Helping actors become ambassadors
We are reaching out and giving the word to the people on the ground, to hear what forests and certification mean to them, making people and companies around the world our ambassadors for sustainability and forest certification.
Helping actors become ambassadors
31 December 2022 Annual Review
We are reaching out and giving the word to the people on the ground, to hear what forests and certification mean to them, making people and companies around the world our ambassadors for sustainability and forest certification.
Hearing from photographers and forest lovers
The 2022 edition of our Experience Forests, Experience PEFC Photo Contest brought us wonderful forest photos and inspiring stories from photographers around the globe.
13 of our national members invited photographers in their countries to submit their best forest photos. We received 7,500 stunning images, taking the viewer on a journey through the world’s forests.
The best photos from the national contests entered the international contest for the chance to become the PEFC Photographer of the Year.
13 countries, 7,500 photos, 1 winner
First prize went to Beate Magedin from Sweden for her photo ‘Small Woods in a Big Forest.’
The photo shows an unusual perspective of the forest, putting the often-overlooked details in the spotlight.
“Most people photograph either the complete landscape or the macro world. I do something in between,” she explained.
The winning photo was announced in an online session on Facebook Live. We discussed the photos in the finals with photographer Lukas Prins, helping the audience to see them through the eyes of a professional, and discover even more details.
We also heard from the winner herself, who took us to a wonderful Swedish forest and shared how her winning photo came about.
Besides giving us gorgeous forest photos, the annual photo contest is a chance to hear from forest lovers around the world. The 12 finalists shared the stories behind their photos, forestry in their countries and what the forest means to them.
Giving the word to rural women
For International Day of Rural Women, we highlighted the work of women in forestry. But rather than speaking about those women, we gave the word to them.
Female forest owners and managers, forestry researchers and teachers told us about their daily work and what makes them passionate about forests.
In a series of interviews, they took us back into their childhood, when they first became interested in forestry, shared how their jobs have changed over time, and how certification is making a difference.
Women still face discrimination when it comes to land and livestock ownership, equal pay, and participation in decision-making entities – also in the forestry sector. Empowering them is critical in the fight against extreme poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
Debunking myths on International Day of Forests
Do timber buildings burn easily? Do trees release their stored timber once they are felled?
There are still many myths and misconceptions about forests and forest products, making consumers hesitant of buying wooden furniture, using paper packaging, or building their homes in timber.
For International Day of Forests, we rectified the most prevalent myths about forests and forest products, celebrating the many known and lesser-known uses of forest products, and raising awareness for the enormous potential of sustainable timber.