Bringing youth to the forefront 

The COFO Youth Task Force is excited to present a series of events before and during COFO and WFW to highlight the achievements of young professional staff and to foster dialogue, recognition and action on issues concerning youth and young professionals in the forest sector.  

These events will provide opportunities for youth and young professionals to visibly engage in the forest agenda and promote intergenerational dialogue between seasoned foresters, young professionals, and students on ways to improve the sector, make the sector more appealing and pave the way for young professionals to thrive.  

Mountain Forests masterclass: Insights from the field

  Thursday 27 June     15.00–16.00 CEST      Zoom

This event will spotlight young mountain foresters working in the field, sharing their experiences and success stories, addressing challenges, and exploring opportunities for concrete solutions in mountain forests, including topics that will be discussed at COFO.  Register at the event website.

Pre-COFO 27 Youth Assembly, Young Minds Green Solutions

  Thursday 11 July     14.30–16.00 CEST     Zoom   

The Assembly will give insights into COFO 27/WFW and assess progress from previous youth initiatives including the XV World Forestry Congress Youth Call to Action.  A discussion on challenges and opportunities in the forestry sector will propose actions that can contribute to agrifood systems transformation. Co-organized with the World Food Forum, the session will be the first step to building a Youth Roadmap on Forestry.

World Forest Voices Podcast Series – COFO27 Series

The #WorldForestVoices podcast series is returning for COFO 27. This series, organized by the COFO 27 Youth Taskforce and World Food Forum, brings together youth and technical experts to promote intergenerational dialogue and amplify the message of forests. With episodes hosted by the World Food Forum's "WFF Food for The Future" podcast channel, this collaboration with FAO Forestry and COFO 27 promises engaging discussions and fresh perspectives. 

Bean to cup experience: Agroforestry specialty coffee tasting with young professionals

  Tuesday 23 July     Tasting 12.00–12.30 CEST with coffee available until 17:00    Atrium 

Discover the journey from bean to cup and explore the agriculture-forestry nexus in the coffee value chain with insights from young leaders and experts. This interactive session, guided by Matteo Pavoni, Italian Barista Champion 2022 and co-founder of Peacocks Coffee, combines a coffee break with hands-on learning about sustainable coffee production and the impact of your consumption habits on the coffee sector.

Career talks: An exchange between forestry professionals and youth

  22–26 July     Venue and times to be confirmed

Taking advantage of the many delegates and experts participating in COFO 27 and WFW, we invite forestry experts to share their career journey. Career talks would be held in a small meeting room in person, moderated by a young professional. Each session will feature a forestry professional discussing their careers, including personal stories, current projects and key skills contributing to their success. 

Connecting forestry minds: Youth and leaders dialogue at the 9th World Forest Week 

  Friday 26 July     13.30–14.00 CEST   Atrium 

The dialogue will provide a space for young foresters to interact and share impactful work with FAO leaders Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina, Forestry Director Zhimin Wu and Forestry Deputy Directors Tiina Vahanen and Ewald Rametsteiner.