The natural disasters, diseases and pests of the past years have shown the vulnerability of forests. Research and the assessment of forest damages and disturbance indicate an urgent need for improving monitoring and reporting.

Therefore, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism will jointly organize a symposium on assessing forest damage and disturbance in the UNECE region in Vienna, Austria from 29-30 September 2022.

The symposium aims to encourage the exchange of ideas, experiences and opinions as well as raise awareness about the need for the assessment of forest damage and disturbance. It will discuss new ideas for consistent, reliable and comprehensive information on forest damage for management and policy decision making.

Participants will include national and international policymakers, forestry related authorities, forest owners and managers as well as experts from technical and research facilities. The symposium will include keynote speeches, presentations and interactive discussions around the following thematic sessions:

• International forest damage/disturbance reporting and assessment
• National forest damage/disturbance monitoring in the UNECE region
• New opportunities and methods for forest damage/disturbance monitoring

The symposium is organized as a hybrid event at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna.