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Certification at the centre of debates as UNECE and FAO celebrate 70 years of cooperation on forests

Certification at the centre of debates as UNECE and FAO celebrate 70 years of cooperation on forests

Eighty-five per cent of the world’s forests certified as sustainably managed are located within the 56 countries of the UNECE region, which includes Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the United States and Canada. Today, this region contains 42 per cent of the world’s forests and provides 1.2 billion m3 of sustainably sourced timber.


The forest area certified by the two largest forest certification schemes, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), has more than doubled and increased by 56 per cent, respectively, in the last 10 years. In 2017, the total forest area certified worldwide was 429 million hectares. The forthcoming Forest Products Annual Market Review indicates that 69 million hectares are certified by more than one scheme.


From 5 to 7 September 2017, more than 70 participants from 25 different countries and organizations of the UNECE region have been invited to Mariánské Lázně by the Czech Republic to highlight essential aspects of forest certification schemes. These include requirements for certification, the related bureaucratic burden and cost, and how to better facilitate certification for small and medium-sized forest-based enterprises. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, the event will be held under the Chatham House Rule, allowing for open and frank debate amongst experts.


The roundtable discussion on forest certification will take place as part of the celebrations of 70 years of cooperation between UNECE and FAO for sustainable forest management while meeting the demand for forest goods and services. The 70th anniversary, generously hosted by the Czech Republic, serves as a reminder of the commitment of member States to regional cooperation, under the umbrella of the United Nations, to meet the multiple challenges for forests and the forest sector. 


The joint work of UNECE and FAO on forests emerged from the International Timber Conference held in Mariánské Lázně in 1947. New intergovernmental bodies were created to improve cooperation and promote mobilization of wood on a sustainable basis after the wartime levels of harvest: the UNECE Timber Committee, later renamed the Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI), and the FAO European Forestry Commission (EFC). Both bodies sought to address the situation of forests and timber in post-war Europe, including future demand for timber and the capacity of forests to supply the necessary wood.


In this spirit of exchange, the two bodies continue to provide a platform for collaboration and discussion on a number of emerging issues in the forest sector. Whilst their joint efforts over the last 70 years have resulted in important achievements in protecting and managing forests in the region, new challenges require even stronger cooperation among countries and organizations. The partnership between the Committee and Commission, based on an open and pragmatic, flexible and evidence-based approach, is therefore more important than ever in addressing the complex issues linked to forest management today, and will be key to ensuring a sustainable future for the forest sector in the region.


For more information on the history of UNECE and FAO cooperation on forests, please visit: https://www.unece.org/index.php?id=45674.


Media contact: Paola Deda, Chief, UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section ([email protected]) and Ekrem Yazici, Deputy Chief, UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section ([email protected])

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Information Unit

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 12 34

Email: [email protected]

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