In September 1993, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) sponsored an international seminar in Montréal, Canada,that focused on the sustainable development of boreal and temperate forests, with a focus on developing criteria and indicators for the assessment of these forests.

After the seminar, Canada drew together countries from North and South America, Asia and the Pacific Rim to develop criteria and indicators for non-tropical forests and, in June 1994, the initiative now known as the Montréal Process began.

In the follow-up to the Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe,European countries elected to work together as a region in the Pan-European Forest Process.

Montréal Process Member Countries: Twelve countries on five continents: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russian Federation, United States of America and Uruguay.

Participating countries account for:

• 90%of the world’s temperate and boreal forests (as well as areas of tropical forests)
• 60%of all forests on the globe
• 35%of the world’s population
• 45%of world trade in wood and wood products

Montréal Process Criteria:

• Conservation of biological diversity
• Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems
• Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality
• Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources
• Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles
• Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits
• Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management