IMFN Global Forum 2025, our report from Canada

"In 1992, when I was a youth representative, there was a sense of urgency to address environmental challenges. That challenge hasn't changed, but our networks have grown stronger thanks to inclusion".

These are the words that Richard Verbisky, Head of the International Model Forest Network Secretariat, shared in front of a room full of people from over 60 countries, all reunited in Kemptville, Ottawa, to attend the first International Model Forest Network Global Forum after 14 year since the last in Burgos.

Verbisky was telling the story of how he discovered the Model Forests back in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in the first stage of a long journey that after more than 30 years resulted in the bigger network on sustainable management of the world: 60+ Model Forests distributed in more than 30 countries. A big “family” - one of the words much eared during the Forum - reunited for what was more than a conference or a working meeting, a global family reunion.

Together with the IMFN, the week was hosted by the Ontario Woodlot Association and the Eastern Ontario Model Forest, in the Kemptville Campus, 40 minutes drive from Ottawa where the headquarters of the International Model Forest Network Secretariat find place in the office of the Canadian Forest Service. With them in the organization committee is also the Global Landscapes Forum that recently started a very promising collaboration with the IMFN.

All the Regional Networks were present with a delegation: Latin America, Canadian, Mediterranean, Asia, Africa and Northern Europe. And together with the members of the network a long list of international guests and partners that already work with the Model Forests or were invited for networking.

The first morning, on Monday 26 May was indeed dedicated to the Regional Meeting and while we had our Med Forum, all the other Model Forest had space per discussion and activities. 

On May 27, the Global Landscapes Forum - Forests, People and Planet - event took place, co-organized by CIFOR-ICRAF and the International Model Forest Network, with the active participation of the regional networks. This global event brought together over 3,000 participants from 129 countries, both in person and online, to discuss how to scale up effective, people-centered forest solutions. Some numbers from the second day: 8 plenaries, expert-led sessions, and high-level panels; over 60 speakers and more than 50 local and global partner organizations; a reach of nearly 6 million people across traditional and digital media; close to 1 million social media engagements. Throughout the day, we explored key topics such as community forest management, agroforestry, and finance for restoration, working together toward building the restoration economy the planet urgently needs.

The second day concluded with the New Vision for Earth Film Festival – FORESTS POP-UP! – where, alongside other films and documentaries, the first episode of our series on the Model Forest approach to Forest and Landscape Restoration premiered, showcasing Montagne Fiorentine and Valle dell’Aterno on the international stage.

Wednesday 28 was dedicated to field trips with 5 tours that offered a unique opportunity to explore practical and diverse approaches to sustainable forest management, with options tailored to different interests and activity levels:

• Hands-on seed collection workshop focused on forest genetic conservation and the production of high-quality plant material.
• Tour of the Dominion Arboretum and Ottawa River cruise: combining botanical exploration, local history, and river landscapes. Participants learned about native and exotic tree collections and the evolving relationship between forests, industry, and conservation.
• Visit to Limerick Forest: a municipally owned forest showcasing ecological restoration and recreational development.
• Tour of the Kemptville Campus: highlighting initiatives in forest education, applied research, and community collaboration.
• Visit to Quinte Conservation: exploring silvicultural restoration techniques and plantation management transitioning toward more diverse forest structures.

The third day of the Global Forum wrapped up in Kemptville with a lively social dinner, which also welcomed members of the Ontario Woodlot Association, an organization driven by enthusiastic and committed individuals who promote best management practices to ensure forests are sustainable and productive, ecologically healthy and diverse, and spiritually and physically renewing.

On Thursday, May 29, the Forum hosted a full day of parallel sessions, with 12 thematic panels spanning the entire day. The Mediterranean Model Forest Network (MMFN) was strongly represented, with members participating in many of the key discussions.

Roberto Alonso Santos, President of the Palencia Model Forest, shared the cultural traditions of his region during the session “The Arts and the Art of Influence”, where Andrea Barzagli also spoke about the forest festivals organized in the Montagne Fiorentine, Istria, and Western Macedonia Model Forests. Meanwhile, Silvia Scozzafava from Valle Aterno Model Forest participated in the session dedicated to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. In another session, Silvia Vannini presented the work of the Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest focused on forest therapy, forest bathing, and human-nature connections.

In the session on innovation and best practices across Model Forests, Lucie Le Cornet of the Provence Model Forest shared insights from their studies on climate adaptation in the Massif des Maures. At the same time, Dimitris Tsimplinas from the Western Macedonia Model Forest contributed to the discussion on collaborative approaches to integrated fire management, presenting their use of artificial intelligence for fire monitoring and prevention.

In the 6th session “Youth Leadership in IMFN and Youth Entrepreneurs - Beyond Participation,” Lazhari Chater highlighted the role of young foresters in the forest sector, and presented a joint statement developed by the MMFN and the Mediterranean Youth Task Force (MYTF) in collaboration with the Latin America Model Forest Network (LAMFN) highlighted key challenges and recommendations for enhancing youth engagement in forest and landscape restoration in the Mediterranean region and beyond. Finally, Ana Fornazar took part in the session on forest education, forest schools, and pedagogy, representing the Istria Model Forest and sharing their experience in environmental learning.

And that’s not the full list, MMFN members were deeply engaged throughout the Forum, underlining their active role in global forest dialogue.

In addition, the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Woodlot Association was held in parallel, during which Toni Ventre, Secretary of the Mediterranean Model Forest Network (MMFN), and Pablo Sabin, CEO of CESEFOR, took the floor to present shared projects and objectives in the areas of forest certification and the aggregation of forest owners to promote better forest management.

During the closing session on Friday, May 30, Patrick Wylie shared the impressive final numbers of this edition of the Global Forum:

• 180+ Delegates
• 40+ Countries
• 17 Knowledge Sharing Sessions
• 169 Speakers
• 17 Moderators
• 6 Field Tours

“I can say without fear of contradiction that this week's GF was experienced by all participants, MF representatives and guests, as an opportunity for professional and human growth that is not always easy to find in the same place at the same time” says Toni Ventre, General Secretary of our Regional Network,  “everyone returned to their activities not only enriched by the knowledge and experiences of others that they can implement in their own areas, but also with the awareness and enthusiasm of knowing that they are working together with many other people around the world who share the same goals and the same determination to achieve communities and landscapes that are increasingly in harmony with each other. This is an indispensable goal for the planet”.

Photos: © Pilar Valbuena / Global Landscapes Forum