Sustainable Forest Management: ForestEurope Expert-Level Meeting Held in Stockholm

Representatives of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine (SFRA) and the Ukrainian Order "Badge of Honor" H.M. Vysotsky Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration (UkrSRIFFM) participated in the ForestEurope expert-level meeting. The event gathered approximately 70 representatives from signatory and observer countries to discuss the strategic directions for the process's development.

ForestEurope (Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe) is a high-level, pan-European process in the field of forest policy. Since 1990, its goal has been to develop common strategies for the 45 signatories on how to protect and sustainably manage forests.

The meeting in Stockholm addressed strengthening reporting on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) indicators, ensuring long-term financing, adapting ForestEurope to future challenges, and the current status of the implementation of the 2025–2026 Work Programme.

The SFRA team took part in two brainstorming sessions concerning the improvement of SFM criteria and indicators and the transformation of the process in the context of current needs. Additionally, with their European colleagues, they discussed the preparation of the "State of Europe's Forests 2025" report, its communication strategy, the European Commission's request for indicators, and new financial mechanisms for cooperation with the European Forest Institute (EFI).

Separate attention was paid to the EUFORGEN, FORGENIUS, and FoRISK initiatives, the preparation of the Stockholm Ministerial Document, and other pressing issues, including observer status and new proposals from participating countries.

The meeting served as an effective platform for strengthening partnerships and outlining key directions for the further development of the ForestEurope process.