Green light for European Forest Convention
Bern, 15.06.2011 - Europe is to obtain a legally binding agreement on the protection and sustainable management of its forests. This was decided by the representatives of 46 European states at the ministerial conference in Oslo. Switzerland supports this decision.
The ministers with responsibility for forests have expressed their support for the initiation of negotiations on a legally binding forest convention for Europe. The decision was taken on 15 June 2011 on the occasion of the Forest Europe ministerial conference, a cooperative policy process involving 46 European states and the EU Commission (see box). A working group will draft a convention to be ready for signature by 2013.
A plus for Switzerland's forest policy
Switzerland supports the decision made in Oslo. The existence of a legally binding agreement on forests could make a significant contribution to the strengthening of its national resource policy in the area of forests and wood. Such an agreement will enable the alignment of forest management in Europe with that in Switzerland through the application of binding standards throughout Europe. It will also facilitate the development of trade regulations that will enable the promotion of the import and sale of sustainably produced forest goods. The challenges facing the forest, such as storm events, infestations by invasive plant species, insects and fungi, and forest fires, which are on the increase due to climate change, can also be managed better on a cross-border basis.
Room for reinforcement at global level
The challenges facing forests and the forestry sector are constantly increasing. Greater general demand for forest services (protection, harvesting, carbon sink, biodiversity, recreation), the poor profit situation of the forestry sector and new challenges, such as the effects of climate change, necessitate the adoption of new approaches and solutions, including at institutional level. An integrated approach is required to meet the wide-ranging needs of the complex forest ecosystem. A forest convention offers a great opportunity to "give the forest a voice", as Andreas Goetz, Leader of the Swiss Delegation, stressed in his address to the conference.
Switzerland has also been supporting the establishment of a forest convention at global level since the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. The proposed European convention could provide a model for a global forest convention.
BOX
Forest Europe
Forest Europe is a cooperative policy process involving 46 European states and the EU Commission. The main aims of its cooperation are the protection and management of European forests. Forest Europe was established in 1990 as the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE). At the time, the main focus of debate was forest decline. The relevant ministers have met regularly since then and they last met in Warsaw in 2007. In addition to economic issues, Forest Europe‘s current agenda also includes the development of joint strategies for dealing with challenges such as the adaptation of forests to climate change and the emerging increase in the demand for wood. The forest conference in Oslo will continue until 16 June 2011.
Address for enquiries
Andreas Goetz, Vice Director, Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, Tel. + 41 (0)79 475 64 78
Rolf Manser, Head of the Forest Division FOEN, Tel. + 41 (0)79 770 68 90
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
