It appears there is a discrepancy in the date provided. The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE), now known as Forest Europe, did not hold a conference in Helsinki on November 21, 1977. The Helsinki conference you might be referring to is the Second Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, which took place in 1993. Below, I provide details about the 1993 Helsinki conference:

Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe - Helsinki 1993

Background

The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) was established to address the growing concerns about forest conservation and sustainable management across Europe. The initiative aimed to foster cooperation among European countries to ensure the protection and sustainable use of forests.

The Helsinki Conference

• Date and Location: The Second Ministerial Conference was held in Helsinki, Finland, in 1993.
• Focus: The primary focus of the Helsinki conference was on sustainable forest management (SFM) and the development of criteria and indicators for assessing SFM in Europe.
• Key Outcomes:
  • Helsinki Resolutions: The conference resulted in the adoption of several key resolutions, known as the Helsinki Resolutions, which laid the groundwork for sustainable forest management practices in Europe.
  • Criteria and Indicators: One of the significant achievements was the establishment of a set of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. These tools were designed to help countries assess and report on the state of their forests and the effectiveness of their management practices.
  • Pan-European Collaboration: The conference reinforced the importance of pan-European collaboration in addressing forest-related issues, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to tackle challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and forest degradation.

Significance

The Helsinki conference marked a pivotal moment in the history of forest management in Europe. It set a precedent for future conferences and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices and fostering international cooperation. The criteria and indicators developed during this conference have been instrumental in guiding forest policy and management across Europe.

Aftermath

Following the Helsinki conference, subsequent Ministerial Conferences continued to build on the foundation laid in 1993. These conferences have expanded the scope of discussions to include emerging issues such as climate change, forest biodiversity, and the socio-economic benefits of forests.

In summary, the 1993 Helsinki conference was a landmark event in the history of European forest management, establishing a framework for sustainable practices that continue to influence policy and management today.