FOREST EUROPE (the brand name of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe) is the pan-European voluntary high-level political process for dialogue and cooperation on forest policies in Europe. FOREST EUROPE develops common strategies for its 46 signatories (45 European countries and the European Union) on how to protect and sustainably manage their forests. FOREST EUROPE actual working areas are Sustainable Forest Management, the pan-European Forest Risk Knowledge Mechanism and Green Jobs and Forest Education (according to the Work Programme 2021-2024).

FOREST EUROPE is a unique process due to its voluntary/informal nature coupled with high level policy dialogues. This combination allows FE process to effectively respond to current and emerging issues with impact on forests, forestry and forest-related human activities and wellbeing.

FOREST EUROPE is a process without a permanent institutional structures. Pan-European countries can voluntarily decide to join this high-level policy process through financial or in-kind contributions. The rolling multi-annual work programme is funded and approved by signatories, and supported by international observer organizations. The topics selected in the work programme are of high relevance for pan-European signatories and observers.

There is a small pooled budget to partially cover implementation of core activities of the FOREST EUROPE Work Programme. These are for example: organisation of meetings and workshops, publications, communications and maintenance of the secretariat called Liaison Unit. This budget is based on financial contributions from currently four countries of the General Coordinating Committee (GCC). Besides member countries of the GCC, other signatories of the FOREST EUROPE process can provide voluntary contributions.

Participation at FOREST EUROPE’s meeting is restricted to delegates of the signatories, representatives of non-European countries and international organizations with a recognized observer status. Meetings on specific topics of political, scientific or technical nature (such as meetings of working/expert groups, seminars and workshops) are attended, besides representatives of the FOREST EUROPE, by nominated experts from certain areas depending on the topics of interest/under discussion.

Sustainable Forest Management is a dynamic concept. It implies that forest resources and forest lands are managed in a sustainable way to meet the social, economic, ecological, and cultural needs of present and future generations.

A National Forest Programme is a framework for implementation of sustainable forest management at national level. It highlights the importance of multi-functionality of forests and their sustainable management to the society. It underlines the need for communication, cooperation and cohesion in all policies areas related to forests, forestry and beyond. A common pan-European approach to National Forest Programmes was agreed in Vienna in 2003 (Vienna Resolution V1).