Forests and Water
Recognising the close interrelation between forests and water.
Concerned that there is a growing imbalance between freshwater supply and demand.

Aware of the need to ensure adequate water quality and quantity.
Stressing the need for adequate water conditions in order to sustain
European society.
Emphasising the role of forests and forest management for biodiversity of water ecosystems.
Concerned that climate change will have severe effects on the frequency, scale and intensity of natural hazards such as floods, debris flow, avalanches, storms, and droughts and will have an impact on forest and water resources and their management.
Stressing the role of forests and forest management in protecting water quality, managing water resources for the quantity of all waters, flood alleviation, combating desertification and soil protection as well as the importance of mountain forests in the reduction of land slides, erosion and effects of avalanches.
Concerned that the frequency and size of forest fires is increasing and that fires occur more frequently, even at higher latitudes and altitudes, resulting in severe impacts on watersheds, water quality, quantity and soil erosion.
Emphasising that the full economic value of forests has to be dequately recognised and in particular the value of providing ecosystem services.
Recognising that forest owners have rights and responsibilities and noting the importance of prior consultations regarding the provision of water-related services.
Stressing the need to involve local communities and other relevant
stakeholders in planning and implementation of water related forest policies.
Building on previous MCPFE commitments and recognising the ongoing
work in the area of forests and water carried out by international
conventions, organizations and processes.
The Signatory States and the European Community, commit themselves to:

I. Sustainable management of forests in relation to water
maintain and enhance the protective functions of forests for water and soil, as well as for mitigating local water-related natural disasters through sustainable forest management, including through public and private partnerships, promote the restoration of degraded forests, particularly in floodplains and upper watershed areas for the benefit of the water environment, flood reduction, conservation of biodiversity and soil protection,

II. Coordinating policies on forests and water  assess afforestation and reforestation programmes in terms of their effects on quality and quantity of water resources, flood alleviation and soil, develop and improve policies for forest and water resources management that contribute to the maintenance of ecosystems and the sustainable
provision of their services, coordinate forest and water resources management policies through national forest programmes or equivalents and integrated water resources management plans and strategies at the appropriate levels, develop adequate or improve the existing institutional arrangements to better cooperate in addressing the interrelation between forest and water issues, address the management of forests and water at the transboundary watershed level through enhanced international cooperation, enhance education, training, research and extension services to promote knowledge and understanding of forest and water interactions, increase awareness of the relationship between forests and water as well as the potential of forests and their sustainable management to improve the water environment,

III. Forests, water and climate change
develop a deeper understanding of the potential consequences of climate change on forest and water interactions, including esertification and biodiversity loss as well as the frequency, scale and intensity of floods, storms, droughts, forest fires, pests and diseases,
develop appropriate policies and strategies for managing forests and water resources sustainably to adapt to climate change and contribute to its mitigation,

IV. Economic valuation of water-related forest services
assess the economic value of forest services related to quality and quantity of water resources and flood alleviation from which society benefits, incorporate the economic valuation of water-related forest services into relevant policies and strategies on forests and water,
facilitate the development and implementation of measures, which may include economic tools such as payments for ecosystem services (PES)
in order to broaden and diversify the financial basis for sustainable forest management and to maintain the protective functions of forests. payments for ecosystem services (PES) – contractual transactions between buyers and sellers for ecosystem services or land use/management practices likely to secure those services. In:
“Recommendations on payments for ecosystem services in Integrated Water Resources Management”, UNECE Water Convention, 2006.