Fern's official mission statement is "To increase understanding of, and access to, European policy making; and to campaign for policies and practices in Europe that focus on forests and forest peoples’ rights and deliver economic, environmental and social justice globally.”[2] Fern's origin lies in the World Rainforest Movement meeting in Penang in 1989.

[6] At this meeting Southern participants decided they needed closer co-operation with a network of like-minded European organisations to further their objectives.

To achieve its aims, Fern produces original research in briefings and reports; it builds NGO coalitions with its partners and affected peoples in the global South and Europe, and campaigns collaboratively with them; it raises awareness among decision-makers and proposes specific policy changes to tackle the threats facing the world's forests.

[2] Fern also plays a coordinating role in building networks and alliances among NGOs, a prime example being the annual Forest Movement Europe (FME) meeting which it organises.

[14] Fern’s sustainable supply chains campaign focuses on the biggest cause of deforestation globally: agriculture.

[16] Fern campaigns to end EU imports of commodities - such as soy, palm oil and cocoa - grown on (often) illegally deforested land.

Fern also works to reduce European meat consumption by leveraging the EU Sustainable Food System Framework.

[24][25] The meat industry is responsible for a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and contributes substantially to deforestation, water scarcity and biodiversity loss.

This Action Plan - if implemented properly - will create a leverage point to get customary rights accepted as 'legal' in countries including Indonesia (which is already exporting FLEGT timber), Ghana, Cameroon, Vietnam and Guyana: the lack of recognition of these rights are among the most significant obstacles to poverty alleviation, justice and even democracy.

In order to ensure its independence and impartiality, Fern has committed to not directly participate in the selection, award or administration of a contract when a real or apparent conflict of interest may be involved.