promote common understanding and synergies in the pan-European region and beyond.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event will be hybrid, with physical participation in Bonn, Germany, for panellists and keynote speakers only. FOREST EUROPE ministers responsible for forests and forestry as well as the observer organizations will be invited to this meeting. The interested public will be able to follow this event online.

Check our HLPD website to stay updated.

We will circulate more information including the registration link, soon!

For any further questions, you are welcome to send an email to liaisonunitbonn@foresteurope.org .

We look forward to meeting you all end of August!

Liaison Unit Bonn & European Forest Institute FE team

The post High-Level Policy Dialogue 2022 – Sustainable Forest Management: unlocking forest biodiversity’s potential first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.