The Montréal Process Working Group

The contribution of forests and sustainable forest management to sustainable development first received global recognition in 1992 when the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development adopted the “Rio Forest Principles” and Chapter 11 of Agenda 21.

The Montreal Process Working Group (MPWG) was formed in 1994 following the Rio Earth Summit to advance the development of internationally agreed criteria and indicators for the conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests and to monitor, assess and report on forest trends at national and global levels. The MPWG is composed of a single member from each of the 12 Montreal Process countries.

The MPWG brings together countries with highly diverse ecological, economic, and social conditions to share experiences related to forest monitoring, assessment and reporting. It consists of representatives from 12 member countries around the world to further the sustainable management of their forests and to create a pathway for collaboration and capacity building.

The member countries are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russian Federation, United States of America, and Uruguay.