To tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, the European Commission has proposed several new pieces of new legislation and initiatives under the umbrella of the European Green Deal. Increasing the amount of forests in the EU, in full respect of the ecological principles favourable to biodiversity, is a key policy priority and is one of the main objectives of the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030. The Commission estimates that, between 2010 and 2015, almost 300 million additional trees have grown in the EU each year. The pledge of planting at least 3 billion trees aims to roughly double the forest expansion rate in the EU over the period 2005-2020, and have 3 billion additional trees planted by 2030.

This is an ambitious, yet feasible target. Witnessing the passion of many Europeans for nature in general and tree planting in particular, I am actually hopeful that we can overtake that objective. Regarding opportunities for financing tree planting, there are several EU funds that can be used for that purpose, such as the Common Agricultural Policy,cohesion funding as well as the LIFE Programme. The Commission intends to publish later this year guidelines on biodiversity friendly afforestation, reforestation and tree planting, which will also include information on available EU funding.

DOCUMENT LINK 

C.E.F. STATEMENT

The Council European Foresters (C.E.F.) is an international, professional organization of the foresters established on 2011 which has more 58.400 members from 13 European countries.

The Council European Foresters (C.E.F.) for sustaining it’s activity at different activity fields established two institutions: European Forestry Academic Society (E.F.A.S.) and Advisory Group of the Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.).

The Council European Foresters (C.E.F.) respect it’s principals about the forest management in Europe:

- Sustainable forest management is the only form of management that assures the sustainable development of the forests

- Sustainable forest management must take into consideration, equal and unitary, ecological function, social function and economic function of the forest

- Sustainable forest management must be adapted to natural, climatic, economic and social conditions of each country

- Considering the necessity to comply to the three functions of forests (ecological function, social function and economic function), foresters organizations from each country must be consulted by the Government and Parliament of the country in developing sustainable forest management regulations which apply in that country.

The Council European Foresters (C.E.F.) sustains all the activity of Forest Europe and try to attend all the manifestations organized on Forest Europe process.

For Expert Level Meeting from Košice, Slovakia, October 23-24, 2019 the Council European Foresters, according it’s principles about forest sustainable management in Europe, considers the Eighth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe an important event of Europe which can relaunch a solution to conclude The legal and binding agreement for forests in Europe.

The visit of Dr. Enrico Brugnoli in Romania was an opportunity for Enrico Brugnoli and Marian Stoicescu to discuss about the all aspects of C.E.F. activity. As you know, starting July 1, 2020 the C.E.F. President will be Dr. Enrico Brugnoli. For the success of Enrico Brugnoli's visit to Romania, Romsilva had an important contribution.  Mr. Marian Stoicescu, E.F.A.S. President, awarded Honor Diploma for Vice-President of European Forestry Academic Society to Dr. Enrico Brugnoli.   

At this meeting attended Acad. Cicerone Rotaru, Marian Stoicescu, Gheorghe Gavrilescu, President of the Association of Forest Engineers from Romania, and some colleagues from Consivla Confederation. During the meeting were analysed aspects of C.E.F. and E.F.A.S. activity.   Acad. Cicerone Rotaru proposed to C.E.F. an initiative to request at national and international forestry levels a new strategy for preventing and stopping forest fires in European countries. Mr. Marian Stoicescu, E.F.A.S. President, awarded Honor Diploma for Vice-President of European Forestry Academic Society to Acad. Cicerone Rotaru. 

The Symposium was attended by about 450 participants including scientists, experts, representatives of public and private institutions, academicians from the forestry faculties and others.

The President of the Chamber, Mr. Ali Kucukaydin made a statement at the opening session.

As guest speakers, the President and one Vice-president of the Council of European Foresters also attended to the Symposium

The president of Council of European Foresters (CEF), Prof. Dr. Barbara KOCH and the Vice-President, Mr Marian Stoicescu made statements at the opening of the Symposium. Besides, Ms. Koch submitted a paper about the “Wildlife Monitoring in Europe”.

At these Ministerial Conferences of FOREST EUROPE participated ministers and representatives of the forestry sector from 39 European countries and also representatives of the international organizations with observer status for FOREST EUROPE process.

