Congress, Saariselkä – Finland 29th of August 2013 1

Activity Report 20Activity Report 200909 - 201 - 20133 Piotr GrygierPiotr Grygierv-ce Presidentv-ce President

Hyvää huomenta!

According to the Article 7.7. of the UEF Constitution

„the Vice-Presidents shall assist the President and act for him/her in case of his/her absence or other hindrance.”

As a v-ce President of UEF I have concentrated on the MCPFE (FOREST EUROPE) process.

The FOREST EUROPE signatory countries and participants focus on elaborating strategies and solutions that meet new challenges such as climate change, bio-energy production and water protection.

Expert Level Meetings are the decision-making bodies between the conferences. The Expert Level Meetings are attended by representatives of FOREST EUROPE signatories (European states and the European Community) as well as by observers from non-European countries, international organisations and a variety of stakeholders, including environmental and social NGOs, forest and land owners’ associations, forest industry and the scientific community.Expert Level Meetings 2009Oslo, Norway, 24-25 November 2009

Expert Level Meetings 2010Oslo, Norway, 23-24 March 2010

Expert Level Meetings 2010Geneva, Switzerland, 14-15 December 2010

Expert Level Meetings 2011Oslo, Norway, 30-31 March 2011

Expert Level Meetings 2012Madrid, Spain, 14-15 February 2012

Expert Level Meetings 2013Madrid, Spain, 6-7 March 2013

Ministerial Conference, 14-16 June 2011, Oslo „EUROPEAN 2020 TARGETS FOR FORESTS AND LAUNCHING NEGOTIATIONS FOR A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT”

The conference in Oslo was attended by ministers and high-level representatives from 42 FOREST EUROPE countries and the European Union, 6 observer countries from outside Europe and 29 international organisations including environmental and social NGOs, forest owners' associations, the forest industry and intergovernmental organisations participated as observers.

Oslo designed pan-European actions and implemented FOREST EUROPE commitments to reflect the political priorities addressed by ministers at the Ministerial Conference in Warsaw 2007. FOREST EUROPE Work Programme identified five topics on the strategic direction including an external review of the Forest process and created other activities related to a possible legally binding agreement on forests in Europe.

2nd meeting MCPFE Working Group on Exploring the Potential Added Value of and Possible Options for a Legally Binding Agreement on ForestsOslo, Norway, 19-20 May 2009

1st meeting LBA WG on preparing options for a decision on a possible legally binding agreement on forests in EuropeGeneva, Palais des Nations, 22-23 February 2010

First Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-Forests1)Vienna, Austria, 27 February - 2 March 2012

Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-Forests2)Bonn, Germany, 3-7 September 2012

Third Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-Forests3)Antalya, Turkey, 28 January – 1 February 2013Resumed INC-Forests3Saint Petersburg, The Russian Federation, 3-5 April 2013

Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-Forests4) Warsaw, Poland, 10 – 14 June 2013The Resumed Fourth Session of the Committee will take place on 7-8 November 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.

At the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to agree a Legally Binding Agreement on forests in Europe, held in Warsaw, Poland from 10-14 June, good progress was made on the draft text of the convention that will ensure Europe’s forests are sustainably managed. The text is now very close to a final version with a limited number of outstanding points to be resolved. The desire of the participating parties is for an agreement that will recognize the importance of forests and the multiple economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits they provide.

In order to finalize the text of the convention the parties involved have therefore agreed to meet after the summer for a short negotiating session to reach an agreement on the remaining issues. At this meeting the countries will also take a decision on Institutional arrangements, right to vote, observer admission and other outstanding issues.The final text of the convention will then be presented to a Ministerial Conference in Spain, for consideration.

Extraordinary Ministerial Conference: Jointly convened by Spanish and Norwegian Ministers, this Conference is expected to consider the results of the INC-Forestsnegotiations, and decide whether to endorse or approve the convention text.

5-6 November 2013 (TBC) : Madrid, Spain

The objective of this Convention is:

(a) To reinforce and strengthen the implementation of sustainable forest management and to ensure multifunctionality of forests and the long-term provision of a broad range of forest ecosystem services and goods derived from them;

(b) To enhance the role of forests and forestry in contributing to solving global challenges;

(c) To provide a framework for fostering national actions and international cooperation;

(d) To maintain, protect, restore and enhance forests, their health, productivity, biodiversity, vitality and resilience to threats and natural hazards, and their capacity to adapt to climate change as well as their role in combating desertification;

(e) To ensure that forests contribute effectively to sustainable development, livelihoods and the well-being of society by providing economic, environmental, cultural and social benefits at all levels.

Article 3. PrinciplesWhen implementing this Convention, Parties shall respect the following principles:

(a)Each Party is responsible for the sustainable forest management on its own territory and for the development and implementation of its related policies, adequate to its respective national conditions and needs, while recognizing the shared interests and responsibilities concerning forests;

(b)Good governance and enabling conditions for sustainable forest management, including clear and secure land tenure and ownership rights, stable and effective policies and institutions, adequate legislation, transparency, gender equality and a sound knowledge base, and a balance among economic, social and environmental aspects;

(c) Active participation of forest owners and other stakeholders in developing and implementing policies and open and flexible dialogue at all levels;

(d)Cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination with different bodies at all levels and adequate consideration of sustainable forest management in the development of sectoral policies;

(e)Sustainable forest management contributes to the sustainable development of Parties;

(f)This Convention is intended to re-inforce and strengthen the implementation of sustainable forest management in a way that is mutually supportive with existing rights and obligations under other multilateral agreements relevant to this Convention.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

KIITOS!