Health and sustainability of Europe’s forests are essential in solving the challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity protection and fresh water supplies. Forest vitality is also crucial for fostering a green economy in Europe and across the globe. The protection and sustainable management of Europe’s forests thus requires a stable and efficient platform for coherent policy development and implementation. Therefore, European ministers responsible for forests made the historical decision yesterday to launch negotiations for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe. They also adopted European 2020 targets for forests. This far-reaching political step was taken at the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, which currently takes place in Oslo, Norway.

“The decision by ministers to go ahead with the negotiations towards a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests represents a major step towards creating the necessary structure for a coherent approach to the continent’s forests,” said the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr Lars Peder Brekk, chairman of the FOREST EUROPE process. “A strengthened political cooperation in Europe will be vital for achieving a balanced and stable continuity of all environmental, economic and social forest functions, and for contributing to the achievement of international agreed objectives.”  As part of the future FOREST EUROPE strategy, ministers agreed on European 2020 Targets for forests.

The Ministerial Conference has been hosted by the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr Lars Peder Brekk, and organised jointly with the Spanish Minister of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, Ms Rosa Aguilar Rivero. Spain took over the chairmanship from Norway at the Ministerial Conference in Oslo.

The conference in Oslo was attended by ministers and high-level representatives from 42 FOREST EUROPE countries. 6 observer countries from outside Europe and 29 international organisations including environmental and social NGOs, forest owners' associations, the forest industry and intergovernmental organisations participated as observers.

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Europe, the most forest-rich region in the world, represents 25% of our global forest resources. Europe‘s expanding forests have a huge potential to mitigate climate change. They provide the renewable materials wood and energy, and foster a green economy. Sustainable forest management practices increasingly promote conservation of biodiversity. But, diseases, extreme weather conditions (e.g. storms), and fires also threaten forests. These main results derive from the report on the State of Europe‘s Forests 2011, which has been launched today in Oslo, Norway. The launch takes place on the occasion of the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (14 – 16 June 2011). At the conference, ministers responsible for forests, as well as high-level representatives from 46 countries and the European Union meet to take decisions aimed at preserving forests and safeguarding their environmental, societal and economic benefits for present and future generations.

The State of Europe‘s Forests 2011 report aims at providing decision makers and the broad public with up-to-date, comprehensive and fact-based information on the status and trends in forests and sustainable forest management in Europe in the period 1990-2010. The report has been jointly prepared by FOREST EUROPE, UNECE and FAO.

The FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in Oslo, under Norwegian chairmanship, is the sixth in a row since the ministerial collaboration started in Strasbourg in 1990. Much progress has been made in finding a common policy voice and appropriate action to recognise Europe’s forests as a vital shared resource - not only among the signatory countries but also as a global resource.

The State of Europe’s Forests 2011 report and Summary for Policy Makers may be downloaded here: www.foresteurope.org/Publications

View the Presentation of the State of Europe's Forests 2011 Report here

During the 2-day high-level political dialogue, the ministers are deliberating a common vision, strategic goals and measurable targets for European forests by 2020. The ministers are further expected to agree on the Oslo mandate for negotiating a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe. Such an agreement would be an historical step forward – for forests and for a European and global forest policy cooperation. This European cooperation responds to the difficult discussions on a global forest convention that started already before the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

If ministers at the conference in Oslo decide to launch negotiations on a legally binding agreement, Europe will reconfirm its political will and ability to lead the way on complex issues of forest management: to the benefit of people, our environment and the globe. The FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference also represents a major European contribution in highlighting the importance of forests in the International Year of Forests 2011.

Norway currently holds the FOREST EUROPE chairmanship, and is hosting the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe in Oslo. Spain will take over the chairmanship at the Ministerial Conference in Norway.

Speech of H.R.H. Crown Prince of Norway

Words of Welcome by Minister Lars Peder Brekk

Follow the official opening ceremony at web-TV

- I very much appreciate that the Crown prince will attend and perform the official opening of the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference. His presence will highlight the importance of the topics to be discussed at the conference. I expect the conference to make important decisions on the future directions for forest policies in Europe, says Lars Peder Brekk.

Brekk will co-chair the deliberations during the conference together with the Minister for the Environment, Rural & Marine Affairs in Spain, Rosa Aguilar Rivero. Several substantial topics will be discussed when representatives from 46 countries and the European Union come together in Oslo from 14 to 16 June. The countries taking part in FOREST EUROPE, are invited to decide on strategies and actions needed to further develop sustainable forest management in the region. The ministers will also consider opening negotiations on a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe.

- Sustainable forest management is a strategy that has delivered good results in Europe. Sustainable forest management opens the possibilities to harvest wood and generate jobs and income, while at the same time developing the forest resources and improving the environmental values. We wish to strengthen the co-operation on sustainable forest management in Europe, Brekk emphasises.

