European forest ministers: Sustainable forest management must be strengthened and Ukraine’s recovery supported
In their declaration, the European ministers responsible for forests committed to strengthening the role of sustainable forest management in safeguarding the future of Europe’s forests amid rapidly changing environmental, economic, social and geopolitical conditions. In addition, at their meeting in Stockholm on 2–3 June 2026, the ministers reaffirmed their support for the recovery and sustainable management of Ukraine’s forests and the rebuilding of its forest sector. Finland was represented by Jonas Liimatta, Head of Natural Resources Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
FOREST EUROPE, the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, is a Pan-European voluntary high-level forest policy process. The ministerial conference and the work carried out in connection with it have played a significant role in defining and developing sustainable forest management. This work has included the Criteria and Indicators and the State of Europe’s Forests report.
In their declaration, European forest ministers renewed their support for sustainable forest management and for efforts to develop it in response to the growing challenges facing Europe’s forests. These include, in particular, climate change and the resulting increase in the risk of forest damage, as well as geopolitical uncertainties. The declaration highlights the role of forests, particularly in climate action, the economy, the security of resource availability and the promotion of wellbeing.
Forests also important for crisis resilience, security of supply and wider security
The declaration identifies forests, forestry and their related value chains as strategic assets for societal resilience, strategic crisis preparedness and the security of resource availability. Participants emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation on the role of forests and the forest-based sector in crisis preparedness and preparedness for geopolitical threats.
In his remarks, Jonas Liimatta, Head of Natural Resources Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, highlighted how the sustainable use of forests supports Finland’s preparedness and security of supply.
“Forests are essential to Finland’s crisis preparedness, as they provide critical resources such as raw materials, energy, and economic stability that support the functioning of society in times of disruption,” Liimatta said.
He spoke about Finland’s comprehensive security model, in which preparedness is based on cooperation between the authorities, businesses and civil society. Finland’s Forest Pool safeguards the continuity of critical production and security of supply by monitoring the sector’s preparedness, identifying key operators and developing preparedness measures.
In addition, at the meeting, the forest ministers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that their countries contribute to efforts to promote the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine’s forests and forest sector during and after Russia’s war of aggression. The aim is to support the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of Ukraine’s forests. This support will be advanced through coordinated actions and long-term bilateral and multilateral cooperation, building on past and ongoing efforts.
The Natural Resources Institute Finland and the Finnish Forest Centre are currently running a project aimed at strengthening expertise in the supply of raw materials for wood-based energy production and the management of forest resource data in Ukraine. The project, which will run until the end of 2028, is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Sweden has held the chairmanship of Forest Europe since 2025. Albania will be the next country to hold the chairmanship.
Declaration on the Forest Europe website
Links to other websites:
FOREST EUROPE, the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe
A new cooperation initiative enhances forest-based energy production and forest data management in Ukraine (Natural Resources Institute Finland press release, 14 October 2025)
Inquiries:
Jonas Liimatta
Head of Natural Resources Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
[email protected]
+358 295 162 051
Tiina Rytilä
Senior Ministerial Adviser on Forestry, International Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
[email protected]
+358 295 162 261