Opening the Conference, Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President responsible for the European Green Deal, highlighted the need to create the best balance on forest-related topics at European level. In this, he mentioned that “a Strategy on forestry is essential” as “if done right”, it would be “the best opportunity to improve biodiversity, the most natural and affordable carbon sink and an economic opportunity”.
Over the two-day conference various topics were put forward in panel discussions - from the EU’s responsibility towards the protection of world’s forest, forest adaptation and mitigation to climate change to passing by management practices to enhance forest biodiversity.
CEPF President, Hubert de Schorlemer, highlighting the commitments of "the people behind the forest"
CEPF President, Hubert de Schorlemer, represented European Forest Owners in the last panel discussion on the 3rd of February titled “Forest management practices and funding that promote high biodiversity-value ecosystems”. In the company of Pierre Bascou, Director for direct support, Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission, Jørgen Bo Larsen, Professor emeritus, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Eckart Senitza, President Pro Silva (Europa), Reinhardt Neft, President of European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR) and Hannah Mowat, Campaigns Coordinator, Fern, the panelists exchanged on what does sustainable forest management imply in practice and how to enhance forest biodiversity in Europe.
During the discussion, Mr de Schorlemer reminded of the crucial role of “the people behind the forest” and the challenges that small-scale forest owners are facing with climate change induced-threat in parallel to the growing societal expectations.
The Conference also provided the opportunity to officially launch the Forest Information System for Europe (FISE), as foreseen in the 2013’s EU Forest Strategy. We invite you to read more about FISE’s long-term aim to serve as a hub for data and information on forests and forestry in Europe in CEPF recent reporting.
The presentations given during the conference are available for downloading here.
