Ministers of the Nordic countries want to improve forests and thereby to strengthen local communities
The Nordic ministers responsible for forestry met on 29th – 30th August with politicians and experts in N?debo in Denmark. The subject of the meeting was the value of forests for local communities.

The Ministers agreed on the following:
Improving on local level the dialogue concerning forests between citizens, authorities, forest owners, enterprises and organizations.
Promoting the use of wood by means of research, product development, marketing and information about wood as an environment friendly material.
Improving forest owners’ and processing industry’s profit making opportunities by identifying and removing unnecessary obstacles and provisions.
Promoting forest management and the use of wooden materials in order to improve the environment, inter alia by using bio-energy, by forest planting, by sustainable forestry, by protection of ground water and by improving the biodiversity in forests.
Strengthening connections between the local value of forests and the municipalities’ opportunities to exploit these values for the benefit of citizens.
Promoting the creation of added value by means of improved Nordic co-operation in research and by involving forestry interest groups
Forests in the Nordic countries
There are more than 65 million hectares of forest in the Nordic countries. Over 150 million m3 of wood are felled annually. Both forest area and wood production are increasing. Forest owners have an important role to play in this added value creation process. Forests constitute and important and valuable basis for rural habitation.
Wood from forests
Increased use of wood can strengthen local economies, both by generating revenue and by creating jobs. Forests give wood for furniture, houses and paper. Increased value added and the manufacture of more valuable products create a large potential for growth in these sectors. Production of bio-energy is another significant growth industry that is of great importance for both the environment and for business.
Outdoor activities in the forest
Forests constitutes the most important free environment for outdoor activities, physical exercise, public health and welfare. Forests also constitute the basis for creating new jobs and generating new revenue by offering adventures and increasing tourism.
Forest nature
Forests are of great importance for ensuring biodiversity, for securing ground water and for limiting climatic changes. Forest ecosystems have been threatened in some areas in the Nordic countries. In these cases re-planting for the rehabilitation of degenerated areas is an important objective.
Local aspects are important for international forestry policy
On this basis the Ministers emphasized the great local value of forests. On international level forestry is the subject of intensive debate, but in order to achieve popular recognition and implementation of forest policy links must be created to local shop floor level.
Equilibrium must be maintained between economic exploitation, adventure tourism, outdoor activities and the environment. Serious commitment on all levels is a precondition for maintaining this equilibrium.
The potential of forests must be improved in connection with the development of rural districts, villages and enterprises. The means to achieve this objective are information and education activities on local level. A precondition is good co-operation between citizens, authorities, forest owners, business and organizations.