The Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region (BEAC) was established in 1993 as an intergovernmental cooperation body for Russia, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, environment, infrastructure, education and cultural exchanges, tourism, as well as the implementation of projects aimed at improving the situation of the indigenous people of the North. In 2015-2017, the Russian Federation acts as the chairing country of the BEAC.

The Forest Forum, as the final event of Russia's BEAC chairmanship, began its work on September 21, 2017 in Arkhangelsk. The event was organized by the Federal Forestry Agency. Representatives of Federal and regional authorities, science, education, business of Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden took part in the Forum.

Welcoming speeches to the participants of the Forest Forum were done by the Deputy Director of the Federal Forestry Agency M.Yu. Klinov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Arkhangelsk Region E.V. Fomenko, Head of the International Barents Secretariat Thomas Hallberg, acting Minister of Natural Resources and Timber Industry Complex of the Arkhangelsk Region A.V. Kuznetsov.

The moderators of the Forum identified the problems existing in the forest sector, emphasized the social importance of forests, noted that the model of interregional cooperation in northern Europe, proposed more than 20 years ago, continues to work successfully, cooperation is still aimed at maximizing the potential of the northern regions.

The agenda of the Forest Forum included two thematic sessions:

1. The role of forests in adapting to the effects of climate change and mitigating the anthropogenic impact on the climate system;
2. The forest-and-climate policy of the BEAC member-states. Long-term development strategy with low greenhouse gas emissions.

The Forum participants discussed issues related to the role of boreal forest in adaptation to climate change, the possibility of reducing climate risks for forest ecosystems in Eastern Fennoscandia, the role of greenhouse gases in ecosystems of intact boreal forests in the European North-East of Russia in the conditions of the modern climate. Attention was paid to the system of forestry activities on the adaptation to climate change. A strategy for the development of Swedish forestry in a changing climate, Finland's strategy for forestry development and climate change, and Norway's forestry strategy are considered. Regional climate strategy of the Arkhangelsk region also was discussed.

Alexander Senkov (Ph.D., researcher of our Institute) made presentation "The system of forest management activities for adaptation to climate change".