In a statement dated Wednesday, 17 March, Austria and other countries say they are “very concerned” by the way the various initiatives coming out of the ‘European Green Deal’ address forest-related issues.
In this text, which will be presented to the ‘Agriculture’ Council on 22 and 23 March, these delegations (from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia) wish to contribute to the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy.
Yet, these countries have not found sufficient reference to the multiple functions of forests in the European Commission’s proposals, “leading to imbalances within the three pillars of sustainability” (environmental, economic, and social).
Focusing exclusively on increasing carbon sequestration and on short-term aspects of biodiversity conservation and restoration “is not enough” in their opinion.
The other functions of forests must be taken into account, in addition to the importance of sustainable forest management, which can enhance long-term resilience ([to] fire, pests, and diseases).
Furthermore, the European Commission is urged to recognise the variety of European forests and the sector’s contribution to biodiversity and climate change targets as well as the complexity of ownership rights in the EU.
Forest-related initiatives at the EU level “must respect the principle of subsidiarity as well as the Member States’ competences in this field”, the statement reiterates.
Read the statement: https://bit.ly/3tx7Lzz (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)