Brussels, 23/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - Ministers for agriculture from EU Member States have welcomed the EU's five year action plan in favour of forests (2007-11), presented on 15 June by the European Commission (EUROPE 9213). In its conclusions adopted on Tuesday 24 October in Luxembourg, Member States called on the European Commission to launch a series of actions to support forests' multifunctional role, to reinforce sustainable forest management and help the EU respect international level commitments on eco-systems.
The Commission and Member States are invited to ensure the balanced implementation of key actions in the EU plan for forests and respect coherency and synergy with other Community initiatives in the areas of biomass, trade, biological diversity, rural development, the 7th framework programme for research and industrial competitiveness in the wood sector (a communication is expected on this theme soon).
According to Member States, specific attention should be agreed on the following measures included in the action plan: increasing funding for research and innovation in the forest sector (7th framework programme) implementation of the technological platform for the forest sector; continuing studies on how to pay for or market non-wood forest service products; optimum use of forests in the fight against climate change, notably for honouring EU commitments in the context of international agreements (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol); working to attain the EU's objectives on biodiversity; promotion of wood as a primary renewable resource; continue the development of forest biomass and wood residues for energy production; optimum use of forests in the fight against desertification, preservation of water resources and soil protection; improve the quality of life in urban zones; continue the elaboration of a European forest monitoring system; continue efforts to fight the illicit trafficking in wood and illegal use of forests; exchange ideas and experiences on criteria applicable to national public procurement in the acquisition of wood.
Member States support the idea of appointing forestry policy coordinators in the relevant Commission services and call on the Commission to strengthen the Permanent Forestry Committee's role by conferring it with the coordinating role in implementing the EU's action plan, including forest monitoring.
To facilitate implementation of action from the plan, the Council is committed to better use of rural development programme aid for 2007-13 (deforestation, tree planting and agro-forestry), to take full advantage of the new environmental financial instrument “LIFE+” (particularly for improving forest monitoring and protection) and exploiting the wide range of possibilities other Community instruments offer (7th framework programme, European regional development funds, Intelligent Energy programme etc). Conclusions also call on Member States to integrate certain key actions from the action plan into their national and regional strategies and support cooperation with forest owners and their associations. (lc)