Innovation tops agenda as experts on Europe’s forests and forest industry meet

The European Forestry Commission (EFC) will meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 22 to 25 October to review and coordinate regional strategies on forests and the forest industry, with a specific focus on innovation.

The session, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will bring together government officials and representatives of international organizations, civil society and the private sector to discuss a wide range of issues.

The session is set to take place alongside FAO European Forest Week 2025 and Istanbul Forest Innovation Week, both held 20–25 October and with innovation as their overarching theme.

“This is a crucial opportunity to address issues and accelerate progress on forests and innovation in forestry across the region,” said Ekrem Yazici, Secretary of the European Forestry Commission.

The EFC session will cover global and regional forestry processes and initiatives, international developments and cooperation, and updates on ongoing work in the region. Discussions also will focus on innovation in forestry, the progress of the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea, and the European Forestry Commission Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds.

Deforestation slowing, but climate threats continue

Forests cover just over 1 billion ha in Europe – about 25 percent of the global forest area – according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025, launched this week. The FRA also highlighted that the deforestation rate has decreased in Europe in the most recent decade. It was estimated at 145 000 ha per year in 2015–2025, down from 160 000 ha per year in 2000–2015.

European forests for many years have supported rural livelihoods and been shaped by human activity. However, climate change and increasingly severe extreme weather events continue to threaten forest ecosystems and their functions, making sustainable forest management essential to ensure they continue providing vital benefits to society.

Currently, 94 percent of all forests in Europe have management plans, while nearly one-quarter (23 percent) are in legally established protected areas, FRA 2025 shows.

European Forest Week and International Forest Fire Conference

Panel discussions will also take place as part of European Forest Week 2025, focused on innovation in such key areas as forestry, youth, circular bioeconomy, wood construction and forest monitoring.

The International Forest Fire Conference, organized jointly by the Government of Türkiye in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat and FAO, will take place concurrently in Istanbul from 20 to 22 October, providing a platform for the sharing of experiences and the development of policy on forest fire management.

About the European Forestry Commission

This will be the Forty-third Session of the European Forestry Commission, whose delegates from 41 countries and the European Union meet every two years. It was created in 1947 as one of six regional forestry commissions established by FAO to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues.

The EFC has several associated subsidiary bodies, including the Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)/FAO Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management.