The European Forestry Commission (EFC) will meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 22 to 25 October to review and coordinate regional strategies on forests and the forest industry, with a specific focus on innovation. The session, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will bring together government officials and representatives of international organizations, civil society and the private sector to discuss a wide range of issues. The session will take place alongside FAO European Forest Week 2025 and Istanbul Forest Innovation Week, with innovation as their overarching theme. …The EFC session will cover global and regional forestry processes and initiatives, international developments and cooperation, and updates on ongoing work in the region. Discussions also will focus on innovation in forestry, the progress of the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions – Silva Mediterranea, and the European Forestry Commission Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds.