The conference was organised at the end of the international project "Forests in Women's Hands" (Fem4Forest), co-funded by the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme. The project was launched in July 2020, with the aim of strengthening the forestry sector in the Danube region at local, regional and international levels through greater involvement of women. The project involves 14 partners from 10 countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine). The project offers a new and innovative approach to training and mentoring, with the aim of encouraging and enabling a more active role for women in all segments of the forestry sector.

The International Conference was officially opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ms Irena Šinko, followed by speeches by Dr Primož Simončič, Director of the Slovenian Forestry Institute, Mr Gregor Danev, Director of the Slovenian Forest Service, and Mr Marjan Hren, President of the Slovenian Forest Owners' Association. The first part of the conference focused on the role of women in society, with Katarina Bervar Sternad, Špela E. Koblar Habič, Marko Pogačnik, Lučka Kajfež Bogataj and Lesya Loyko. Each in their own way, they shed light on the role of women through the eyes of NGOs, in the popularisation of forestry and nature conservation, the feminine principle through the eyes of an artist, the importance of women in limiting the effects of climate change, and the role of women during the war in Ukraine.

The Fem4Forest (Forests in Women's Hands) project gave us the opportunity to study and compare the role of women in the Danube Region, to develop tools (e.g. training and mentoring programmes) and to transfer examples of good practice among countries (e.g. forest walk). More results were presented by the project partners. In the afternoon, we met some role models in forestry and had a chat with the mentors. During the conference, we also witnessed the establishment of the international association of women in forestry - WOFO Internationa (Women in Forestry International).