On 13 November 2025, the Wild Europe Foundation, a partner in the FORbEST project, participated in meetings of the EU Forest and Forestry Stakeholder Platform, attended by several experts on the fiedl. Wild Europe presented the Horizon Europe FORbEST Project highlighting its key contribution to science-based knowledge on the sustainable management of forests, as well as future EU policies on forests protection and conservation. Through Wild Europe Foundation’s permanent membership in the EU Forest and Forestry Stakeholder Platform, the consortium has secured a vital channel for disseminating research findings and advocating for a more holistic approach to forest management across Europe.
A Pillar of European Forest Governance
The EU Forest and Forestry Stakeholder Platform serves as a cornerstone of the European Commission’s modern forest governance framework. As an elite expert group, it facilitates a multi-disciplinary dialogue by bringing together forest owners, industrial leaders, non-governmental organizations, and academic experts. Its mandate is critical: to advise the Commission on the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and to streamline the development of key legislation, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The Wild Europe Foundation, a core member of the FORbEST consortium, holds a permanent seat within this expert group. This strategic positioning ensures that FORbEST findings are not merely academic outputs, but are directly integrated into the highest levels of EU policy-making.
Strategic Milestones: From Glossary to Policy Review
The project’s engagement began in earnest during the platform’s plenary session on 13 November 2025. During this online assembly, FORbEST introduced its core objectives and its inaugural deliverable: a comprehensive Glossary of Key Forest Terms. By establishing a standardized terminology, FORbEST addresses a critical barrier to effective cross-border cooperation and legislative clarity.
Building on this momentum, a high-level joint meeting was convened in Brussels on 10 December 2025. Co-hosted by the European Commission’s Directorates General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and for Environment (DG ENV), the event brought together platform members with the so-called Standing Forestry Committee, which comprises representatives from forestry and environmental ministries across all 27 Member States.
During this session, Wild Europe represented the consortium in discussions on the ongoing review of the EU Forest Strategy for 2030. The intervention focused on a pivotal shift in perspective: the need of integrating non-extractive ecosystem services into the heart of European economic and environmental policy.
Incentivizing Conservation through Valuation.
The core of the FORbEST advocacy lies in the economic valuation of forest ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water purification, and biodiversity preservation. By formally recognizing the value of these services, the EU Forest Strategy can provide tangible economic incentives for both private landowners and public forest managers to transition toward more protective management models.
This alignment is essential to achieving the ambitious objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, including:
- The urgent mapping and strict protection of remaining old-growth forests.
- The establishment of strict protection for 10% of the EU’s terrestrial area.
- The broader goal of ensuring 30% of EU land is under protected status.
Our Impact.
The direct representation of FORbEST within the EU Forest and Forestry Stakeholder Platform through a consortium member constitutes a powerful instrument for the project’s communication and dissemination strategy. By bridging the gap between scientific research and legislative implementation, the FORbEST project contributes to ensure that the future of European forests is both ecologically resilient and economically viable.