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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.

This event has been created to react to emerging issues related to forests and the forest-based sector. The HLPD is an open and informal dialogue that provides a space to promote synergies in the pan-European region and beyond. Ministers (Cem Özdemir, German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture will give a welcome speech), General Directors (e.g., María Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho from Spain, Michael Reinhard from Switzerland), other national representatives (e.g., Stefanie Schmitz from DG Environment representative), as well as high-level representatives of observer countries and organizations (e.g., Juha Niemela EUSTAFOR President, Technische Universität München, Boris Erg, Director of IUCN European Regional Office), will be present in Berlin and will be brought together with the online audience to discuss and learn from each other.

This platform will be an essential milestone for preparing the FOREST EUROPE 9^th Ministerial Conference in 2024 and ministerial documents.

The event will have two consecutive panel discussions where director generals and other participants can interact directly with high-level speakers. To set the scene, renowned scientists will present a science-policy brief and summarize the state of the art in research.

High-level international speakers will have the space to present their experiences and national examples of Sustainable Forest Management and resilience in forests from an environmental, social, and economic perspective. There will be space for interaction with the participants in Berlin and the online audience on both panels.

Stay tuned and check all the details on the event website

The post Growing Healthier Forests: How can Sustainable Forest Management enhance resilience? 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 initiative enabled signatories, observers, and international and Ukrainian experts to join their efforts about the support necessary for the recovery of Ukrainian forests through a series of workshops (see the picture below about the fire management one). The experts were able to present their own projects and initiatives and discuss possible support necessary in the country. These exchanges further stimulate the work of the partners and the FOREST EUROPE Secretariat in proposing a list of policy recommendations.

The final report published by the Liaison Unit Bonn today is the result of a review, based on official information, done by the main author Liubov Poliakova, supported by Silvia Abruscato, Santiago Alarcon, and the entire FOREST EUROPE Liaison Unit Bonn team. This successful work involved the consultation of several experts in the field, as well as signatories and observers of the FOREST EUROPE process.

Read, download, and share the report here!

The post Towards a sustainable recovery: Insights from Ukraine’s forests first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

Hotel Steigenberger in Dresden, where the ELM was held.

Rapid Response Mechanism: supporting the Ukrainian forest sector and its forests

The ELM acknowledged the full implementation of the Ministerial Decision to support the Ukrainian forest sector and its forests from August 2022, which was created within FOREST EUROPE’s rapid response mechanism to react to emerging issues of relevance. The ELM recognized the importance of Ukraine’s forests and the challenges they face due to the war and demonstrated a strong commitment to helping the country in recovering. ELM’s delegates also agreed to a smooth transfer of the work to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to ensure continued support and cooperation in the region.

Silvia Abruscato introducing the High-Level Policy Dialogue 2023.

The 2^nd High-Level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and resilience

The ELM delegates supported the organization of the 2^nd High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD), which will be held in Berlin on November 9, 2023, providing a platform for policymakers, experts, practitioners, forest owners, students, researchers, and interested stakeholders to discuss how SFM can maintain and enhance forest resilience, from an environmental, social, and economic perspective. With a hybrid meeting format, the event aims to harness high-level speakers’ collective knowledge and experience to chart a path to a more sustainable future. Stay tuned to our social media for updates, or visit talks.foresteurope.org.

Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland were very active in the discussions.

Think Tank on the dynamic concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

The presentation of the ongoing efforts of the Think Tank about SFM highlighted the need to address gaps in current policy developments and emphasized the importance of developing tools and instruments to enhance SFM. The ELM recognized its relevance as a core activity of FOREST EUROPE. Additionally, forest monitoring was emphasized as a synergistic approach, and the importance of creating new narratives on SFM as a dynamic concept was underscored. The delegates’ opinion reinforces the significance of these efforts and sets the stage for future progress in SFM, monitoring, and reporting.

Yana Vikhtiuk (UA) and Tomasz Markiewicz (PL).

Preparations for the 9th Ministerial Conference in 2024

The meeting concluded with discussions on the preparations for the upcoming 9th Ministerial Conference (9MC), scheduled for October 1-2, 2024, near Bonn, Germany. As a significant event during the FOREST EUROPE signatory’s term, the conference represents the decision-making body of the process and marks the end of the German chairmanship. Ministers of signatory countries, renowned experts, and high-level representatives from observers’ organizations from the pan-European region will convene to discuss strategies and actions shaping the future of our forests. One key goal is to make the SFM concept fit for the future and to establish a Forest Risk Facility (FoRISK), to address forest risks, like climate change, forest fires, and biodiversity loss.

