The Montréal Process - What is the Montreal Process

	Evolution of the Montréal Process
	Explanatory Brochure of the Montréal Process
	Santiago Declaration
	Criteria & Indicators

Forests are home to 70 per cent of the world's terrestrial animals and plants, providing the essential components of food, clothing and shelter. Forests are renewable resources and rich, resilient ecosystems which, when managed sustainably, can provide society with essential goods and services – timber, medicines, food, water and jobs – and conserve biodiversity, for generations to come.

The Montréal Process is the Working Group on Criteria and Indicators for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Temperate and Boreal Forests. It was formed in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 1994 to develop and implement internationally agreed criteria and indicators for the conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests.

Membership in the Working Group is voluntary and currently includes countries from both hemispheres, having a wide range in natural and social conditions. The member countries represent about 90 per cent of the world's temperate and boreal forests in the northern and southern hemispheres. This amounts to 60 per cent of all of the forests of the world. (Note: Europe's forests are not included - they are being addressed by the Helsinki or Pan-European Process.)