A successful Round table Meeting on Resilient forests and forest-value chain for Europe’s future

Monday, June 29 , 2026 20

     On 25 June 2026, thirty eight representatives of the forest managers, industry experts, and policymakers gathered at the European Forestry House, in Brussels for a roundtable discussion on the accelerating impacts of climate change on European forest ecosystems. The meeting took place .

     As Europe faces unprecedented environmental shifts, its forests remain a vital natural asset for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, water regulation, and rural community support. The event served as an integrated platform to bridge the gap between forestry management and evolving EU policy domains.

     In his opening remarks, Mr. Tomasz Markiewicz welcomed a diverse group of forestry stakeholders to the European Forestry House, emphasizing that accelerating climate pressures like droughts, storms, and pests are making active, adaptive forest management more critical than ever. Reflecting on the recent Forest Europe Ministerial Conference in Stockholm, he highlighted the growing societal demands on forests for climate mitigation, biodiversity, and bioeconomy support, which require long-term resilience built on professional knowledge and practical field experience. Ultimately, he called for an open, collaborative dialogue between policymakers, scientists, and foresters to shape future European forest strategies and secure the multifunctionality of Europe's woodland ecosystems for generations to come.

     The Scientific Trends was presented by the Prof. Bart Mays (KU Leuven) who shared critical insights into the adaptive capacity trends of European forests and what they mean for the future of the value chain.

     Attendees heard firsthand operational experiences from Hrvatske šume d.o.o. alongside industry outlooks presented by Ms. Silvia Melegari (EOS - CEI-Bois) and representatives from the European Commission.

     The roundtable concluded with a dynamic open discussion, reinforcing a shared commitment to collaborative, cross-sectoral action to secure the future of Europe's forests

     The meeting was closed by Mr. Juha S. Niemelä (EUSTAFOR) who made a constructive summary of all presentations and followed discussions.

UEF Presidency