Held in Istanbul, Türkiye from 11–15 May 2026, with the participation of more than 150 delegates representing 57 national forest certification systems and international members, the 2026 Forum continued to prioritize the enhancement of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) for timber production, biomass development, biodiversity conservation, and the strengthening of ecosystem services in the context of climate change. Key discussion topics included:

• The need for further improvement of SFM practices across countries and regions to better meet market requirements while contributing to climate objectives and biodiversity conservation.
• The application of advanced technologies and best practices in forest management and data governance to ensure reliability, transparency, and operational efficiency, thereby supporting timely international reporting and statistics.
• Expansion of certification scopes relating to carbon, ecosystem services, green construction materials, and other emerging sustainability domains.
• Cooperation mechanisms among national forest certification systems and organizations in information sharing, promotion of timber and forest-product trade, and market connectivity.
• European Union policies related to the EUDR, the Green Deal, and necessary improvements required to comply with EU regulatory frameworks.

The outcomes demonstrated that PEFC continues to expand significantly, with nearly 300 million hectares of PEFC-certified forests worldwide, accounting for 71% of the global certified SFM area. PEFC-endorsed national forest certification systems and international memberships also continued to grow. Notably, in several countries, PEFC has become the leading forest certification framework. A major milestone in 2025 was the Osaka Expo and Olympic exhibition structures in Japan achieving PEFC certification, utilizing approximately 7,000 m³ of PEFC-certified timber.

At the Forum, VFCO chaired the Asia-Pacific (APAC) regional meeting, attended by representatives of national forest certification systems from India, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. Through the meeting, participating parties agreed to strengthen information exchange, particularly regarding Japan’s new greenhouse gas emissions reporting regulations effective from April 2026, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation opportunities in market integration and business connectivity among countries in the region.

Please follow and contact us to stay updated on market developments and the diverse certification requirements of different countries. VFCC remains committed to supporting forest owners and enterprises in meeting market requirements, strengthening trade connections, and enhancing brand value.