As part of the Socio-Economic Group, during the Ministerial Conferences CEF was delegated by the other member organizations of the Socio-Economic Group to present the Statements of this group.

Thus, on 20 October 2015, during the 7th Ministerial Conference, Marian Stoicescu presented a Statement of the Socio-Economic Group and also a CEF Statement related to this event.

On 21 October 2015, during the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference, Barbara Koch, the President of CEF, presented a Statement on behalf of the Socio-Economic group.

Participation and documents presented by CEF to these European events represents a real recognition of CEF at the European forestry sector level.

1. CEF STATEMENT FOR THE 7TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE MADRID - presented by MARIAN STOICESCU on 20 October 2015

2. THE SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP STATEMENT - FOREST EUROPE EXTRAORDINARY CONFERENCE - presented by BARBARA KOCH on 21 Octorber 2015

3. THE SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP STATEMENT for the 7th MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE - presented by MARIAN STOICESCU on 20 October 2015

The International Manifestations consisted of:

● Meeting of CEF Board and AGFEE. Were approved:

- CEF and AGFEE Action Program for the next period

- modification and completion of the CEF Statute

- modification and completion of the Rules of organization and functioning of AGFEE

- the CEF and AGFEE Presidency  for the period 15.01.2016-15.01.2017

- CEF arguments for membership in expert panels of the EU

- The CEF Statement for the 12th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Ankara, 12 October 2015

- The CEF Statement for the 7th Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe and the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference that will receive the results of the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe, Madrid, 20-21 October 2015

● Press Conference

● Photo Exhibition on forestry theme

● International Symposium ”The role of the foresters and of the foresters' organizations in developing and applying forest strategies and forest policies in different countries of Europe and at the European institutions' level".

● International Sports Competition “Consilva Cup” (sports probes: football, chess, table tennis, darts, whist, backgammon)

 330 foresters from Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, Turkey, Republic of Moldova and Romania participated to the International Manifestations of the Foresters.

 RESOLUTION OF THE MEETING - 4 SEPTEMBER 2015 

STATEMENT FOR MADRID 

STATEMENT FOR ANKARA 

CONCLUSIONS OF THE SYMPOSIUM 

PRESS RELEASE

The agenda of the Ceremony also included the granting of Merit Diploma to Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Hans-Jochen Schiewer and to dr. eng. Janos Halmagyi on behalf of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe.

The Hungarian delegation was led by Peter Dudas. The Ukrainian delegation was led by Ihor Soloviy and Ion Dubovici. The Turkish delegation was led by Ali Kucukaydin. The Polish delegation was led by Bronislaw Sasin. The Republic of Moldova delegation was led by Anatolii Ciobanu.

C.E.F’s Board Delegation was led by the President of C.E.F., Janos Halmagyi and the delegation of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.) was led by the President of A.G.F.E.E. Marian Stoicescu.

The program of the manifestations included the meeting of the Board of the Council of European Foresters (C.E.F.), of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (AGFEE) and of the Leading Council of Consilva Confederation with foresters from Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and Turkey, with representatives of foresters organizations, with members of the Forestry Academies from Romania, Ukraine, with some representatives of the Romanian Government, the Department for Water, Forests and Fisheries and representatives of Romsilva-National Forest Administration. Participation in the meeting of the Board of the Council of European Foresters (C.E.F.) was a real professional exchange among foresters from 6 countries and contributed to the development of the CEF Strategy for the period 2014-2019 and of the Actions Program of C.E.F. and A.G.F.E.E. for the period September 2014 - September 2015. A good contribution to the completion of CEF Strategy for the period 2014-2019 and of the Actions Program of CEF and A.G.F.E.E. for the period September 2014 - September 2015 had Barbara Koch, who sent the proposals of the German organization for these two documents. CEF Strategy for the period 2014-2019 and the Actions Program of C.E.F. and A.G.F.E.E. for the period September 2014 - September 2015 can be completed in October 2014, in Freiburg.

The meeting of the C.E.F’s Board was followed by a press conference on issues of forestry policies and forestry strategies applied in some countries from Europe, attended by heads of foresters’ delegations from Romania, Hungary, Turkey and Ukraine.

