25/11/2016 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission will shortly open a public consultation on the forestry measures contained in rural development programmes, Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan announced in a debate with several European Parliament committees in Strasbourg on 21 November. Hogan pointed out that €8.2 billion in rural development funding had been allocated to the timber sector for the period from 2014 to 2020: - €2.2 billion for reforesting measures; €1.5 billion for investment to improve forest ecosystems; - €1.5 billion to prevent damage to forests;- €1.5 to improve forestry techniques (marketing, wood processing, etc.); and €1.5 billion for advice and information. (LC)