Statement by Fülöp Benedek State Secretary, Chairman of the Hungarian National FAO Committee  Ministerial Meeting on Forests
Rome, Italy,14 March 2005
   
    Mr. Chairman,
    Mr. Director General,
    Distinguished Guests,
    Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to greet, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Hungary the ministers, delegates and guests attending the Ministerial Meeting on Forests.
We are pleased to discuss the topics of the Ministerial Meeting. Of these issues, the question of sustainable forest management has regularly attracted increased focus in the past years at high level forestry meetings, such as the UN Forum on Forests and the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. The principle of sustainable forest management is of current relevance because it comprises a part of the seventh special development target of the UN, defined at the turn of the century, related to ensuring a sustainable environment.
Please allow me to touch on some of the results achieved in Hungary with regard to the two special topics of the conference. The international forums and campaigns organized and implemented by the FAO provided guidance and greatly contributed to our success.
The notion of sustainable forest management has been known to foresters for some time. Such sustainability, however, was primarily shifted into the context of wood yields, reflecting social attitudes not dating back further than several decades. In 1992, the UN Conference on Environment and Development declared the term of sustainability, supporting foresters in promoting the forests’ contribution to human welfare and the long-term conservation of wide ranging services offered by forest communities to society.
The approval of the national forest program in October of 2004 represents an important stage in this process, whereby the Hungarian Government has undertaken the commitment of implementing the 10-year forest concept. We greatly appreciate the invaluable assistance and guidance provided by international forums promoted by the FAO for the elaboration of the national forest program.
As a country with a transition economy, the promotion of the awareness of citizens acquiring forests through privatization, the development of private forest management is an important responsibility. Considering the major changes affecting the range of forest managers, in order to provide for the protection of forest property, uphold the framework and conditions of sustainable forest management, planning encompassing the whole forest areas and official monitoring is essential.
The gradual increase in forest areas in Hungary is warranted by the low rate of forest areas on a European scale (20%) and changes affecting agricultural management and rural development in the past decades. In the past 50 years, forest areas have been expanded by fifty percent. The forestization program, implemented exclusively with domestic funds in the past and with EU funds from 2004, sets the target of increasing the rate of forested areas to 26% in 35-50 years.
The listed results are examples of Hungary’s efforts in implementing the proposals and resolutions of international forestry forums promoted by the FAO. The FAO has always actively initiated and drafted proposals for establishing international forums for resolving and synthesizing national level problems, not only promoting forestry but civil affairs in general, as well. Beyond the conservation of national traditions in forest management, the international exchange of experience, the signing of agreements, including obligations with legal implications, if necessary, is of growing significance. This trend does not correspond to globalization in general, but signifies the joint safeguarding of our universal values, the more rational use of resources and the promotion and handover of “good practice”. On the basis of these considerations, I wish to confirm Hungary’s support for international forestry forums, and it is ready to participate in international programs related to the protection against forest fires and sustainable forest management. 
   
    Mr. Chairman, thank you for your attention.