Of particular interest were the Photo exhibition "Landscapes from Bihor county" and the launch of Forests Almanac from 2015 by prof. Dr. Ing. Ioan Milescu.

As with all previous editions, the International Manifestations of the Foresters included the International Sports Competition "Consilva Cup", the winners of the six sport probes of the competition benefiting of the trophy "Consilva Cup", diplomas and plaques.

The first three in the Table Tennis probe were: 1^st place - Vlăisan Vasile, Suceava, 2^nd place - Marian Florin, Mures, 3^rd place - Blaga Mircea, Salaj.

The first three at Chess probe were: 1^st place - Talmaciu Alexandru, Republic of Moldova, 2^nd place - Anchidin Vasile, Vaslui, 3rd place - Jakab Zsolt, Bihor.

The first three in the Backgammon probe: 1^st place - Ciocănescu Neculai, Botosani, 2^nd place - Andronic Nicolae, Suceava, 3^rd place - Crăsneanu Constantin, Vaslui.

The first three in Whist probe: 1^st place - Dobre Eugen, Sibiu, 2^nd place - Şandru Vasile, Bistrita, 3^rd place - Gligor Anton Nicolae, Alba.

The first three in Darts probe: 1^st place - Oprea Adrian, Timisoara, 2^nd place - Horobeţ Zisu, Timisoara, 3^rd place - Poloţca Stefan, Mures.

The first three teams in Football probe: 1^st place – Hunedoara Foresters Trade Union, 2^nd place - Sindsilva Federation, Republic of Moldova, 3^rd place - Vrancea Foresters Trade Union.

The International Manifestations of the Foresters, Baile Felix, 4 -7 September 2014, were an international event of special significance to whose success have contributed all the participants. 

  Consilva Cup - chess

On 10 April 2014 were held in Bucharest the International Manifestations of the Foresters in which participated foresters from Bosnia, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.

The organizers of the International Manifestations of the Foresters from Bucharest were the National Forest Administration Romsilva, Consilva Confederation and the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe.

These International Manifestations of the Foresters included:

-  The International Symposium on "Forest Strategies in different European countries"

- Ceremony for Awarding the Merit Diploma and the Crystal Trophy from the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.) to media personalities from Bosnia (Tihomir Levajac), Hungary (Kiraly Pal), Republic of Moldova (Vladimir Medoni), Romania (George Nuţă), Serbia (Dragojlo Blagojevic) and Ukraine (Gulyk Gryorii) who have distinguished themselves in promoting and supporting forest’s interests and the role and importance of the foresters‘activity

- Ceremony for Awarding the Merit Diploma and the Crystal Trophy from the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.) for the organizers of the International Symposium, Bucharest, April 10, 2014

- Ceremony for Awarding the Merit Diploma of A.G.F.E.E. for the authors of the presentations for the International Symposium on “Forest Strategies in different European countries”, Bucharest, April 10, 2014. 

In the official opening of the International Manifestations of the Foresters welcome speeches were presented by Mrs. Doina Pană – Ministry for Waters, Forests and Pisciculture from Romania, dr. eng. Adam Crăciunescu – general manager of Romsilva, dr. eng. Janos Halmagyi – president of the Council of European Foresters (C.E.F.) and dipl. eng. Marian Stoicescu – president of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.)

It was also presented the message dedicated to this manifestation from dipl. eng. Ali Kucukaydin, vicepresident of C.E.F. and president of the Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers.

During the International Symposium on "Forest Strategies in different European countries" were the following speakers:

- dipl. eng. Marian Stoicescu, Romania - “Study on institutional frame of the world and European organizations to develop general forest objectives and forest strategies”

- prof. dr. Zoran Govedar, Bosnia - “Forestry Strategy in the Republic of Srpska"

- dr. eng. Adam Crăciunescu, dr. eng.  Ion Machedon, Romania - "Development Strategy of the National Forest Administration Romsilva"

- dr. eng. Janos Halmagyi and dr. eng. Kiraly Pal, Hungary - “Strategic directions of Hungarian Forestry Policy"

- dr. eng. Dumitru Galupa, Republic of Moldova - “Aspects of the implementation of the sustainable development strategy of the forestry sector in Republic of Moldova"

- acad . dr. doc . Victor Giurgiu, Romania - "About the Forest Strategy of Romania”

