Hello,
Forest Europe just adopted its 2025-2026 work programme under Swedish chairmanship. Two workstreams define the next two years: dynamic forest management and enhanced data collection. This isn't bureaucracy. It's the foundation for how Europe measures and manages forests going forward.
Here's what's moving European forestry this week:
🔍 The Big Story
Forest Europe's New Playbook
The work programme is official and already in motion. Sweden leads Forest Europe through 2026 with two clear priorities: developing a dynamic sustainable forest management concept and building enhanced data collection systems.
The work programme was formally adopted in April 2025. By September 24-25, Forest Europe held its Expert Level Meeting in Stockholm to advance implementation. Representatives from all signatory countries gathered for two days of structured brainstorming on what comes next.
Workstream 1: Dynamic Forest Management
Traditional forest management assumes stable climate conditions. That assumption is dead. Dynamic management adapts to changing climate, pest pressures, and market demands. The workstream develops frameworks for continuous adaptation rather than fixed rotation plans.
At the Stockholm meeting, participants worked directly on developing new SFM (Sustainable Forest Management) criteria and indicators. The goal: keep Forest Europe agile in a changing policy landscape.
This matters because static management plans fail when conditions change faster than planning cycles. Finnish forests now emit more carbon than they absorb. Mediterranean forests face fire behavior nobody planned for. Polish forests lost millions of trees to bark beetles. Dynamic management responds to these realities.
Workstream 2: Enhanced Data Collection
Better data means better decisions. The workstream standardizes how countries collect and share forest data. Harmonized measurement protocols. Digital integration. Real-time monitoring capabilities.
Current data collection varies wildly across Europe. Some countries measure every five years. Others use remote sensing. Data formats don't match. The enhanced system creates comparable, timely data across borders.
The Stockholm Ministerial Document
Sweden is preparing the Stockholm Ministerial Document for the 10th Ministerial Conference. The September meeting shared preliminary ideas and gathered feedback. This document will shape forest policy direction across the pan-European region.
Why Sweden Leads
Swedish forestry combines intensive management with environmental protection. They pioneered continuous cover forestry. Their National Forest Inventory runs since 1923. Digital forest registers connect to real-time markets. Sweden knows how to collect data and use it.
The Implementation Timeline
Both workstreams began immediately after April adoption. The September Stockholm meeting advanced development. Expect draft frameworks by mid-2026. Field testing follows. National adoption comes after that. The State of Europe's Forests 2025 report remains the flagship product tracking progress.
What this means for you: Watch for new data standards emerging through 2026. If you're implementing forest management systems, consider dynamic management principles now. The frameworks coming will reward flexibility over rigid plans. The Stockholm meeting shows this isn't bureaucratic delay—it's active development. Source: Forest Europe ELM, FE Work Programme
📊 Quick Hits
1. 🇫🇮 Finnish Limestone-Biochar Success: 3 Months In
Stable pH improvement in boreal forest waters confirmed. System operational since July 2025. Acidity mitigation working as designed. Monitoring data shows continued success.
The takeaway: Scalable solution for acid forest drainage problems exists. Field-tested technology ready for wider deployment across Nordic and Baltic regions. Source: Finnish Forest Research
2. 🌊 FAO: Mediterranean Forests Need New Playbook
Regional cooperation guidance released. Climate change demands innovative fire management and adaptation strategies. Traditional approaches insufficient for current stress levels. FAO emphasizes: Mediterranean forests evolved with fire, but climate change altered fire behavior. More frequent, more intense, less predictable. Forest management must evolve too.
The takeaway: If you manage Mediterranean forests, download the FAO guidance. Old fire management rules don't work anymore. Source: FAO Reports
3. 🇪🇸 Spain's Carbon Platform Goes Live
First week of domestic forest carbon credit trading begins. Transparent auction format. Spanish foundation operates the platform. Certified credits from local reforestation and conservation projects only.
The takeaway: Watch early price discovery. This could set benchmarks for European forest carbon credits and show whether transparent platforms reduce middleman costs. Source: Carbon Pulse
4. 📊 Finnish Forestry Returns Hit 14.9%
2024 investment returns confirmed by government statistics. €80 billion total stumpage value. 4 percentage point rise from 2023. Strong stumpage prices driving returns.
Context: These returns coexist with Finland's carbon reversal problem. Financial returns strong. Environmental accounting shows emissions increasing. The disconnect matters for natural capital accounting.
The takeaway: Traditional forestry returns remain solid despite carbon concerns. But investors will increasingly ask about carbon accounting alongside timber revenue. Source: Natural Resources Institute Finland
🔒 Professional Update
A few things are changing regarding ForestryBrief Professional, but the main thing you have to know is that there will be no issue tomorrow. I will explain the details next week, but the bottom line is that based on the results so far, some restructuring is needed. Stay tuned for the details.
The Weeks Ahead 📅
October 15-21:
EFI AI regulatory webinars begin
FAO bioeconomy webinar series continues
EUDR December decision timeline becomes clearer
Q3 timber market data releases expected
Spanish carbon platform first week results
Key Dates:
Nov 2: Luxembourg PEFC consultation closes
Nov 10-21: COP30 Climate Summit, Belém, Brazil
Nov 24-Dec 5: CITES Conference, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
December 2025: EUDR delay decision
One Thing to Try This Week 🎯
Calculate Your Forest's Carbon Baseline
Microsoft just bought 970,000 credits. Spanish platform launches transparent pricing. Carbon markets are real. But first, you need to know what you have.
Simple calculation:
Annual forest growth in cubic meters
Multiply by 0.9 (conversion factor: 1 m³ ≈ 0.9 tonnes CO₂)
Result = annual carbon sequestration in tonnes
Example:
Forest grows 500 m³/year × 0.9 = 450 tonnes CO₂/year
Next step: Check if you meet verification standards (FSC, PEFC, or national certification). Compare potential credit revenue versus timber revenue.
Time investment: 20 minutes with your forest inventory data
Tools needed: Calculator and your latest growth figures
Value: Know if carbon markets make sense before investing in verification
This isn't about rushing into carbon markets. It's about understanding your baseline so you can make informed decisions when opportunities appear. If you want to dive into the topic, read ForestryBrief’s Carbon Series
Until Tuesday!
Wish you all the best: Peter
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