Forests and the forest-based sector is an essential part of Europe’s transition to a modern, climate neutral, resource-efficient and competitive economy This new strategy aims at ensuring this through: support of the socio-economic functions of forests for thriving rural areas and boosting forest-based bio-economy - and incl developing skills and empowering people for sustainable forest-based bioeconomy; Protecting, restoring and enlarging EU’s forests to combat climate change, reverse biodiversity loss and ensure resilient and multifunctional forest ecosystems; strategic forest monitoring; a strong research and innovation agenda; an inclusive and coherent EU forest governance framework. The increasing multifunctional role that forests will play in the transition to a sustainable and climate neutral future will require an increased skill-set , among others, experts in enhanced sustainable forest management practices, including adaptive re-and afforestation and restoration, architects, engineers and designers, food experts, data specialists, chemists, ecotourism facilitators. It is important to develop respective curricula, knowledge and skills. The Commission will Encourage forest and forestry stakeholders to establish a skills partnership under the Pact for Skills and make use of the European Social Fund Plus to work together to increase the number of upskilling and reskilling opportunities in forestry.