Conference: Our Forests, Our Future

Forests and other wooded land cover about 40% of the EU territory, and the forest sector provides more than 3.5 million jobs in the European Union. The forest value chains are engines of rural growth and generate other benefits to society, including societal benefits for human health, recreation, and tourism.

As stated in the Cork 2.0 Declaration, forests and the forest sector can greatly contribute to delivering sustainable solutions to current and future societal challenges that concern all citizens of the Union, such as combating climate change, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, promoting the circular bioeconomy, protecting biodiversity and enhancing natural resources.

The Paris Agreement and the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the review of the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy have confirmed the growing relevance and importance of the forest sector for the EU.

In this context, the Commission is organising a conference to analyse and discuss opportunities and challenges for enhancing the contribution of the forest sector to the main EU priorities.

High-level speakers will include Commissioner Hogan (Agriculture & Rural Development), Commissioner Arias Cañete (Climate Action & Energy), Commissioner Mimica (International Cooperation and Development), Minister Deneş (Romanian Minister for Water and Forests), Minister Pivec (Slovenian Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food), and high representatives of the private sector, academia, civil society and non-governmental organisations.

VENUE:

Brussels, Belgium
25-26 April 2019

Original source: European Commission
Published on 17 April 2019