- prof. dr. Nenad Petrovic, Serbia - “Serbian Forest Development Strategy”

- prof. dr. Ihor Soloviy and prof. dr. Ion Dubovici, Ukraine - " The Ukrainain Forest Sector Development Strategy: Challenges and Perspectives"

At the end of The International Symposium on "Forest Strategies in different European countries", dipl. eng. Radu Apolzan, Romania, presented the Conclusions of the Symposium which will be sent to the institutions of the United Nations Organization, of Forest Europe and of the European Union

A ceremony of taking over the Presidency of CEF by dr. eng. Janos Halmagyi, president of the Hungarian Foresters Union from eng. Ali Kucukaydin, President of the Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers. The ceremony was attended by Ali Kucukaydin, Mevlut Duzgun, Marian Stoicescu, Silviu Geană, Radu Apolzan, Janos Halmagyi, Peter Dudas and Jozsef Dubravszky. At the meeting in Budapest it was presented an Activity Report for the period August 2012-August 2013 by the President of CEF, Ali Kucukaydin, a Draft Action Program for the period August 2013-CEF August 2014 by Mr. Janos Halmagyi and a Draft Action Program of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe by Mr. Marian Stoicescu.
II. The International Manifestations of the Foresters in Băile Felix, Romania
6-9 of September, 2013 – Băile Felix , Romania
Have participated CEF forester members from Bosnia, Hungary, Moldova Republic, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. The Program of the International Manifestations of the Foresters was:
1. Meeting of the Council of European Foresters (C.E.F.) and the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.) At the end of the meeting the following Statement was issued:
STATEMENT
Taking into account the role and the importance of European foresters activity to maintain and develop forests in Europe, the Council of European Foresters (C.E.F.) Board and the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (A.G.F.E.E.), during their meetings that they have had on 7 and 8 September 2013 in Baile Felix, Romania, decided to continue their participation in the meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe initiated by Forest Europe – The Ministerial Conference on the protection of Forests in Europe, in order to establish the legal framework for the implementation of a sustainable forest management to all forests in Europe.
Also, the Council of European Foresters Board and the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe decided to continue their initiatives to complete Annex I and Annex II of European Commission Decision No. 391/2004 with the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe. The A.G.F.E.E. could be co-opted by the European Commission for the recognition of
COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN FORESTERS
monitoring organization for the implementation of EU Regulation No. 995/2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market. Also, A.G.F.E.E. can be involved by the European Commission to review the monitoring organizations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market. In direct contact with operators who place timber and timber products on the market, A.G.F.E.E. can organize seminars and consulting services for them to meet the EU Regulation No. 995/2010.
Council of European Foresters Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe
President President
Janos Halmagyi Marian Stoicescu
2. SYMPOSIUM with the theme ”Premise for developing forestry law in Europe. The need to adapt forestry regulations in different European countries to the framework developed by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe”
Have presented documents : Ion Dubovici – Ukraine, Ali Kucukaydin and Mevlut Duzgun – Turkey, Zoran Govedar – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sari Zsolt – Hungary, Ioan Milescu, Radu Apolzan and Marian Stoicescu-Romania, Dumitru Galupa and Vladislav Grati – Moldova Republic
3. International Sportive Competition „Consilva Cup” in football, chess, table tennis, darts, whist and backgammon. Have participated 200 foresters from 6 countries. The winners:: Football – Romania, Chess –Moldova Republic, Table tennis – Romania, Darts – Romania, Whist – Romania, Backgammon - Romania
III. INC4+: Fourth resumed session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva
6-8 of November 2013 –Geneva, Switzerland
A delegation of 39 members of the Council of European Foresters attended INC4+ meeting in Geneva, 6-8 November 2013. In the plenary of INC4+ it was presented the CEF Statement for the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe.
The Statement of the Council of European Foresters
for INC 4+ Genève, 7- 8 November 2013
The Council of European Foresters (C.E.F.) is an important part of the forestry sector from Europe and also an important part of civil society in the forestry sector in Europe.
C.E.F., an international NGO comprising until now nearly 60,000 foresters from 12 countries from Europe, participated with observer statute at the meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe.
At the meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), C.E.F. has made proposals for the text of the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe and submitted to the INC three statements: to INC-Forests 3 from Antalya, to the Resumed INC-Forests 3 from Saint Petersburg and to INC-Forests 4 from Warsaw.
COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN FORESTERS
C.E.F. considers that the involvement of European foresters in developing a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe is a necessity to ensure a forestry expertise and a professional forestry background of the Agreement.
Taking the foresters’ proposals into consideration in developing the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe could create a strong link between the theoretical basis of this Agreement and the implementation of the Agreement in practice.
After the approval and ratification of the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe, the Secretariat of the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe, together with operational bodies of the Agreement, will ensure proper monitoring and enforcement of this Agreement.
C.E.F. considers that in these operational bodies of the Agreement can be included the representatives of civil society in the forestry sector, including organizations of the foresters.
C.E.F. thanks to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the opportunity to participate in the development of the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe, which will be for the forestry sector in Europe and throughout Europe a huge step for ensuring sustainable forest management of all forests and the ratification of this Agreement will represent a historic event to equally recognize all forest functions: economic function, environmental function and social function.
This Statement is signed by all the participants at the INC 4+, Geneva, 7-8 November 2013
During the two day negotiation series a several plenary sessions and focus group meetings were held. The professional forestry content of the text was barely touched because due to the successful work of the previous INC rounds the professional content is almost perfectly ready. Not like the political consensus that was the hottest spot throughout the fourth resumed, last session. Though the positions of the representatives of the singing countries got very much closer, a total consensus could be reached. Therefore INC4+ Resolution was that the FOREST EUROPE Expert Forest Meeting will finalize the Legally Binding Agreement on Forest in Europe in Valladolid, Spain, 4-5 February, 2014.

