The conference took place in the Intercontinental Hotel Vienna where the participants were welcomed by the conference organisers: Land & Forst Betriebe Österreich, Landwirtschaftskammer Österreich (LKÖ) and Waldverband Österreich. Austrian Federal Minister Elisabeth Köstinger, greeted the participants via a video message. Natalie Hufnagl-Jovy from the Federation of German Forest Owner Associations (AGDW) presented the historical development of the EU Forest Strategy in retrospective and Oana Neagu from Copa-Cogeca presented the main outcomes of the EU Forest Strategy for 2030. Austrian MEPs Simone Schmiedtbauer and Alexander Bernhuber gave statements that supported forest owners’ and managers’ views on the new strategy. CEPF President, Sven Erik Hammar and five other representatives from EU-level forest organisations who supported the event, presented a joint position of European forest owners and managers on the strategy.
As a result of the conference, participants signed a joint declaration addressed to the European Commission. The “Vienna Declaration” calls the Commission for clarifications and explanations with regard to the implementation of the strategy. It presents key points to be duly considered by the Commission as a precondition for the implementation of the strategy, such as acknowledging the key role of sustainable forest management, acknowledging the achievements and expertise of forest owners and managers, presenting proper financial tools and respecting competencies.
On the next day, on 5 October 2021, six ministers responsible for forests from Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Slovakia and Sweden held an informal meeting in Vienna to discuss European forest policy. In the joint statement published after the meeting the forest ministers conclude that:
- The definition of sustainable forest management should continue to be based on what has been outlined in the FOREST EUROPE process.
- The forest sector’s expertise and knowledge in different European countries should be duly recognised when making decisions concerning forests.
- Cooperation, coordination and joint activities between Member States of the EU, the European Commission as well as other important partners in the pan-European region on forest policy related matters is needed.
