Montreal Process Synthesis Report 2023
temperate and boreal forest trends 

Overview

The Montreal Process Synthesis Report 2023 explores forest trends across the 12 Montreal Process member nations that together account for 90 per cent of the world's temperate and boreal forests. After 30 years of the Montreal Process, this report explores data trends across this period for indicators covering forest and protected area extent, fire and pests, wood production and forest sector employment. 

This session will provide an overview of the findings, as well as country level experiences with the key issues identified, followed by a panel discussion on the policy implications, and where improved data and reporting are most needed. The session will also hear from Forests Europe, who similarly use a criteria and indicator framework to report on forest trends.

The session aims to provide an understanding of not just key trends for temperate and boreal forests, but an exploration of the overarching policy and reporting challenges that the Synthesis Report has helped highlight.

The Montreal Process interacts closely with other international reporting processes including the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment. Its current focus on forest degradation reporting through the Montreal Process Sydney Initiative complements FAO’s ongoing work to develop a forest degradation definition and approach to reporting. The session will provide an understanding of how such cooperation helps progress global forests reporting efforts.

The presentations and panel discussion will also intersect a range of matters to be featured at the 27th Committee on Forestry including the Global Fire Management Hub, forest degradation, ecosystem restoration, mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry, and forestry’s contribution to the bioeconomy. 

Objectives

• Present an overview of the findings, as well as national level experiences, followed by a panel discussion on the policy implications, and where improved data and reporting are most needed.
• Provide an understanding of not just key trends for temperate and boreal forests, but an exploration of the overarching policy and reporting challenges that the Synthesis Report has helped highlight.
• Highlight how international cooperation helps progress global forests reporting efforts.