21-009 -2013 - European forest owners highly welcome the new EU Forest Strategy CEPF very much welcomes the Commission's proposal for a new EU Forest Strategy, as published today.
See at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/forest/strategy/index_en.htm

"We are very delighted that after a long lasting process and the not-understandable blocking at highest level within the Commission, this dossier finally comes on the table. Considering the latest policy developments, moving rapidly forward with the new EU Forest Strategy becomes more relevant than ever. The increasing pressure on the forest sector from the energy, climate and environmental policies is not longer
acceptable, and requires a strong response. The new EU Forest Strategy, as now drafted by the Commission, will certainly help to provide this response and give further recognition to the forest sector at policy level", stated Aljoscha Requardt, CEPF Secretary General this morning.

The new EU Forest Strategy communicates a coherent and holistic approach on forest management and forest-related policies in times when forests and the forest-based sector face more expectations than ever. It is expected that the new Strategy will help to better coordinate and ensure coherence and synergies with other sectorial policies, which clearly influence forest management, like climate change, renewable energy, biodiversity, resource efficiency or the green economy.

As stated in the guiding principles and 2020 objectives, the new Strategy clearly emphasizes the concepts of sustainable and multifunctional forest management, paving the way for a better promotion of these acknowledged principles. Furthermore, it clearly acknowledges the contribution of forests and the forest sector to rural development, growth and job creation. Forestry and the whole forest based value chain are recognised to be competitive and viable contributors to the bio-based
economy. Therefore CEPF believes that the new EU Forest Strategy will serve as a clear reference when making forest-related policy decisions at EU level in future.

Although CEPF regards the Commission proposal for the new EU Forest Strategy as very positive, there are a few points in the draft which need further considerations, like the enforced consideration of biodiversity aspects in forest management plans, or the emphasized cascading use principle.

CEPF will continue to follow this process closely and will support the EU
institutions in the next coming steps to get this important dossier adopted as soon as possible.