Public consultation launched to consider future EU forestry policy

A PUBLIC consultation about the future of forests and forestry policy in the European Union was launched yesterday.

A Green Paper adopted by the European Commission opened the debate, which will run until July 31.

It sets out options for an EU approach to the protection of forests and to information about forest resources and their condition.

Responses to the Green Paper from the public, member states, EU institutions and other stakeholders will guide the Commission on whether additional action is needed at EU level.

European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said Europe’s forests are a precious resource that must be protected against the harmful impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Their wide-range of social, economic and environmental functions means the stakes are high.

“We need to explore what value European action can add to national efforts to safeguard forests and maintain reliable, coherent and up-to-date information about them,” he said.

European Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, said ensuring that Europe’s forests can continue to perform all their functions is essential to EU climate strategy.

Forests and other wooded areas cover some 176 million hectares of the EU or more than 42% of the EU’s land area.