European NGOs Discuss the Future of the Bioeconomy
In a session at the Forest Movement Europe (FME) meeting in Finland from 4–7 May 2026, around 40 campaigners from forest NGOs across Europe continued their exchange on the potential impacts of, and possible entry points for NGO engagement within, the forthcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Building on discussions from an online workshop in April, and with the aim of bridging the gap between abstract bioeconomy strategies and concrete political and economic realities, participants focused on identifying constructive approaches to engaging in the bioeconomy debate from a forest protection perspective. Working in smaller groups, they explored possible sustainable sources of income that could work at scale for people living in forested areas. The discussions highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges of developing rural economic models that are ecologically sustainable and socially viable. In the second part of the session, several speakers reflected on forest-related strategies within a bioeconomy that could support more sustainable wood use and forest management. Karin Nutti Pilflykt from the Saami Council spoke about Saami traditions, noting that the principle is to …










