Forest Innovation Week addresses restoration and integrated fire management

The Istanbul Forest Innovation Week concluded Friday after five days of intensive discussions on forest management, restoration and digital innovation in forestry. The event brought together more than 400 experts from 75 countries and 30 international organizations to address global forestry challenges.

New EFC Leadership Elected

During the closing sessions, the European Forestry Commission elected new leadership with a representative from Slovakia assuming the presidency. Officials from Switzerland and the United States were elected as vice-presidents, setting the direction for the commission's work until its next session scheduled for Rome in 2027. The elections marked a significant transition in European forestry governance.

Digital Tools for Forest Management

Multiple presentations highlighted advancing digitalization in forestry. FAO Forestry Specialist Rebecca Tavani introduced the Open Foris initiative, explaining this open-source software provides critical tools for activity monitoring, biodiversity assessment and forest inventories. Keith Anderson from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment noted his country's progress in digitizing forest data reporting, enabling instant digital transfer between institutions.

Enhanced Monitoring and Capacity Building

The conference featured discussions on improving forest monitoring systems, including the EU-funded MoniFun project which uses federated learning to enable cross-border modeling without data sharing. FAO specialists also addressed understanding carbon markets and developing institutional capacity. Türkiye's significant role in hosting the event was emphasized, with officials noting the country's efforts to prepare its forestry sector for European Green Deal regulations.