33rd Session of the European Forestry Commission (EFC)
Zvolen, Slovakia, 23-26 May 2006
SPECIAL SESSION:
IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN EUROPE
15 years of economies in transition: lessons learned and challenges ahead for the forestry sector (policy forum);
Progress towards sustainable forest management in Europe: trends, strategies and better coordination of reporting;
Forest law compliance: from commitments to practice ;
Forest-related voluntary codes of practice
Vulnerability of forests: are we prepared to handle natural catastrophes?
Cross-sectoral approaches: wood energy; implications of the Kyoto Protocol; cooperation on forest fires especially in the Balkan and Mediterranean areas;
Regional cooperation, especially among Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNECE)/Timber Committee and EFC; international initiatives;
Regional issues for the attention of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO)
Other events
Optional study visit to Tatras Moutains: consequences of storm, options for regeneration (Monday, 22 May)
What is the EFC?
Created in 1947, the European Forestry Commission (EFC)is one of six Regional Forestry Commissions established by FAO to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues on a regional basis. It meets every two years.
The EFC has a number of associated subsidiary bodies, including an Executive Committee; the Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds; the Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Committee on Forest Technology, Management and Training; and the FAO/ECE Working Party on Forest Economics and Statistics.
FAO encourages wide participation of government officials from forestry and other sectors as well as representatives of international, regional and subregional organizations that deal with forest-related issues in the region, including NGOs, and the private sector.