Warsaw Programme adopted for sustainable management of forests in the UNECE region

Countries from the UNECE region gathered in Warsaw this week to ensure that their forests are sustainably managed and used for the well-being of all. They agreed that sustainably managed forests and long lasting, sustainably sourced wood products can make important contributions to climate mitigation.

Ministers encouraged the use of forests and wood to support sustainable development at Las2017, the Joint Session of the UNECE Committee of Forestry and Forest Industry and the FAO European Forestry Commission, which took place in Warsaw, Poland from 9-13 October 2017. After a week of intensive negotiations, countries set robust goals to enhance sustainable forest management throughout the region in the next years and adopted the Warsaw Integrated Programme of Work (2018-2021).

The Warsaw Programme covers over 43% of the world’s forests, including almost 100% of the worlds’ boreal forests and the vast majority of temperate ones. The programme will be implemented in North America, Europe, Central Asia and the Russian Federation, which together account for 60% of global industrial round wood production and related forest products.

Prof. Szyszko, Minister of Environment of Poland said, “Forests play an essential role in sustainable development. We are proud that Poland hosted this meeting which adopted the Warsaw Integrated Programme of Work. The document is a blueprint for our forests in the coming years and an important contribution to the Global Forest Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement”.  

The Warsaw Programme addresses issues such as forest landscape restoration and the Bonn Challenge, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, the contribution of forests to a green economy, forest communication strategies and national systems for forest monitoring and statistical reporting.