The 33rd session of FAO’s European Forestry Commission has been held in Zvolen, Slovakia, with delegates considering lessons learned and challenges ahead for the forestry sector in countries with economies in transition.

The session, which took place from 23-26 May 2006, also focused on progress towards sustainable forest management in Europe, forest law compliance, and forest-related voluntary codes of practice. At the meeting, the FAO noted that Eastern European countries are facing many challenges, following the restitution of forests from the State to their previous owners. Given the lack of an established tradition of forest management, institutional advice and support, many new forest owners are tempted to sell all their timber to the first buyer, at the expense of active and responsible management. The FAO, together with the UN Economic Commission for Europe, is working with international organizations and governments to support private owners in the management and marketing of forest products, to make private forests more economically viable. Meeting every two years, the European Forestry Commission is one of six Regional Forestry Commissions established by FAO to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues on a regional basis.
Links to further information
Meeting website
FAO press release, 24 May 2006