A dynamic concept of Sustainable Forest Management in Europe
The pan-European concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is a success story. Since 1993, it safeguarded a common approach for dialogue, monitoring and policymaking. But forest policy and management face emerging environmental and political challenges. We need to revisit the role of SFM. How does it relate to other concepts? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Can it serve as a balancing tool to moderate new claims on forests and its resources? We need to keep it fit for the future.
A common framework for Sustainable Forest Management
FOREST EUROPE leads the way in defining Sustainable Forest Management. The pan-European concept of SFM has provided a common approach for dialogue, monitoring, and policymaking across Europe. It is a dynamic and evolving concept, that continuously moderates the various claims on forests and forest resources balancing the three pillars of sustainability—ecological, social, and economic. The voluntary reporting assumes that the criteria and indicators (C&I) are firmly rooted among the Signatories and grounded in robust scientific principles. This provides a solid foundation for the results to be used to generate real impact. Since the adoption of the C&Is for SFM in Lisbon in 1998, they have served as a common framework for forest monitoring and reporting in Europe. Over the years, the C&I have undergone several adaptations, including collaborations with other regional processes and in the global context.
Responding to new challenges
In recent years, forest policy and management have faced emerging challenges, both from a changing environment and shifting political framework conditions. Societal demands on forests are increasing and the social, political, economic, and environmental contexts in which forest management is operated is continuously changing. Balancing the different claims on forests and forest ecosystem services is a complex task that requires proper handling of trade-offs in forest land use, management, and forest value chains. During the previous chairmanship, the concept of SFM has again been thoroughly reviewed; it remains relevant, and it provides a robust foundation that can be adapted to the changing needs of the future.
Priorities for the Work Programme 2025–2026
The workstream has focused on measures to increase the reporting rate amongst FOREST EUROPE’s indicators and conducted a study to identify which indicators show the lowest reporting rates. An analysis of the underlying causes is currently ongoing and the result will be presented in December 2026.
This workstream has also focused on developing a checklist with recommendations for the development of future SoEF reports. The checklist is currently under revision and a final version will be published later this autumn. The purpose of the checklist is to ensure a smooth transition between liaison units as well as to safeguard that the report continues to be of high quality and relevance.
What’s ahead
Laison Unit Sweden also focuses on identifying which C&I, if any, need a revision or update. This work will be carried out in a working group together with FOREST EUROPE’s signatories who will identify indicators as well as relevant experts who can assist in the review. This work will commence in the early autumn of 2026 and will be continued under the Albanian chairmanship.
State of Europe’s Forests
Forest Europe’s flagship report, State of Europe’s Forests (SoEF), was published in March 2026. The report is an essential element of pan-European forest reporting. This workstream has established a foundation for constructive dialogue on the findings of the report through a series of webinars.
Watch recordings from earlier webinars and register for the upcoming events here.
The Stockholm Ministerial Conference – Sustainable Forests for Resilient Societies
At the Stockholm Ministerial Conference 2-3 June 2026, FOREST EUROPE’s Signatories signed the Stockholm Ministerial Declaration Sustainable Forests for Resilient Societies, with clear references and commitments to the dynamic concept of SFM. Ministers reaffirmed that SFM remains a central and guiding principle of the FOREST EUROPE process and highlighted the process as a unique pan-European, intergovernmental platform for further developing SFM, including the Criteria and Indicators (C&I) and the State of Europe’s Forests (SoEF) report, as the basis for informed, evidence-based policymaking.
Read the full Declaration here
Read more about the other two Workstreams during the Swedish Chairmanship here:
Keeping FOREST EUROPE fit for the future
Areas of continued and emerging interest