CEPF put forests in the limelight of the biodiversity debate in a recent extensive conference - the Brussels Green Week 2010. Philipp Guttenberg, CEPF board member addressed a Green Week session, saying that sustainable forest management has rendered valuable results to the environment and society. He called for setting a European comprehensive, integrative and coherent strategy for the use of our natural resources.

Responsible management through generations has brought about an abundance of biodiversity in privately owned forests. Forest owners invest in the conservation of biodiversity with a view of ensuring the ecological balance in their forests, managing for the future. It is in the owners’ best interest to take good care of the forests, as healthy forests maintain growth and abundant biodiversity. The effects and even the recognition are, unfortunately, seldom rewarded.

The EU Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Janez Potočnik, brought up the EU2020 Strategy as a first big step taken by the Commission to the direction of a true shift of European economy into a sustainable one.
 
“It is driven by the desire to harness prosperity based on a knowledge based economy by using our diminishing resources better. Conserving energy, natural resources and raw materials, using them more efficiently and increasing productivity will be the crucial drivers of the future competitiveness of our economies” said Mr Potočnik in his welcome speech in the opening session of the Green Week.

This issue was also debated in a stakeholder session held on the 3rd of June, aimed for steering the debate on 2010 Green Paper on forest protection:
“ The current countless forest and forest related policies, be it on a global or especially on a European level, are insufficient to encompass all requirements for our resources and fail to offer a widely accepted path to meet future challenges” stated Mr. Guttenberg in his presentation on behalf on CEPF. He added: “On the EU level, the consolidation of conflicting interests in forest policy is needed more than ever”.

Forest owners’ attachment to the theme of the Green Week 2010 “Biodiversity - our lifeline” was a prime opportunity for us to be present in many ways. Our joint exhibit, together with EUSTAFOR, USSE and Nordic Family Forests, promoted forest owners’ achievements in addressing biodiversity through adaptive management practices. First and foremost it strengthened the common voice of forest owners in Brussels. Further political debate cannot happen without consulting the people with a direct connection to forests and biodiversity. 

Also special edition of the Parliament Magazine  (page 15 &75) - the most read publication by the MEPs and the European Commission – covered forests as key to maintaining biodiversity. An article on “Forest people” reveals that European forests and their owners are faced with a multitude of future challenges.
 
From 1st to 4th of June the Green Week 2010 gathered together more than 3000 participants. They debated issues of the current state of biodiversity and nature, EU policies on biodiversity and nature post-2010, the functioning of Natura 2000, and the growing pressures on ecosystems. A number of new Commission biodiversity initiatives were introduced, including BISE, a new website centralising information about biodiversity in Europe, the EU's new biodiversity baseline, and a new platform for business and biodiversity.

All these can be definitely seen as steps forward. However, in the end what really matters are people on the ground. Hopefully our presence at the Green Week will raise awareness about this issue among policy makers. In the words of Mr. Potočnik: “… our biodiversity will not be protected if we adopt another law or two”.

More information available at the Green Week webiste .