| Author (Person) | de Galembert, Bernard |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.26, 10.7.03, p15 |
| Publication Date | 10/07/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 10/07/03 By Bernard de Galembert IN MOST European countries, forests are submitted to strict legislation, which consider their multi-functionality and guide their management. Sustainable management is often incorporated into these national forest laws. Wood is a fantastic renewable raw material used to produce construction materials, furniture and packaging, as well as to support culture and education (books, newspapers), heat and power. Besides these hi-tech aspects and its technological flexibility, wood is synonymous with warmth and comfort, and contributes to human welfare. Today, the amount of wood harvested and used in Europe represents approximately two-thirds of the annual increment in forests - meaning that the amount of wood in forests is constantly growing. In other words, there is no deforestation in Europe. At present there is no comprehensive European forest framework, as there is no direct reference to forestry in any of the EU treaties. There are, however, hundreds of measures, policies and instruments that affect the forest-based sector. International conventions influence the way forests are managed across the world. Similarly, EU regulations and directives, such as the Habitats Directive, have an indirect impact on forestry issues. EU enlargement will increase the Union's forest surface by 34 million hectares, and the number of forest-related jobs by more than one million, adding some four million new forest-owners. EU paper and board capacity will increase by some 6-7%. Also, the number of small and medium-sized wood-based enterprises will dramatically increase. Thus, we need a more visible and consistent framework for these issues. The absence of a comprehensive EU forestry framework can lead to contradictory measures. For example, promoting the use of biomass to produce energy detracts wood from being used as a raw material to produce carbon-storing goods, such as paper and board, which might well increase the felling rate in forests. At the same time, conservation policies aim to set aside more land for fauna and flora protection. A soon-to-be-released report on A Forestry Strategy for the European Union should, therefore, identify existing gaps and suggest ways to overcome them. Clarifying the roles of the European institutions and giving the subsidiarity principle its full application will ensure a more balanced handling of forest-related issues.
The lack of a comprehensive European Union forestry framework can lead to contradictory measures and a forthcoming report, 'A forestry strategy for the European Union', should, therefore, identify existing gaps and suggest ways to overcome then. The author is Forest Director at the Confederation of European Paper industries. |
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