Forests forum to be chaired by ex-Swedish PM

Ex-Swedish PM Göran Persson will chair an international high-level discussion forum on forests early next year co-ordinated by the European Forest Institute (EFI).

In his speech yesterday at EFI’s annual conference, Mr Persson urged the sharing of the European forest science community’s knowledge with decision makers such as the European Parliament and the European Council.

“I look forward to co-operation with this group of distinguished scientists and European structures that I am familiar with”, he stated.

“The new discussion forum will offer the Parliament a good forum on research and development and forestry.”

The forum aims to promote communication, collaboration and partnership building between high-level policy makers and the science community, via the identification and discussion of forest-related issues and policies. It will also identify and address emerging strategic forest-related issues, to help gain a better understanding of cross-sectoral challenges and to achieve better policy cohesion.

The forum will be launched in early 2012 at the European Parliament in Brussels.