FOREST EUROPE Preparing the Sixth Ministerial Conference, including a possible legal instrument on forestsEFI Annual Conference15 September 2010, Dresden, Germany

Dr. Malgorzata Briggs/Berit Hauger LindstadSenior advisers FOREST EUROPE Liaison Unit Oslo

Signatories: 46 European

countries + EU

Observers: 48 countries

and organisations

Sustainable forest management

in Europe

Voluntary cooperation

FOREST EUROPE – Regional policy process

STRASBOURG 1990

HELSINKI 1993

LISBON 1998

VIENNA 2003

WARSAW 2007

V Ministerial ConferencesV Ministerial ConferencesOslo

June 2011

Milestones in forest policy developmentin Europe (1990 – ongoing)

RIO

1992

FOREST EUROPE achievements

• Solid platform for pan-European cooperation

• Framework for global-regional interface

• Developed sustainable forest management in Europe:– Agreed definition

– Guidelines

– Tools, including Criteria and Indicators

• Framework for monitoring, assessment and reporting

The Challenges

• Crucial role of sustainable forest management – not evident to or recognised by society

– Contributions to a green economy– Mitigating climate change– Balancing the different functions of forests

• Environmental, economic and social benefits from forests are threatened by global warming, e.g. storms, fires, drought, pests and diseases

• Increased demands from society, e.g. for renewable energy

• Forests higher on political agendas – Holistic approach at risk ?

Towards Sixth Ministerial Conference14-16 June 2011, Oslo

• Protect multiple forest functions and ensure long term provision of goods and services from forests in Europe

• Strengthen the contributions of European forests to sustainable development – at global, regional and national levels

• Enhance implementation of sustainable forest management• Visualise contributions by forests, International Year of Forests • Political priorities and future direction of FOREST EUROPE:

Strengthen European framework for cooperation

Preparing for the Sixth Ministerial Conference

Possible elements of ministerial decisions:

• Shared long term vision and goals for Europe’s forests

• Set of 2015 Targets on forests in Europe• Possible legal instrument on forests in Europe • Priority actions in follow up of Conference

Work on a possible legally binding agreement on forests in Europe (2008-ongoing)Background and mandate:

5th Ministerial Conference, Warsaw Poland, 2007:Challenges and needs for stronger commitments

• Urgent need for a comprehensive way to address sustainable forest management and threats on forests

• Balance emerging conflicts between different forest functions

• Bridge gaps between possible contradicting interests related to forests

Scoping exercise – tasks of two working groups• Emerging challenges on forests and forestry in

Europe, where legal instrument could play a role• Added value • Possible type of a legal agreement – options and

alternatives• Possible institutional arrangements• Possible costs • Possible impact on other legislations, instruments

and processes • Non-paper on key issues and options• Draft ministerial decision

Recommendations from the 1st Working Group• A legal framework - effective policy option for

addressing challenges and opportunities for forests

• Objective: secure all functions of forests and enhance sustainable management of forests and improve cooperation at European level to this end

• Work towards a framework agreement, broad European objectives and obligations, and national standards and measures

• A legal agreement would not necessarily replace FOREST EUROPE, but could be complementary

• The effectiveness and strength will depend on the number of countries participating

State of Play

2nd Working Group on preparing options for a decision by ministers on possible legally binding agreement on forests in Europe (2009-ongoing)

Finalising non-paper on legally binding agreement on forests in Europe

Recommendations for a ministerial decision (to be discussed in September/October 2010)

National consultation National positions to be elaborated

Ministerial Conference (14-16 June 2011, Oslo Norway) Consideration to launch negotiations

Looking for synergies

• Europe: Diversity in priorities, common challenges and opportunities for forests

• Join efforts to address direct and indirect drivers of global environmental challenges effecting forests in Europe and beyond

• Pan-European commitments will foster and strengthen the EU objectives on forests

• The role of Europe in global policy debate can be further strengthened

• Stronger and reinforced science-policy interface

Thank you for your attention!

More information: www.foresteurope.org