Norway is chairing MCPFE, the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, which brings together 46 countries and the European Union through the “forest guardian” process to meet the challenges facing the forest sector. This important meeting will take place on 24-25 November 2009.
Forests are now more than ever in focus. Europe’s forests provide opportunities which are not currently being used to their full potential. This has to be made more widely known and can enhance climate work.
The MCPFE “forest guardian” process has been an important part of defining and safeguarding sustainable forest management in Europe. In addition, ensuring the sustainability of forests under changing climatic conditions has to be the overall goal of the future work of MCPFE.
At the same time forests’ potential as a renewable resource has to be utilised. Forests deliver important goods and services for society, such as water protection, biological diversity, wood products and bioenergy.
MCPFE is now facing important choices. The Ministerial Conference, which will be held in Norway in 2011, will be a summit in European forest policy. Today’s MCPFE Expert Level Meeting will contribute towards setting the agenda for the upcoming ministerial conference and future forest policy.
“We are going to discuss the lessons learned since MCPFE started in 1990, and plot the future course,” said Brekk. “The work that is carried out now and at the ministerial conference in 2011, will be a milestone in political co-operation on Europe’s forests and the importance of forests for society.”
