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European Forest Week 2017 to celebrate forests’ contribution to people’s lives

Under the theme: Forests, our common good, European Forest Week 2017 will highlight the contribution that European forests make to people’s lives. These include providing wood and renewable energy, promoting fresh water supply and protecting the environment.


The city of Warsaw will host the 2017 European Forest Week, which will be held in conjunction with Las2017 (‘las’ means ‘forest’ in Polish), the Joint Session of the UNECE Committee of Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI), and the FAO European Forestry Commission (EFC) 9 to 13 October 2017.


First celebrated in 2008, the European Forest Week provides a unique opportunity to increase the forest sector’s visibility and to influence pan-European and global discussions related to forests. The week is jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) with the Ministry of Environment of Poland.


How can you participate?
Organize an event

National and local activities held simultaneously in participating countries will raise awareness on forests, our common good, through contests, exhibitions, talks and videos. Events in the past have included a wilderness retreat in Austria, lectures in Spain, a forestry film festival in Czech Republic, a workshop on flood prevention in Ukraine, and many more.


Detailed information about events taking place throughout Europe will be updated regularly on the European Forest Week’s website: http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/european-forest-week/en/. Tell us about your event under the logo of the European Forest Week and it will be placed on our website.


Youth art contest

Young people aged 5-19 are invited to use their imagination and artistic talent to enter the European Forest Week 2017 Art Contest to share their ideas about European forests and their many benefits with others around the region. There are three age group categories for the contest: age 5 to 8, age 9 to 12, and age 13 to 19. Winning drawings or paintings will go on display at European Forest Week in Warsaw, Poland, 9 - 13 October, and in a European Forest Week calendar. For more information on how to enter please visit the contest website http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/european-forest-week/art-contest/en/ or refer to the announcement. Feel free to translate the content and promote the art contest in your country.

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