This contribution aims at providing representatives and participants in the Third Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Lisbon, 2-4 June, 1998, with some basic facts and figures concerning mountain forest in Europe. It makes no pretence to be comprehensive but provides a discussion snapshot open to further developments, participations and partnerships. Resolution S4 «Adapting the management of mountain forests to new environmental conditions» has been adopted by 25 countries at the Strasbourg Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. It deals with relevant issues that have been gaining importance since 1990. The sustainable future of mountain forests depends today, more than ever, on the commitment of Ministers in 1990 «to strive to mobilise their resources in common so as to advance together in a few concrete projects which are the basis of their forestry policy for mountain ecosystems» and on the actions to be implemented after Lisbon for the «socio-economic role, the criteria, indicators and guidelines, and for the conservation and enhancement of biological diversity». Some proposals for action are suggested at the end of the document.
