Extraordinary session of the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions – Silva Mediterranea presents activities and updates on the road to the 8th Mediterranean Forest Week
25/07/2024
Rome, Italy - July 25, 2024
The Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions, Silva Mediterranea, convened an extraordinary session, held during the Twenty-Seventh Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The extraordinary session brought together key representatives of partner organizations and member countries to discuss developments and challenges regarding their collaborative work on Mediterranean forestry. The session opened with a keynote speech by Ümit Turhan, Chair of the Silva Mediterranea Committee and Deputy Head of Department at the General Directorate of Forestry of Türkiye, emphasising the growing importance of Mediterranean forestry initiatives and the need for increased international cooperation and support.
Key Discussions and Outcomes
State of Mediterranean Forests 2024: The Committee reviewed the status of the upcoming issue of the State of Mediterranean Forests (SoMF) 2024. Discussions highlighted the need for political endorsement and collaboration in gathering comprehensive Mediterranean statistics. The report will provide updated data on forest extension, biomass and carbon stock, as well as analyse current threats to Mediterranean forests, including biotic and abiotic stresses. The key findings of the publication will be presented during the Eighth Mediterranean Forest Week in November 2024.
Launch of Unasylva 255: during the session, the new issue of Unasylva, FAO's international journal of forestry, titled Restoring the Mediterranean region: status and challenges was launched. Ten years after the last issue focused on Mediterranean forests, this edition updates the status of the region’s forest resources with a specific focus on restoration efforts, as well as recent developments and opportunities to achieve regional and global pledges, underscoring the Mediterranean's key contributions to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Unasylva 255 was launched through a keynote speech by Mr. Zhimin Wu, FAO’s Director of the Forestry Division.
Restoring Mediterranean Forests flagship: The Committee discussed the status of the UN Decade flagship and upcoming activities, such as a knowledge-sharing event on post-fire restoration to be held in Cairo, Egypt. This event will bring together experts from different countries to exchange experiences on managing burned areas for recovery, an increasingly critical issue in the region.
Mediterranean youth: The Mediterranean Youth Taskforce (MYTF) presented the report on its activities, partnerships and main outcomes from 2023 and 2024. Emphasising actions to further involve young people in the region’s forestry initiatives, the youth-led network also shared its future plans. The Committee expressed strong support for the Taskforce, recognizing the role of youth in driving sustainable forestry practices forward.
Preparations for the Eighth Mediterranean Forest Week (8MFW): Scheduled for November 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, the event will feature six plenary sessions and various side events, focusing on key issues like forest restoration and implementing sustainable management practices. During the session, there was an overall agreement to build a comprehensive roadmap for Mediterranean forests, which will be developed through inclusive consultations and collaborative efforts of the strong existing regional network.
Support from member States and international organizations: The session underscored the importance of continued financial and technical support from member States and international organizations to carry forward the collaborative work in the region.
The report from the session was adopted by consensus, and the Chairman thanked the participants before officially closing the session. The discussions and outcomes underline the collaborative efforts driving Mediterranean forestry forward, setting the stage for significant initiatives at the upcoming Mediterranean Forest Week.
Satia Ras, Valentina Garavaglia, Giovanbattista de Dato and Lucia Rivera