Skip to main content

UNECE, FAO and partners announce plans for European Forest Week 2013

The European Forest Week (9-13 December 2013) will be celebrated with events in Rovaniemi Finland at Metsä2013 (joint meeting of the UNECE Timber Committee and the FAO European Forestry Commission), and throughout Europe via a variety of events.


The week will highlight the contribution of forests and forest products to a green economy. It will provide a unique communication and outreach opportunity to raise the visibility of the forest sector and the multiple services wood contributes to our daily lives. The European Forest Week will provide an umbrella for forest related celebrations organized by different public and private organizations throughout Europe.


Many events will be held on-site, at the Metsä2013 venue in Northern Finland, while other activities will take place throughout Europe with countries’ contributions at national and local levels. Celebrations outside of Metsä 2013 may include:
  • Celebrations of forests at the national and local levels;
  • Specific events by private or public organisations;
  • Competitions, exhibits, fairs, school activities;
  • Videos and Publications

The organizers encourage wide participation of government officials from forestry and non-forest sectors as well as representatives of international, regional and subregional organizations that deal with forest-related issues in the region, including NGOs, the private sector, schools and academic institutions.


Registrations for on-site and in-country activities will be opened soon.
More information about Metsä2013 is available at, http://www.unece.org/forests/metsa2013.html
For more information about the European Forest Week 2013, please contact:
Eve Charles
Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer
UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 3922
Email: [email protected]
Note to editors

At its last session on 15-19 October 2012, the UNECE Timber Committee (TC) endorsed the organization of a second European Forest Week in parallel with ‘Metsä2013’. This was done at the suggestion of the joint ECE/FAO Bureaux of the Committee and the Commission to build upon the successes of the 2008 European Forest Week and the International Year of Forests 2011. The UNECE/FAO Forest Communicators Network will take the lead in developing and implementing an advocacy communication plan to increase the visibility of the EFW and the contribution of the forest sector to a green economy.


If you wish to subscribe to the UNECE Weekly newsletter, please send an email to:  [email protected]

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Information Unit

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 12 34

Email: [email protected]

Reproduction is permitted provided that the source is acknowledged.