Young Leadership Programme 2026

Forest Stewardship Council, Germany

I hope that forests will continue to thrive and support people, biodiversity, and the climate for generations to come. I also see this as our responsibility to contribute, in whatever way we can, to protecting and restoring forests, while also thinking about the people whose livelihoods depend on them.

City of Hamburg, Germany

I hope the programme will help me, together with the other participants, to generate new ideas on forest use and how to promote biodiversity, expand my professional network, and open opportunities for partnerships, new fields and career paths.

Forest Stewardship Council, Germany

To me, the future of forests means preserving not only biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, but also our history, culture, well-being, and connection to nature. It is about ensuring that future generations can enjoy forests as we do today.

3A COMPOSITES, Ecuador

To me, the future of forests means finding a real balance between productivity, conservation, and social responsibility. Professionally, it means developing more resilient and sustainable forestry systems through science, genetic improvement, technology, and better management practices. Personally, it means contributing to forests that continue to provide environmental, economic, and social value for future generations.

University of Eastern Finland

Many of us have become disenchanted with forests. They seem remote and wild. We do not often realise that many things we have now come from the forest – or used to be a forest. I hope future generations have the chance to see and experience how amazing forests are, where both live side by side. For that to happen, it will be our part to see forests more than as resources.

European Forest Institute, Germany

To me, the human perspective is key. I hope to explore the challenge of how we can collectively work towards change despite conflicting interests, competition, and fragmented responsibilities.

Technical University of Liberec, Czechia

I hope to gain new perspectives by learning from experts and fellow participants, while strengthening my ability to apply systems and futures thinking to complex forest and bioeconomy challenges. I'm particularly excited to explore how innovation ecosystems and AI can drive more resilient and sustainable forests, and to build international collaborations.

Fraunhofer Italia

I believe that supporting SMEs through the ongoing regulatory changes is essential not only for maintaining the competitiveness of regional bioeconomies but also for ensuring that sustainability becomes an achievable and shared goal rather than an additional burden.

Bioeconomy Austria

What I'm most looking forward to is meeting lots of motivated people from across the world who think about forests and the bioeconomy from very different angles.

Wageningen Environmental Research, Netherlands

I look forward to learning how value creation can be sustained under increasing global competitiveness for staple products (foremost pulp-based), which is posing a challenge for the Nordic countries.

Forest Research, United Kingdom

I am dedicated to advancing the skill set of forestry professionals to ensure they can use good silvicultural practices to maintain our productive forests in a sustainable way. The delivery of training and consultancy will enable research findings on silviculture and climate change, to be disseminated across the public and private sectors, ensuring a future with healthy and productive forests.

Scottish Forestry

I'm hoping to learn from forestry expertise in Europe, particularly around approaches to continuous cover forestry and climate resilience. I'm excited to meet a group of passionate professionals from a range of backgrounds and work together to tackle some of the sector’s biggest challenges.

Thailand and Nordic Countries Innovation Unit (TNIU)

The future hasn't been written yet, which means it's full of possibility, and the global forest we all share deserves a good story. I envision forests that don't just survive, but drive the evolution of our cities, communities, and economies as a blueprint for well-being, a foundation for local livelihoods, and a living laboratory for reversing climate change.

University of Helsinki & TaiMet Ry, Finland

I hope to connect with forward-thinkers working in the central industry and land management practice in Finland and to gain insights into the future of Finnish and European forestry.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy

I hope to collaborate with innovators who are developing sustainable and next-generation business models in the forestry sector.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

I am especially interested in learning about practical tools for critical futures thinking, systemic change, and co-creation, so that I can better support collaboration among research institutions, industry, and local communities. I also see this programme as an opportunity to learn from other participants, improve my communication skills, and share my own experiences with regional development challenges.

Kone Foundation, Finland

Forests are at the very heart of Finnish cultural identity, industrial history, and environmental landscapes. The future of forests ties into the future of who we want to be as a society.

Kone Foundation, Finland

Through the YLP2026 programme, I hope to learn from international perspectives, exchange ideas with other emerging leaders, and develop practical approaches that strengthen the role of forests in building resilient, sustainable landscapes and bioeconomies.

Are you ready to shape the future of Europe’s forests? We are seeking dynamic young professionals who meet the following criteria:

• Young professionals (e.g., practitioners, entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, scientists, artists, journalists, conservationists and environmentalists, government and NGO employees, and experts from investment and philanthropic networks) from diverse backgrounds interested in the forest-based bioeconomy.
• The programme is primarily aimed at participants aged 35 or younger who are in the early stages of their careers in the forest-based bioeconomy. However, applicants of all ages are welcome.
• Demonstrate a track record of leadership, whether through active roles in professional associations, community-led initiatives, or environmental advocacy.
• A keen interest in, or knowledge of, the Northern European forest sector, research, innovation, or futures thinking.
• A willingness to fully contribute to the group and engage in exploratory activities to overcome ambiguities of concepts, identify and challenge assumptions, and push the boundaries of what is thought to be possible.

Studying or working at an EFI member organisation, or being affiliated with the Forest Joensuu or other leading sectors through Business Joensuu, is an asset.

Fluency in English is essential for full participation.

A registration fee of €250 per participant will be charged upon acceptance and must be paid in advance.

Available to attend the full programme in person from 24 to 28 August 2026.

All application materials must be submitted in English. Please prepare:

• A CV (max 2 pages).
• A letter of recommendation written by an employer, PhD advisor, or another person who can speak to your leadership potential. You may submit the letter with your application or later. If so, send the letter to ylp@efi.int.
• Link to your motivation video (max 2 minutes). In your video, please address any of the following:
  • an innovation challenge you have tackled / identified and developed ideas to address (professionally or in another context) with a short reflection on learnings from the process, or
  • a question about the future of the bioeconomy or forest sector that excites or concerns you, why it does and some exploratory ideas of how you think it might be approached.

Questions? Contact us at ylp@efi.int.

A fee of €250 per participant will be charged upon acceptance and must be paid in advance.

A limited number of fee waivers are available to cover the programme participation fee. Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered for a fee waiver and provide a supporting reason for that. This will not affect the selection process.

In addition, selected participants of YLP 2026 who are enrolled in a UEF Summer School 2026 course in Joensuu may be exempt from the participation fee. This exemption is subject to availability, as only a limited number of fee waivers can be granted.

All participants are responsible for their own organisation and financing of their travel arrangements, accommodation and other personal costs related to their stay.

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