23 May 2013: Two meetings convened in May 2013 addressed European forests. The first engaged stakeholders in discussions on the legally binding agreement on forests in Europe (LBA), while the second, convened by the Forests Communicators Network under the theme ‘Cutting edge in forestry communication,’ considered a communications plan in support of the upcoming Madrid Extraordinary Ministerial Conference.

Both the LBA and the Forest Communicators Network are expected to contribute to improved sustainable forest management (SFM) and protection of Europe’s forests, as well as their contribution to sustainable livelihoods. Specific communications objectives seek to assess public perceptions with regard to forests and forestry, establish a European forest communication strategy and contribute to forest-related environmental education.

The consultations on the LBA were convened by the Confederation of European Forests Owners (CEFO), European Economic and Social Committee (EESE) and Forest Europe: Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. The discussions under the Forest Communicators Network were supported by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) timber committee and the forestry department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). [Forest Europe Press Release on LBA Meeting] [Forest Europe Press Release on Forest Communicators Network Meeting] [INC-Forests Press Release]