29 July 2013: Forest Europe announced the release of the report of the 3rd International Conference on Planted Forests convened by the Atlantic Regional Office of the European Forest Institute (EFIATLANTIC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the Union of Foresters of Southern Europe (USSE) and the Governments of France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the UK. Report outcomes focus on the contribution and susceptibility of forests in the context of the green economy.

The congress, held the 15 to 21 May 2013, consisted of three scientific workshops held simultaneously in France, Portugal and Spain. The workshops considered the global and regional context of planted forests, cross-cutting themes on poverty alleviation, climate change, food security, renewable energy and biodiversity, governance, economics, trade and markets, vulnerability and risk management, ecosystem services and landscape restoration, biotechnology, and research needs.

Overall, the congress highlighted planted forests, which comprise approximately 7 per cent of global forested area and provide important sources of wood fuel, timber production, livelihoods and food. The congress noted challenges with regard to managing planted forests, including from climate change.

The congress called for a number of further actions including: improved rural governance; enhanced information on the economics of forest certification; support for private sector investments in planted forests; better evidence of the ecosystem services provided by planted forests; guidelines on planted forests in ecosystem restoration; and greater clarity on the governance and regulation of biotechnology. [ForestEurope Press Release] [Publication: Planted Forests are a Vital Resource for Future Green Economies]