Dr. Halmágyi János
President of the Council of European Foresters

Janos Halmagyi  - CEF President

the Council’s members, the activities of the C.E.F. Presidency realized during the period of 25^th August, 2012 – 31^st August, 2013 are reported as follows:

§  During the International Foresters Manifestations held on 02-03 August 2012 in Iasi, Romania, it was agreed that The Presidency of the C.E.F. would be taken over by Mr. Ali Kucukaydin, President of the Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers after 25 August 2012. For this matter, official information was sent by Mr. Marian Stoicescu, former President of C.E.F.to all member institutions of C.E.F. and members of Advisory Group.

§  A document archive was set up for the document sent by Mr. Marian Stoicescu, the former president of the C.E.F. The archive consisted of the official documents of the CEF provided by the C.E.F. Presidency in the period of 25 August 2011-25 August 2012.

§  On 12.09.2012, a letter was sent to all member institutions of the C.E.F. and the members of Advisory Group in order to get approval of Prof. Dr. Yuriy Tunytsya, the Ukrainian National Forestry University as a vice-president of the C.E.F. and the member of Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe. The membership of the Ukrainian National Forestry University, Lviv (Ukraine) was approved and a membership Certificates were sent to Prof. Dr. Yuriy Tunytsya and his colleague, Dr. Ihor Soloviy accordingly.

§  A brief information report about the next strategy and activities of the C.E.F. as well as its Advisory Group approved during the meetings of CEF Board and members of Advisory Group in Iasi was sent to all members of C.E.F. and Advisory Group on 02 October 2012.

§  A tentative work program/time schedule for the upcoming activities of the CEF and Advisory Group was prepared and sent to all the members in order to inform the members of CEF Board and Advisory Group about the recent strategies of the CEF and Advisory Group which were agreed during the Iasi manifestations,

§  Mr. Ali Kucukaydin, the President of Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers which is also the current president of the Council of European Foresters has invited to all the member organizations and members of Advisory Group of Forest Experts to the Forest Products Fair organized on 13-17 October 2012 in Istanbul. The Istanbul Branch of the Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers has provided a number of free charges of participation to the fair and arranged some logistic facilities and all members of C.E.F. and A.G.F.E.E. One delegation of 5 people from Consilva Confederation (Romania) including the president of Advisory Group, Mr. Marian Stoicescu together with a delegation from the Chamber of Forest Engineers (Turkey) participated to the Fair.

