EU Forest policies
In the European Union the formulation of forest policies
is the competence of the Member States within a clearly
defined framework of established ownership rights and with
a long history of national and regional laws and regulations
based on long term planning. Although the Treaties for the
European Union make no provision for a common forest policy,
there is a long history of EU measures supporting certain
forest-related activities, coordinated with Member States
mainly through the Standing Forestry Committee.
However forests are
affected by a broad array of Community policies and initiatives
arising from diverse EU sectoral policies. For several decades
now, environmental forest functions have attracted increasing
attention mainly in relation to the protection of biodiversity
and, more recently, in the context of climate change impacts
and policies. In public perception, apart from the traditional
production of wood and other forest products, forests are
increasingly valued for their role as public amenities, biodiversity
reservoirs, regulators of climate and local weather, sources
of clean water, protection against natural disasters and renewable
energy sources.
The EU Forestry Strategy adopted in 1998 puts forward
as its overall principles the application of sustainable forest
management and the multifunctional role of forests.
The Strategy was reviewed in 2005, and the Commission will
present a proposal for an EU Action Plan on Forestry in mid
2006.
Forest Policy in the European Union
| 1995 |
The Thomas Report of the environmental committee of the
European Parliament gave a series of recommendations for
the development of an European Union (EU) Forest Policy. |
| 1998 |
The European Commission presented a Communication
on a Forestry Strategy for the EU
The EU Council adopted a Resolution
on a Forestry Strategy for the EU. This document
is considered to be the basic political charter for Community
involvement in forest issues. |
| 2005 |
The Commission has presented to the Council and the
European Parliament a Communication reporting on the implementation
of the EU Forestry Strategy accompanied by a detailed Staff
Working Document. |
The brochure "Sustainable
Forestry and the European Union" (pdf 5MB)
 |
gives a comprehensive overview of the
Community involvement in forests and forestry. It was
prepared for the 2003 World Forestry Congress in Quebec,
Canada. |
Feasibility study on means of combating forest dieback in the European Union
In 2006, the European Parliament asked the Commission to carry out a study "on the main causes of forest dieback in the European Union, with particular reference to fires and atmospheric pollution, and of possible ways of reducing their occurrence".
Following an open call for tender, the Commission selected a consortium of the Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products and the European Forest Institute to carry out the study. The results are presented in the following documents:
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