72-d session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI) took place in Kazan, Russian Federation, Republic of Tatarstan from 18 to 21 November 2014.

The meeting focused on the implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan for the Forest Sector in a Green Economy.

The session was attended by representatives from more than 30 countries. Deputy Director on Sciences of the FBU "SevNIILH" N. Demidova has participated in the 72th session of the UNECE COFFI. Delegates of the Session discussed forest resources assessment and reporting issues, as well as the role of forests in the post-2015 development agenda. They also provided guidance to the secretariat on how to implement the UNECE/FAO Integrated Programme of Work adopted in December 2013.

The head of the Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Valentik noted the successful collaboration of the UNECE to strengthen international cooperation in the forest area in the European region to implement the principles of sustainable forest management, improvement of the normative and institutional framework for forestry.

Deputy Executive Secretary of UNECE/FAO Andrey Vasilyev said that this is the first in the history of the Committee meeting of the board in the Russian Federation.

Participants of the 72th session of the UNECE/FAO have got acquainted with Russian forestry, presented at the specialized exhibition of subordinate institutions of the Federal Forestry Agency and the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan.

For more information: http://www.unece.org/forests/kazan2014.html.

For more information about ECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry: http://www.unece.org/forests.