§  During the Fair, the upcoming Brussels meeting to be held at the headquarters of EU with the representatives of Agriculture and Rural Development Commission of the European Union was discussed between the Consilva and Turkish delegations.

§  Membership certificates were sent to Prof. Dr. Yuriy Tunytsya, President of Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine-Ukrainian National Forestry University as a vice-president and member of the Advisory Group as well as to Dr.Ihor Soloviy as a member of Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe.

§  A delegation consisted of Board members of C.E.F. including President and several members of Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe (including the president of A.G.F.E.E.), from Hungary, Romania and Turkey, met with a delegation from the DG of Agriculture and Rural Development of the EU at Brussels on 13 November 2012. The C.E.F’s delegation proposed to the EU delegation that theAdvisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe should be recognized by the related institutions of the EU and European Commission through the completion of Annex I of the Decision 2004/391 by the European Commission with the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe.

§  At the end of the meeting in Brussels, two letters signed by the members of the C.E.F. Board and Advisory Group and addressed toMr. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and to Mr. Dacian Cioloș, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development were also officially given to the EU delegation. One more meeting with Mr. Cioloş was also decided in January or February in 2013.

§  During the visit to EU headquarters in Brussels, the upcoming Antalya meeting (it was decided to be organize during the Foresters Manifestation and International Seminar in Iaşı, Romania) was also discussed by the C.E.F. delegation and that meeting was cancelled due to the time limit and other heavy duties of the members before the UNFF10.

§  In order to know the numbers of member participants of C.E.F. and A.G.F.E.F. to the UNFF10 to be held in Istanbul in 1013 April and arrange some logistic and accommodation facilities for them beforehand, it was also decided that a letter would be sent by the President of C.E.F to all members.

§  A letter was sent to UN-ECOSOC’s NGOs section in order to provide an accreditation for the C.E.F. to participate to upcoming UNFF10 and other events of the Forum. However, any respond could not be provided so far;

§  For the participation of the C.E.F. to the events of the Forest Europe, particularly to the negotiation process of the Legally Binding Agreement, another letter was sent to the Mr. Jan Heino, the Chairman of the Negotiation Committee on the Legally Binding Agreement of the Forests in Europe. A positive respond was received from the Chair, Mr. Heino saying that our request would be presented to the Third Session of the Committee in Antalya (28 January 2013).

§  Another letter was sent. to Ms. LeneMaesager, Head of Unit responsible for the Advisory Group of Forestry and Cork of the DC of Agriculture and Rural Development by the President and vise-president of the C.E.F . Information was requested from her whether the Council of European Foresters could bean observer at the meetings of the Advisory Group on Forestry and Cork and how it will be possible to obtain the Agenda and the documents for these meetings.

§  In order to inform and participate to the 10^th session of the United Nations Forum on Forest (UNFF10) to be held in Istanbul in 08-19 April 2013, an invitation letter was sent to all members of C.E.F. and the members of A.G.F.E.F.

§  C.E.F. member organizations from the countries of Romania, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina also sent the list of delegation who will participate to the UNFF10. They all informed that they will stay in Istanbul only three nights (14, 15 and 16 April).The list of delegation of the Council of European Foresters was sent to the UNFF10 Secretariat by the C.E.F. President for accreditation of the participants to the Session. For the delegation of CEF, suitable accommodation facilities during their staying in Istanbul were also sought by the Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers and its Istanbul Branch and reservation for them was made accordingly.

§  The C.E.F. Presidency also decided to organize a side event about the objectives, establishment, composition of member institutions, activities etc. during the UNFF10 session. For this purpose, a form was filled and submitted to the UNFF secretariat.

§  The President of the C.E.F has sent several letters to the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe in order to C.E.F. become an observer for the negotiating process of the Committee. At the INC3 meeting on 28 January - 01 February 2013 in Antalya, Turkey, C.E.F. obtained observer status to attend all INC meetings, to present and support proposals of the INC. At the meeting in Antalya, the C.E.F. delegation presented a proposal for completing the article 18. alt of the Draft Forest Agreement. The proposal included the “foresters” among forest owners and forest managers for information on forests.

§  After the INC3 session of the Negotiating Committee, the Draft negotiating text for a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe prepared by the chairman of INC, was also sent to the members of C.E.F and the members of A.G.F.E.E. asking them to send their amendments and supplements for articles of this draft.

