Forestry is lagging behind for financial support when it comes to European funds, especially those with an environmental profile. Mr. Ladislav Miko from DG Environment called forest owners to make the most of the policy process launched by the Green Paper on Forest Protection and Information.

Mr. Ladislav Miko, Director in the European Commission DG Environment joined the CEPF seminar organized in conjunction to the General Assembly 2010 in Czech Republic. The seminar opened the forest owners’ discussion, seeking answers to questions raised by the Green Paper on Forest Protection. Mr. Miko’s remarks touched upon the core of the Commission process. Forests and forestry are an important part of EU climate change adaptation agenda. This may require establishing an EU framework for action in order to enable addressing the issues at EU level. Biodiversity and the provision of public goods such as water supply have a strong link to forestry as well. These benefits should be manageable and reflect their inherent respective economic values.

Mr. Miko agreed that forestry is lagging behind on financial support from European funds, especially those available with an environmental profile. The issues of financing should be addressed properly. For this, credible information and monitoring are needed. 

The Green Paper reflects on the state of EU forests, their functions and possible impacts on ecosystem stability imposed by climate change. Water stress, increased severe storms and insect outbreaks damages as well as changes in the nutrient balance often require actions across borders. With the Green book the Commission analysed tools available for forest protection and asked if those are sufficient, and adequate to current and future challenges.

The main purpose of the Green Paper was to raise the question on what could or should the EU do? Which issues are useful or necessary to be tackled at a EU level? Mr. Miko encouraged this approach when seeking for answers from the Green Paper. He concluded by strongly encouraging the forest owners to get involved and to provide input to the ongoing public consultation as the best way to influence a potential further development.

The outcome of the seminar will feed into the forest owners’ contribution to a public consultation on the Green book on forests.

Please consult also the CEPF position on the Green Paper on forest protection and information >>>

Further information, Morten Thorøe at morten.thoroe@cepf-eu.org