Forest Movement Europe
Encyclopedia
The Forest Movement Europe (FME) is a grouping of more than 45 NGOs
from 12 European countries working on forest issues. The movement has been in existence, although under different names, for more than 15 years. Its purpose is to share information, to develop joint strategies and a wider European perspective on forest issues. The FME also supports NGOs and Indigenous Peoples Organisations in the South in their activities to protect forests.
By 1992 the group had expanded considerably in size and in the issues it dealt with. Its focus was no longer Japanese companies but tropical rainforest protection and support for forest peoples
in general. At a meeting in Munich, Germany, the group renamed itself the European Rainforest Movement (ERM), the European arm of the World Rainforest Movement
. It choose to be a loose movement with no formal membership and without a formal secretariat. Meetings were held twice a year, hosted by one of the participating groups and coordinated by Saskia Ozinga
of FERN
. It was mainly due to the activities of the groups that participated in the ERM that the tropical rainforest campaigns in Europe took off, imports of tropical timber into several European countries declined and the struggle of forest peoples, e.g. in Sarawak
, Malaysia and the Amazon were headline stories.
Environmental organisations in the boreal forests who had been working in their own countries to protect these forests decided they needed outside support. The formation of the Taiga Rescue Network
(TRN) in 1992 was a crucial moment. The coordinator of the TRN, Karin Lindahl, contacted Saskia Ozinga
to join forces. From that moment onwards, groups working on the boreal forests joined the ERM which was by definition not only working on tropical forests. Therefore in 1994 the group decided to change its name to Forest Movement Europe (FME).
Currently the FME meets once a year. Meetings are hosted by participating organisations and are organised by FERN
.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
from 12 European countries working on forest issues. The movement has been in existence, although under different names, for more than 15 years. Its purpose is to share information, to develop joint strategies and a wider European perspective on forest issues. The FME also supports NGOs and Indigenous Peoples Organisations in the South in their activities to protect forests.
History
The origin of the movement goes back to 1989 when a group of NGOs from several different European countries joint efforts to support Japanese organisations in their activities to stop the destruction of the rainforests by Japanese companies. This group of NGOs met under the heading Ban Japan from the Rainforest.By 1992 the group had expanded considerably in size and in the issues it dealt with. Its focus was no longer Japanese companies but tropical rainforest protection and support for forest peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
in general. At a meeting in Munich, Germany, the group renamed itself the European Rainforest Movement (ERM), the European arm of the World Rainforest Movement
World Rainforest Movement
The World Rainforest Movement is an international NGO and Indigenous Peoples' Groups network involved in efforts to defend the world's tropical forests against the forces that destroy them....
. It choose to be a loose movement with no formal membership and without a formal secretariat. Meetings were held twice a year, hosted by one of the participating groups and coordinated by Saskia Ozinga
Saskia Ozinga
Saskia Luutsche Ozinga is an environmental and social activist. She is the facilitator of the Forest Movement Europe and the co-founder of the NGO FERN, of which she is currently the campaigns coordinator....
of FERN
FERN
FERN is a Dutch foundation created in 1995. It is an international non-governmental organization to keep track of the EU’s involvement in forests and to co-ordinate NGO activities at the European level...
. It was mainly due to the activities of the groups that participated in the ERM that the tropical rainforest campaigns in Europe took off, imports of tropical timber into several European countries declined and the struggle of forest peoples, e.g. in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Malaysia and the Amazon were headline stories.
Environmental organisations in the boreal forests who had been working in their own countries to protect these forests decided they needed outside support. The formation of the Taiga Rescue Network
Taiga Rescue Network
Taiga Rescue Network is an international network of more than 200 non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and individuals working to defend the world's boreal forests, also known as Taiga. TRN was established in 1992 to give a voice to support, link and publicize local struggles...
(TRN) in 1992 was a crucial moment. The coordinator of the TRN, Karin Lindahl, contacted Saskia Ozinga
Saskia Ozinga
Saskia Luutsche Ozinga is an environmental and social activist. She is the facilitator of the Forest Movement Europe and the co-founder of the NGO FERN, of which she is currently the campaigns coordinator....
to join forces. From that moment onwards, groups working on the boreal forests joined the ERM which was by definition not only working on tropical forests. Therefore in 1994 the group decided to change its name to Forest Movement Europe (FME).
Currently the FME meets once a year. Meetings are hosted by participating organisations and are organised by FERN
FERN
FERN is a Dutch foundation created in 1995. It is an international non-governmental organization to keep track of the EU’s involvement in forests and to co-ordinate NGO activities at the European level...
.