Mayor Katja Dörner received the official "Forest Capital" certificate from EFI Director Dr. Robert Mavsar in her office in the city hall on Thursday, 22 February 2024. Mayor Dörner: "I am particularly pleased to have been awarded the title of European Forest Capital 2024 by the European Forest Institute. The sustainable management of forest areas and trees in Bonn makes a valuable contribution to mitigating the consequences of and adapting to the climate crisis. EFI also builds a bridge between Bonn as a green city and a city of science. With this profile, EFI fits perfectly into Bonn's biodiversity profile."
EFI Director Robert Mavsar: "By awarding Bonn the title of European Forest Capital 2024, the European Forest Institute not only wants to recognize the special connection between the city and its forest, but also its leading role as an international science and communication center for forest-related topics. With Bonn's commitment to our forests, the city is also making a significant contribution to raising awareness of the crucial role of forests in the fight against climate change."
His visit also marks the start of several events in collaboration with the City of Bonn, the University of Bonn, the Rhine-Sieg-Erft Regional Forestry Office and other international and regional project partners. These include, for example, a series of events with the EU project "Multipliers" (opens in a new tab) at the University of Bonn and students from the Liebfrauenschule, which is being organized in the Kottenforst. The Rhine-Sieg-Erft Regional Forestry Office, the City of Bonn's House of Nature and other stakeholders from Bonn are also involved. Participants will be instructed in an exercise to "play forester" and simulate forestry decisions in the forest with the help of software.
A highlight of the activities will be the EFI annual conference, which will take place in Bonn from September 18 to 20, 2024 with around 150 participants from all over Europe. The event will kick off with a reception in the Old Town Hall on September 17. Another highlight will be the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (Forest Europe) from October 1 to 2 on the Petersberg. The aim is to adopt joint strategies for the protection and sustainable management of forests.
"European Forest Capital" aims to raise awareness of forests
The EFI has awarded the title of "European Forest City" every year since 2014. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of European forests and sensitize people to the numerous forest functions and the benefits, but also the dangers and challenges for forests.
Experience the forest habitat with all your senses at the House of Nature
Since its reopening in summer 2019, the House of Nature in Bonn's city forest has been the central starting point for education for sustainable development in the region. Here, children, young people and adults can experience the forest habitat with all their senses - whether in the permanent exhibition on the topic of the urban forest or in the great outdoors with the wide range of educational activities on offer. In conjunction with the farm garden, the biodiversity trail, a meadow orchard and the adjacent Kottenforst forest, the House of Nature offers numerous opportunities to observe, discover and experience nature. Further information can be found at https://www.bonn.de/haus-der-natur.
Bonn's city forest has been certified according to the strict criteria of the Naturland Association for ecological and sustainable management since 1999. The main focus here is on preserving old trees. Over twelve percent of the area is left to its own devices in order to protect the forest for insects, birds and other animals and plants. The aim of the regular thinning of the remaining forest is to create an ecologically valuable, species-rich mixed forest. Lean more: https://www.bonn.de/stadtwald
Bonn’s biodiversity profile
The Bonn Biodiversity Network "BION" was founded in 2013. Around 60 partner organizations have joined forces in this network to work on the topic of biodiversity at a local, regional, national or international level. The partners include federal and state ministries and their subordinate authorities, the City of Bonn, numerous institutes of the University of Bonn, international and UN organizations based in Bonn as well as non-governmental organizations and institutions from the fields of research and teaching, media and museums. Building on existing activities, experience and cooperation in the field of biodiversity, BION aims to promote innovative and model approaches and, together with its partners, act as a "think tank" for biodiversity.
Background: European Forest Institute
The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organization that conducts research and provides policy advice on a wide range of forest issues. It was founded in Finland in 1993 and today comprises 30 member states and more than 130 member organizations in 41 different countries. Since 2017, EFI has also had an office in Bonn at the United Nations plaza. Its work there focuses on the resilience and adaptability as well as multifunctional use and biodiversity of forests with the "Resilience Program". Since 2020, EFI Bonn has taken over the management of the Governance Program, which deals with issues of forest policy, ecosystem services and sustainable financing of forest projects. Further information www.efi.int (opens in a new tab).