The side events is organised by youth organisations (IFSA and 4H) in cooperation with UNESCO.

The primary goal of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) is to enrich forestry students´ formal education, especially in terms of a wider, more global perspective through extracurricular activities and the exchange of information and experience. Since IFSA became focal point of the major group Youth/Children (Agenda21) at the UNFF in Summer 2003 and is representing youth at the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD) and the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), IFSA offers a direct link to the international processes that are about to determinate the future management of our forests. Further the youth delegates of IFSA could significantly influence the UNFF process by lobbying for the inclusion of “education” as an important element of the strategy to implement sustainable forest management.

The 4H youth movement is an international organisation with over 80 4H youth educational organisations throughout the world. Each country has its own way of working with ideals, which are based on the principle of “learning by doing”. The Finnish 4H Federation is a counselling organisation teaching practical skills to young people. 4H has strong close-to-nature approach in hobbies and activities.