Frontpagephoto: Kongehuset.no

Forest biodiversity, both rich and complex, provides many vital services to human beings. The value of forests goes far beyond the source of timber; it directly contributes to the health and wellbeing of humankind and nature. Healthy forests help to regulate local temperatures, protect fresh water, act as carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. Forests also play important economic, social and cultural roles in the lives of many people, especially those of indigenous communities. In addition to forests providing significant environmental, economical and social benefits, forests also provide employment for around 4 million people in forestry and forest-based enterprises in Europe.

The greatest threats to biodiversity
Globally, forest biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate because of other needs of societies. The conversion of forests into agricultural land, overgrazing, unsustainable management, introduction of invasive alien species, infrastructure development, mining and oil exploitation, man-made fires, pollution and climate change are all having negative impacts on forest biodiversity. Another important policy area for FOREST EUROPE that has a direct bearing on biodiversity is forest fire prevention. Forest fires are a devastating factor connected to climate change, which can cause great harm to biodiversity. For this reason, the policy co-operation works on innovative strategies, best practice, policy instruments and recommendations for forest fire prevention.

What FOREST EUROPE does to promote biodiversity
Since it was first convened, FOREST EUROPE has hosted a series of Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe and much progress has been made finding a common policy voice and appropriate action to recognise Europe’s forests as a vital shared resource, not only among the signatory countries but also as a global resource. Norway, which currently holds the chairmanship of FOREST EUROPE will convene the next Ministerial Conference on 14-16 June 2011 in Oslo. It is expected that ministers in Oslo will adopt European Forests 2020 where new targets and strategic goals including biodiversity are proposed.

The FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference also represents a major European contribution to celebrate and highlight the importance of forests in the International Year of Forests 2011.

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The Expert Level Meeting convened on 30-31 March in Oslo, was the final step in the preparation of the ministerial decision documents for the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in June. The representatives of the countries and the European Union finalised and adopted draft documents to be presented for decision by the ministers responsible for forests in Europe, at the Ministerial Conference on 14-16 June in Oslo.

At the Conference ministers responsible for forests in the 46 FOREST EUROPE signatory countries and the European Union will take political decisions of importance for protecting forests and securing their vital goods and services for society and our environment. Ministers are expected to adopt the decision European Forests 2020, which presents vision, goals and targets for Europe’s forests. Protection and sustainable management of forests require coherent, stable and effective policy development and implementation. The ministers will therefore also address ways to strengthen co-operation in Europe and in this consider opening negotiations on a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe. The document for consideration by ministers in June, as adopted by the Expert Level Meeting on 31 March, is presented in Oslo Ministerial Mandate for Negotiating a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe.

The results of the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference Oslo 2011 will be a significant European contribution to highlight the importance of forests and their sustainable management in the International Year of Forests.

Europe’s forests, and the need to safeguard their vital goods and services for our environment and society, will be the centre of attention at the forthcoming FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in June in Oslo, Norway. Representatives from the countries participating in this policy co-operation process are meeting on 30-31 March in Oslo to prepare the ground for the Ministers’ summit and the important political decisions they will take there.

The Expert Level Meeting represents the last step in the preparation for the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forest in Europe on 14-16 June in Oslo. Experts at this month’s meeting are expected to finalise and agree on the commitments that will be presented for decision to the ministers responsible for forests at the conference in Oslo. The meeting will be attended by around 90 representatives from 34 FOREST EUROPE countries and the European Union, as well as 13 observer organisations.

“At the Ministerial Conference, ministers responsible for forests in Europe will meet to take far-reaching, high-level policy decisions concerning the continent’s forests”, says the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr Lars Peder Brekk, on the occasion of the Expert Level Meeting in Oslo. Norway currently holds the chairmanship of FOREST EUROPE, and will therefore host the approaching Ministerial Conference. The decisions that are expected to be taken by ministers will lay the foundations for providing effective means of enhancing the role of forests in mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity, fostering a low-carbon economy, providing green jobs and addressing ways and means of tackling the illegal logging.

Taking action to preserve forests and safeguard their environmental, economic and social benefits is particularly relevant in 2011, the United Nations’ International Year of Forests. The FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in Oslo will be a significant European contribution to highlighting the importance of our forests.

The conference website, www.foresteurope.org/conference2011, has been launched today and will provide comprehensive information for participants, media and the broad public about the conference.

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People across the world depend on forests for a wide range of goods and services. Some of these benefits and services, such as biodiversity and timber supplies, are well understood, but others, such as forests’ importance to the provision of clean water to towns and cities, are less widely known, according to FOREST EUROPE.

