YLPMED 2025: empowering young leaders in the Mediterranean and South-eastern Europe
What makes a good leader in the forest sector? A deep understanding of forest science and knowledge is fundamental, but interpersonal and communication skills—such as storytelling, photography, and filmmaking—can help create real-world impact. The EFI Young Leadership Programme – Mediterranean (YLPMED) 2025 gathered 17 potential leaders from South-eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to provide them with tools to enhance their technical and communication skills, as well as providing them with scientific insights on building forest resilience through climate- and biodiversity-smart management and restoration.
The Young Leadership Programme, launched by the European Forest Institute in 2014, has had a Mediterranean edition since 2018, which has been organised biennially in partnership with the Union for Mediterranean since 2023. The 2025 edition focused on the South-eastern European region and was made possible by collaborating partners who helped shape course content and participant selection. These included the Croatian Forest Research Institute, the University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, the BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Forestry, and the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Banja Luka.
The course, featuring experts from the worlds of science and storytelling, took place from 5 to 9 May in Jastrebarsko, Croatia, home to the Croatian Forest Research Institute. Together with leading scientists, participants explored how sustainable forest management and climate resilience by focusing on the selection, conservation, and use of high-quality forest reproductive material (FRM). The programme aims to leverage the region’s rich biodiversity and its crucial role as a climate refuge to ensure the long-term health and resilience of its forests. It featured soft skill sessions that introduced participants to the world of science storytelling, fostering their writing, photography, and video-making skills.
In the second half of the week, the young leaders travelled to Zalesina, where they were hosted by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology. There, they had the opportunity to see Croatian forests up close. A field trip included visits to Risnjak National Park, the Delnice forest facility, and the beautiful coastal town of Opatija, giving them the opportunity to explore the Croatian landscape and meet the foresters who care for it. Photos, videos, and interviews from the field trip served as the foundation for the group projects aiming to dismantle stereotypes in the forest sector through storytelling. Stay tuned: we will be sharing the group projects soon!
YLPMED 2025 was a resounding success, providing a fertile ground for young minds from all over Europe and the Mediterranean to grow the scientific and soft skills they need to emerge as leaders in the sector and help Mediterranean forests stand up to the challenges they will face in the future.