§  For the participation of the CEF and to be an accredited international forestry related NGO to the UNFF10, several official letters were sent to the UNFF Secretariat and Economic and Social Council of UN (ECOSOC). However, they said that the process of accreditation take two or three years. Furthermore, the CEF intention and proposal to organize a side event during the UNFF10 was not accepted due to non-accreditation of CEF.

§  For the participation of the CEF to the negotiating processes as well as the related meetings of Forest Europe, a letter was sent to the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC). The committee agreed our proposal and we could get approval to involve the process as an observer,

§  One representative of CEF also attended to the Third Resumed Meeting of the Committee in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation held on 3-5 April 2013. On behalf of the CEF, several intervention and proposals were submitted by the delegations of CEF during the meeting.

§  After several communications with Marian Stoicescu, Head of Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe of the CEF and Prof. Dr. Barbara Koch, Dean of Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Freiburg University an appointment was received. The visit was organized by a delegation of CEF (two from Consilva Confederation and two from the Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers, including the presidents of both C.E.F and the AGFEE) to Freiburg on 15 June 2013.

§  During the visit to Freiburg, a meeting was made with Prof. Dr. Barbara Koch, about the AGFEE’s participation to the meeting of the Advisory Group of Forestry and Cork of the EU to be held on 4^th June 2013 in Brussels. The Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe of the CEF has got an observer status to participate to the meetings of that Advisory Group. It was decided that CEF members from Hungarian ad the Forestry Faculty of the Freiburg University would participate to the aforesaid meeting in Brussels and inform the members about outputs of the meeting.

§  Throughout communication with the Forest Europe Secretariat, C.E.F. has obtained observer status for the negotiating process of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) of the Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe. Delegations of the CEF have participated to the Third Session (INC3) and Resumed Third Session (INC3+) in Antalya and St. Petersburg respectively. In both sessions C.E.F. delegations made a statement about the views, expectations and recommendations as well the proposals of the C.E.F.

§  The President of the C.E.F., Ali Kucukaydin and Mevlut Duzgun, a member of Turkish Chamber of Forest Engineers have also participated to the 4^th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) held on 10-14 June in Warsaw, Poland. At the opening session of the meeting, a brief statement was made on behalf of the C.E.F. in which the roles and functions of the civil society, independent stakeholders including professional forestry NGOs on the processes of agreement and the importance of their involvement in all stages of the negotiations were particularly underlined.

Ali KÜÇÜKAYDIN

President of C.E.F.

At the meeting were presented the activity of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources from Freiburg and the activity and action program of C.E.F.

During the meeting it was presented the List of the Presidency of the Council of European Foresters and also, there were established details for the C.E.F.’s action program.

THE LIST OF THE PRESIDENCY  OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN FORESTERS

PERIODS ACCORDING TO THE ART. 6.2. OF THE C.E.F. STATUTE

There where established the CEF and AGFEE Action Program for 2013 and the CEF’s Statement for UNFF10.

During the meeting, the C.E.F. delegation presented a proposal for completing the article 18. alt of the Draft Forest Agreement. The proposal included the foresters among forest owners and forest managers for information on forests.

The next session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe will be held in Poland 10-14 June 2013.

During this meeting C.E.F. delegation sustained the necessity of a meeting between C.E.F. and Mr. Dacian Cioloș, Commissioner in the European Commission and presented an official document of C.E.F. and the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe.

The contest consisted of indoor probes (forestry questionnaire, identifying forest species by their seeds, leaves, stems, bark, fruits; identifying hunting species and insects and their attacks against the forest species) and outdoor probes (determination of the volume and dimensional sorting of a cut tree, shooting a fixed target).

The winners received the golden, silver and bronze medals, diplomas, cash prizes and objects offered by the contest organizers and sponsors.

The awarding ceremony was followed by an artistic program and a campfire.

