General Information

What is it?

• The Conferences
• Structure of the MCPFE

The MCPFE in a brief

The MCPFE in detail

A commitment at ministerial level

The "Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe" (MCPFE) is a high-level political initiative for co-operation. It addresses common opportunities and threats related to forests and forestry and promotes sustainable management of forests in Europe. Launched in 1990, it is the political platform for the dialogue on European forest issues.

Around 46 European countries and the European Community are represented in the MCPFE. Furthermore non-European countries and international organisations participate as observers. Thus, the MCPFE provides not only a forum for co-operation of ministers responsible for forests, but also allows non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations to contribute with their knowledge and ideas.

A continuing political process

The MCPFE is a dynamic process that takes care of the most important common concerns about forests and forestry in Europe and addresses the challenges ahead. This process is based on a chain of conferences at ministerial level and follow-up mechanisms. At the conferences aspects of highest political interest and concern are dealt with by the ministers responsible for forests. Following the Ministerial Conferences, the decisions passed by the ministers are further specified and put into action at expert meetings. In addition, issues of immediate interest are taken up and further developed on a flexible basis.

Since 1990, four Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe have taken place. These are regarded as milestones in the development of international forest policy:

• 1990 – First Ministerial Conference in Strasbourg
• 1993 – Second Ministerial Conference in Helsinki
• 1998 – Third Ministerial Conference in Lisbon
• 2003 – Fourth Ministerial Conference in Vienna

The signatory states and the European Community are responsible for implementing the MCPFE decisions at regional, national and sub-national levels. Based on voluntary commitments, which constitute a common framework, governments all over Europe have taken initiatives to ensure and improve the sustainable management and protection of forests. 

A dialogue of different interests

Since its beginnings in 1990, the dialogue within the MCPFE has succeeded in intensifying political and scientific communication in Europe and establishing close and successful co-operation on a wide range of issues related to forests and forestry. This dialogue not only involves governmental representatives of the participating countries, but also a variety of stakeholders including environmental and social NGOs, forest owners' associations, the forest industry, as well as intergovernmental organisations. Although the actors involved represent a variety of opinions and interests, they share the commitment to the sustainable development and protection of forests in Europe.

A co-operation throughout a continent

Encompassing the whole of Europe, the MCPFE can be regarded as a successful example for cross-border co-operation throughout a continent. It has always considered European forests to be a common heritage and has recognised that threats to these valuable ecosystems do not always follow territorial or ideological borders. Thus, from its very beginnings the dialogue and co-operation within the MCPFE has built bridges between the East and West, as well as the North and South of Europe, resulting in the sharing of ideas and creation of mutual awareness and understanding for the diverse conditions and situations in Europe. 

A link to global and other regional processes 

Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, a number of international and regional conferences, initiatives and processes have been commenced aiming at a more sustainable use of natural resources. These processes have resulted in a number of international commitments and multilateral environmental agreements related to forests.

The MCPFE has been recognising the significance of these commitments and the relations to its work. It has been contributing to the implementation of the forest related decisions of the UNCED and its follow-up process within the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF). The MCPFE obtained observer status to the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) in June 2001 and participates in its work. Furthermore the MCPFE has also been contributing to the provisions of the United Nations Conventions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

For example, the MCPFE has implemented a "Work Programme on the Conservation and Enhancement of Biological and Landscape Diversity in Forest Ecosystems 1997-2000" (Biodiversity Work Programme) in co-operation with the European ministers responsible for the environment and the Ministerial Process "Environment for Europe". The Biodiversity Work Programme can be considered a pan-European contribution to the implementation of the CBD.

In addition, the MCPFE has established contacts with other regional processes in the world that share the concern regarding sustainable forest management as well as the protection and conservation of forests.