Green Jobs and Forest Education developments

The report on Green Jobs and Forest Education emphasized involving future generations and addressing challenges in shaping innovative pathways. Engaging policymakers is crucial in finding collaborative solutions to these challenges. The benefits and shortage of skilled personnel associated with Green Jobs and Forest Education were acknowledged, and the ELM offered guidance for future efforts in green job development and forest education.

Field trip on the second day after the conference

After being in a meeting room, an exciting field excursion took place to delve into the practical application of SFM in the State forests of Saxony, followed by a visit to the esteemed Campus Tharandt, one of the oldest forestry educational institutions worldwide, established in 1811.

Excursion to the Tharandt forest.

What have we learned?

It is important to maintain the momentum and build on the results of this meeting. Collaborative efforts, sound policy frameworks, and proactive measures are critical to achieving the vision of SFM for the benefit of current and future generations. The ELM demonstrated what can be achieved when nations, international organizations, and NGOs join in their pursuit of a more sustainable future.

Chris Quine (UK) and Helga Pülzl (EFI).

The post Signatories and observers of FOREST EUROPE met in Dresden to shape the future of sustainable forest management 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.

Experts from FOREST EUROPE signatory countries and observer organizations participated in a virtual gathering 22-23 February 2022 to exchange ideas about the robustness of the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) concept in the wake of climate change and increasing demands of forest services.

The concept has been in place for more than 30 years (see the Helsinki Resolution) and has made it possible to have a common approach for dialogue, monitoring (including the publication of the State of Europe’s Forests report since 2003), and policy-making across Europe.

Similar concepts, directly or indirectly related to forests and forest resources, such as climate-smart forestry, close-to-nature forest management, or multifunctional forest management, are commonly used today. This gives rise to misunderstandings, often linked to varying definitions, data sources, and interpretations, as well as deep differences in values and priorities.

This also creates difficulties for both policy-makers and the public to resolve the inevitable trade-offs. Ideally, policy-making and public debate should be evidence based, and there should be a consensus about what the broad situation is and what the underlying drivers are. There are heated arguments about the use of forests in the debate about wood production, climate change mitigation, and the obligation to protect the biodiversity. For instance, setting aside forest areas for biodiversity or carbon sequestration will reduce the abilities to reach a bioeconomy that pursues a fossil-free vision. These trade-offs have to be actively addressed and balanced.

Balancing the different claims on forests and their ecosystem services is a complex task that requires transparent and balanced handling of trade-offs occurring in forest land use, management and value chains. This also requires the best available data, so that SFM reporting can be more complete and impactful, e.g. by target-based assessments.

SFM is a dynamic concept. It is important to constantly revisit the understanding of it, its linkages to other concepts, its strengths and weaknesses, and its potential to serve as a balancing tool to continuously moderate the various and varying claims on forests and forest resources. We want to keep it fit for the future.

Resources

Linser, S.; Wolfslehner, B. National Implementation of the Forest Europe Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management. Forests 2022, 13, 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020191

Lier, M.; Köhl, M.; Korhonen, K.T.; Linser, S.; Prins, K.; Talarczyk, A. The New EU Forest Strategy for 2030: A New Understanding of Sustainable Forest Management? Forests 2022, 13, 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020245

Lier, M.; Köhl, M.; Korhonen, K.T.; Linser, S.; Prins, K. Forest relevant targets in EU policy instruments – can progress be measured by the pan-European criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management?, Forest Policy and Economics, 128, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102481

Pötzelsberger, E.; Bauhus, J.; Muys, B.; Wunder, S.; Bozzano, M.; Farsakoglou, A-M.; Schuck, A.; Lindner, M. and Lapin, K. 2021 Forest biodiversity in the spotlight – what drives change? European Forest Institute. https://doi.org/10.36333/rs2

The post Why we need to discuss forest management? first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.

FOREST EUROPE produced several videos with authors of the State of Europe’s Forests 2020 report and other experts to discuss the current situation of forests in Europe, main challenges and possible solutions. The videos cover different aspects of the Report, such as impact of climate change, substitution effect of wood-based products, payment for ecosystem services, ownership, biodiversity and much more.

The aim of the series is to spark discussions around the various topics. All interviews are available on FOREST EUROPE YouTube channel.

“A major threat [for trees] now are these dry summers that we had to face in recent years.”

Michael Köhl

The State of Europe’s Forests is FOREST EUROPE flagship publication. The current edition was published in December 2020. You can read the full report here. Follow FOREST EUROPE on Twitter to learn more about ongoing activities.

The post How much do you know about the current state of European forests? first appeared on FOREST EUROPE.