Juha S. Niemelä, Director General of Metsähallitus (Finland), has been re-elected as President of the European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR) for a second term. The General Assembly also reappointed Georg Schöppl of Österreichische Bundesforste (Austria) as Vice-President and confirmed nine other members to the Executive Committee.
Under Mr. Niemelä’s leadership, EUSTAFOR aims to enhance communication with EU policymakers and the public, emphasizing the role of state forest management organizations in balancing economic, environmental, and social responsibilities to meet societal needs. He stated, “EUSTAFOR is growing, but so are the policy advancements and initiatives in forestry. Our challenge is to keep managing our forests sustainably to provide timber and bio-based products and contribute to the decarbonization of our economy while preserving our forest ecosystems.“
The General Assembly also welcomed new members, including Junta de Castilla y León (Spain), Staatsbosbeheer (Netherlands), and Hessenforst (Germany), expanding EUSTAFOR’s representation to 39 members across 28 European countries.
Additionally, EUSTAFOR received the Kordelas of the Polish Forestry Award from Lasy Państwowe, recognizing the association’s outstanding contributions to sustainable forest management in Europe.
EUSTAFOR continues to serve as a platform for state forest management organizations to exchange knowledge and advocate for sustainable forestry practices at both EU and national levels.
