Lviv forum on forests in a green economy
Actions and challenges for the countries of Eastern Europe and Northern and Central Asia
11.- 14.9.2012, Lviv, Ukraine
Hosts: Ukraine, Switzerland
Organisers: Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, State Forest Resource Agency of Ukraine, Federal Office for the Environment Switzerland (FOEN), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Agency for the sustainable development of the carpathian region Ukraine (FORZA), HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, Bern University of Applied Sciences School of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences Switzerland (HAFL), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) – Joint Forestry and Timber Section, Secretariate of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), Forest Europe
Co-sponsors: Federal Office for the Environment Switzerland (FOEN), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Participants: 130 participants from 34 countries
Background
Forests, both natural and planted, make an important contribution to national and local economies and are crucial for human well-being everywhere, including in the countries of Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. This is reflected in the numerous initiatives and processes (both political and administrative) in the forestry sector in the countries of the region. Countries are constantly working to improve forest management. They are also striving to better integrate the forest sector into wider development and economic processes. The equitable sharing of the costs and benefits derived from forests at the national, sub-national and local levels are also an important priority.
There have been relatively few regional initiatives to address emerging forestry issues in Eastern European, Northern and Central Asian countries. One important regional process culminated in the St. Petersburg Declaration on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in Europe and North Asia (ENA-FLEG) in 2005, whereby governments committed to take action to address challenges related to forest policies and legislation, including the monitoring and enforcement of regulations on forest resource use.
In 2012, the issue for debate is the green economy, i.e. economic growth that aims to improve human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological impacts. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one that is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. Forests and forestry are thus well placed to respond to and comply with this new development concept. Efforts to integrate the concept and requirements of a green economy into the forest sector in the countries of Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia are only beginning. While policy reforms have created real opportunities in many countries of the region, implementation of more sustainable forest management and the equitable distribution of benefits as well as the integration of forests into efforts to address broader challenges such as climate change and biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, continue to be a challenge for most countries.
Workshop themes
- Forest governance in a green economy
- Sustainable forest industries and products
- Forest ecosystem services and the role of forests in low carbon economies
- Employment and livelihood opportunities in the forest sector
Workshop goals
The Lviv Forum on Forests in a green economy for countries in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia brought together different stakeholders, policy makers and international experts to share experience and explore opportunities for implementing the concepts and requirements of the green economy in the forest sector. The overall aim was to make the concept meaningful, operational and beneficial for forest management and forest communities in the countries of Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia.
- To share and discuss lessons learned from international and national experiences, including regional initiatives for the implementation of green economy concepts and requirements in the forest sector, with special reference to the outcome of Rio+20.
- To enhance the understanding of key trends and issues in: forest goods and services; income generation from forest-based activities; energy demands on forests; the role of forests in carbon economies; biodiversity conservation; the sustainable use of forests; and related topics.
- To strengthen cooperation and to enhance partnerships among countries and key stakeholders as they address common challenges; and
- To recommend actions to strengthen forest policies, institutions and practices that support the green economy, in order to bridge the gap between the existing theoretical discussions and practical needs.
Report to the UN
Report to the UN Secretary General: English | Spanish | French | Russian | Arabic | Chinese
Main workshop documents
Programme English
Programme Russian
BackgroundPaper English
Background paper Russian
Field trips
- Field visit 1: Close-to-nature silviculture, get to know how close-to-nature silvilculture develops on the example of major forest sample plots of Lviv oblast
- Field visit 2: Eco tourism and green tourism, visit to the national nature park “Skolivski Beskydy”
- Field trip 3: “Forest industry and its development”, to get to know how forest industry develops in the carpathian region of Ukraine on the example of the wood processing unit of the Brody forest enterprise and Svitanok company