Forest-based sector launches children's book during European Forest Week

11 December 2013 Event report

'The Unexpected Forest' features adventures from Spik and Booksy in the forest – a lovely story that describes sustainable forest management and timber use without the usual facts and figures.

Four main forest related European associations – namely the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF), the European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR), the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois), and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), two of which, CEPF and CEPI, are PEFC International Stakeholder members – published jointly a children's book that explains in a carefully scripted story the concept of sustainable forestry and forest industries. They launched the book together with Santa Claus during the European Forest Week in his hometown Rovaniemi, Finland this week.

The charmingly illustrated booklet entitled 'The Unexpected Forest' features Spik the pencil and Booksy the notebook, who go into the wood and discover the secrets of the forest. They realise they are part of a larger cycle, that starts with sustainable forest management. Spik and Booksy meet with the people working in the forest and with forest products and learn that they themselves once came from the forest.

The book was written by Magali De Rijck and beautifully illustrated by Roseline d’Oreye. Published by CEI-Bois, CEPF, CEPI and EUSTAFOR, it is already available in English, French, Swedish and German. It is meant to reach youngsters between the ages of 5-8 years old, to help educate them on the importance of forests and forest products in their daily lives.

Paper copies of this limited edition booklet are available on request from the publisher directly.