“Sustainably managed forests provide more environmental, economic and social benefits than any other land use,” said Arne Ivar Sletnes, Head of the FOREST EUROPE Liaison Unit Oslo. “Forests help to balance the climate, sequester carbon and replenish the air with vital oxygen. They produce raw materials for renewable, environmentally friendly products - wood products continue to store carbon throughout their lifetime, and can substitute for non-renewable materials and fuels. Forests are important for biological diversity. They mitigate natural disasters such as floods, droughts and avalanches, provide jobs and generate income, support rural and community development, and benefit human health through a broad range of recreation opportunities.”

“Crucially, sustainable forest management can also help to protect supplies of good-quality fresh water and cushion the effects of climate change. Water is essential to life, but its availability and quality in many regions of the world are increasingly endangered by overuse, misuse and pollution. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living with absolute water scarcity, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that two-thirds of the world's population could experience water-stress conditions.”

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The seminar is as a collaborative initiative for the International Year of Forests 2011 and aims to actively contribute to further development of sustainable forest management and to provide input to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), Rio + 20 Earth Summit, which will take place in 2012. The “International Seminar on Challenges of Sustainable Forest Management - integrating environmental, social and economic values of forests” is co-hosted by Japan and Indonesia and co-organised by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), FOREST EUROPE and the Montreal Process. FOREST EUROPE contributes to the seminar by demonstrating European policy tools and guidelines on sustainable forest management and showcasing the opportunities of sustainable forest management in Europe to meet global challenges, including climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

The seminar will focus on gaining an overview of the international trends related to sustainable forest management since the Rio Conference (UNCED) took place in 1992. This includes the discussion on policy tools and instruments in current issues, e.g. REDD+, biodiversity conservation, and multipurpose forest management including environmental services. Participants will also review a variety of policy tools and instruments that have been developed to realise sustainable forest management, and the evolving process of their application. They will also debate the challenges that project implementers in forest conservation and sustainable forest management currently are facing. Moreover, participants will discuss the issues on policy tools and instruments which are further required to realise sustainable forest management and contribute to international deliberations.

How Europe’s forest policies contribute to global sustainable development

Europe's forests represent 25 per cent of the world’s forest resources. Forests cover 44 percent of Europe’s land area and they continue to expand. Sustainable management of European forests is of huge importance for sustainable development globally. Europe has developed a concept for sustainable forest management, which forms a framework for implementation at national level. The policy process FOREST EUROPE has elaborated common principles, criteria and guidelines for sustainable forest management, which capture the multiple functions of forests and contribute to the achievement of international agreed goals.

At the upcoming FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe on 14-16 June 2011 in Oslo, Norway, ministers responsible for forests in Europe will take policy decisions aimed at the preservation of forests and the safeguarding of their environmental, societal and economic benefits for present and future generations. A key item to be addressed at the conference is the elaboration of a strengthened policy framework for sustainable forest management throughout Europe. In this context, the ministers are expected to decide whether to enter into negotiations on a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe. It is also expected that ministers will adopt a vision, goals and targets for forests in Europe as part of the future FOREST EUROPE strategy. The Ministerial Conference will also table the State of Europe’s Forests 2011 report, which will provide a comprehensive picture of the status of forests and trends in sustainable forest management in Europe.

The photo exhibition aims to share the unique opportunities that Europe’s forests provide for climate protection, biodiversity, renewable products, energy and recreation. Prepared by FOREST EUROPE in co-operation with the Norwegian Forestry Society, it promotes the International Year of Forests. The overall objective of the International Year of Forests is to raise awareness of the need to strengthen the conservation and sustainable management and development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

The benefits of healthy, sustainable forests in Europe go beyond Europe’s borders, and make significant contributions globally. Europe’s expanding forests help to mitigate climate change by storing carbon in trees, soils and wood products, and forest products can substitute for non-renewable materials and energy sources. Forests help to preserve biodiversity, secure water supplies and minimise damage from storms, floods and droughts. Forests provide jobs and income - important for more than half of Europe’s population living in rural areas. Forests also provide benefits to human health through a broad range of recreation opportunities.

Speaking at the launch, State Secretary Ola T. Heggem of the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food emphasised the significance of forthcoming political decisions about the future of Europe’s forests and their global importance. These decisions will be taken at the upcoming FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on 14-16 June in Oslo, Norway. Ministers responsible for forests will determine the future path towards the preservation and safeguarding of forests and their environmental, social and economic benefits for present and future generations. Norway currently holds the chairmanship of FOREST EUROPE, and will host the next Ministerial Conference.

The photo exhibition is being displayed at two places in the forests in the Holmenkollen arena, and can be visited throughout the Ski Championships until 6 March. An extended version of the exhibition will then be set up at the City Hall square in the centre of Oslo 8-16 June 2011 in the context of the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference.

View the FOREST EUROPE Photo Exhibition here

For more information about the International Year of Forests: www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011