International Year of Forests. Developing proposals for forestry activities and events to be presented at the UNFF10 meeting in Turkey”. There will participate members of the UNFF10 Bureau, representatives of the Council of Europe and European Union institutions, Council of European Foresters members, Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe members, different countries forest administrations officials, officials from the Romanian government and from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Directors from National Forest Administration - Romsilva, members of Consilva Confederation;

 - Meeting of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe with delegates of the European Union and the Council of Europe institutions and representatives of  different countries forest administrations, the leadership of the Romanian Ministry of Environment and Forests, the leadership of Forests Department of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the leadership of National Forest Administration - Romsilva, the leadership of Consilva Confederation;

 - The Foresters’ International Sportive Competition ”Consilva Cup”. Foresters from 12 countries take part in the sportive probes of futsal, chess, darts, table tennis, whist and backgammon.

The program of the international manifestations of the foresters is the following:

On the 1^st of August 2012

- Arrival of the participants in Iasi;

On the 2^nd of August 2012

 - The official opening of the European Foresters’ International Manifestations;

 - The meeting of the Council of European Foresters’ leadership;

 - The meeting of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts in Europe;

 - International Symposium on „Effects of the events dedicated to year 2011 - International Year of Forests. Developing proposals for forestry activities and events to be presented at the UNFF10 meeting in Turkey”.

 - International Sportive Competition ”Consilva Cup”;

On the 3rd of August 2012

 - Meeting of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts from Europe with delegates of the European Union and the Council of Europe institutions and representatives of  different countries forest administrations, the leadership of the Romanian Ministry of Environment and Forests, the leadership of Forests Department of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the leadership of National Forest Administration - Romsilva;

 - International Sportive Competition ”Consilva Cup”;

 - The ceremony of granting the diplomas of participation to all the participants in the International Symposium and the awarding ceremony for the winners in the International Sportive Competition ”Consilva Cup”;

 - The official closure of the European Foresters’ International Manifestations;

On the 4th of August 2012

 - Departure of the participants.

Details about the program of the international manifestations, accommodation and meals will be provided during the month of April 2012 on the website of the Council of European Foresters (www.ceforg.eu).

The costs for the accommodation, meals and logistics during the International Manifestations in Iasi for the members of the Council of European Foresters Leadership, for the members of the Advisory Group of Forest Experts and for the members of their delegations (participants to the International Sportive Competition „Consilva Cup”) will be supported by Consilva Confederation and National Forest Administration - Romsilva.

Please confirm until April 20, 2012, the participation in these manifestations and the number of your delegation members.

President

Dipl. Eng. Marian Stoicescu

In this respect, the CEF organization members will contact the main Forest Faculties of their country to find the name of the best student finishing a Forest Faculty and the Diploma of Excellence of CEF will be offered to her/him at the closing celebration of the university year.

Diploma of Excellence will be signed by the CEF President and vice-president (the CEF vice-president belonging to the foresters’ organization member of the country where the Forest Faculty is).

For the Forest Faculties of the country where the CEF president is from, the Diploma of the Excellence will be signed by the CEF president and by the vice president who follows at the leading of the CEF.

In this respect, CEF will organize, together with some institutions (Government, Ministry, Academy, other ONGs), a Symposium in August 2012 where to be invited the Forum on Forests Director - Mrs Jan McAlpine - the Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, Department of Economic and Social Affairs and other members of the UNFF10 board.

The main manifestations of the International Festival of the Foresters were:

• the International book and photography exhibition, where foresters from all 7 countries participated, as well as the International Cartoon Exhibition on forestry and environmental issues, where there were presented works of artists from 32 countries.

• the Summit of the National Forest Administrations from Romania, Croatia, Turkey and Moldova Republic. The theme of the Summit was "The presentation of the state forest administrators" from those 4 countries and the finding of some opportunities for economic cooperation between those administrations.

• the Summit of the foresters' organizations from Croatia, Hungary, Moldova Republic, Romania, and Turkey, that had as a theme the establishment of the Council of European Foresters. The main objective of the Council of European Foresters' Statute is the recognition of the role and importance of the foresters' work in the sustainable maintenance and management of the forests and the protection of the environment, as well as the recognition of their rights by the national and international institutions.

• the Working meeting of the management of county forest departments with members of the Romanian Academy, Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, representatives of civil society from the forestry sector and the Ministry of Environment and Forests on forest legislation in Romania.

• "Consilva Cup" - International Sportive Competition of the foresters, which had football, chess, table tennis, backgammon, darts and whist competitions.