1 / 13

1957

Forest Action Plan and EU Forestry Strategy after 2011 Hilkka Summa European Commission DG Agriculture and Rural Development. The EU has no specific competence in forestry - “Forest policy” is in the competence of the Member - many forest related policies in shared competence

nuala
Download Presentation

1957

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Forest Action Plan and EU Forestry Strategy after 2011 Hilkka SummaEuropean CommissionDG Agriculture and Rural Development

  2. The EU has no specific competence in forestry - “Forest policy” is in the competence of the Member - many forest related policies in shared competence • Council Resolution on a Forestry Strategy for the European Union (1998) Establishes a framework for forest-related actions in support of sustainable forest Management • Court of justice (1999): forest protection based on Art. 175 of the Treaty

  3. Forestry Action Programme Afforestation Forest protection; SFC EU ForestryStrategy 1957 1989 1992 1998 2006 EUForestActionPlan Treaties on the European Community: No specific approach to forests or forestry New forest protection regulations; Strengthened forestry measures in agriculture

  4. EU Forestry Strategy Overall principles • Sustainable forest management (SFM) • Multifunctional role of forests Key elements • EU-level actions based on subsidiarity • Implementation of international commitments through national forest programmes • Commercial functions to be guided by market forces • The need to improve co-ordination and cooperation on forest-related issues • Role of biodiversity, protection of forest ecosystems • Forests as carbon sinks; encouragement of the use of wood • Common measures affecting forests to be in line with the aims and recommendations of the strategy

  5. Communication on the implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy (2005): • Basic principles and elements still valid • Newly emerging policy context to be • considered • Economic challenges for SFM: globalisation and increased societal demands • Need to strengthen coherence between EU policies and co-ordination between the Commission and the MS • Need to review and strengthen consultative structures in forestry • Global importance of forests for sustainable development • More coherent and pro-active approach needed • => The Council encouraged setting up an EU Forest Action Plan

  6. EU Forest Action Plan (FAP) – 2006 Four objectives: • Competitiveness • Maintain and enhance biodiversity • Contribute to quality of life • Improve coordination • Developed in co-operation between MS, stakeholders and the Commission • 18 key actions for the period 2007-2011 • Implementation by the Commission and the MS, coordinated by the Standing Forestry Committee • Mid-term review of implementation in 2009 • Final evaluation and report to the Council and the European Parliament by end 2012

  7. Mid-term evaluation of the FAP • Carried out by EFI • Some key findings: • Implementation has been efficient • multi-annual Work Programme 2007-2011 • prioritizations • However questions about impact and visibility • only two years of implementation – difficult to show effects • impact on measures and initiatives at EU and national level questionnable • reach-out to other sectors could be better • The EU FAP is on track: it does contribute to a more coordinated approach for forest-related actions in the EU • e.g.structured information flow and regular communication through the work of SFC, AGFC, ISG

  8. Challenges of the voluntary approach to forest policy • EU level involvement in forest policy is currently based on instruments for voluntary co-operation • Challenges: • FAP not widely known outside the forest administrations; potential for leverage to other sectors not fully utilised • National or sub-national measures do not connect with the EU FAP • No systematic reporting of MS activities on internal or international commitments • The need for a coherent and proactive approach to the forest sector has not changed • The Strategy and the FAP are “soft” instruments – what can be achieved depends on the interests, position and activity of forest administrations

  9. Future of the voluntary instruments? • Update of the EU Forestry Strategy? • New FAP post 2011? • Mid term evaluation of the FAP: • Discussions on follow up should be started • SFC Work programme for the implementation of the FAP 2010/2011 • Need for a Working Group of the Standing Forestry Committee on the future of the strategy and the FAP(-> end 2010 / beginning 2011) • White Paper on Adaptation to climate change (April 2009): • Need to update the EU forestry strategy on climate related aspects

  10. Future of the EU Forestry Strategy? • Depends on a number of parallel discussions: • Follow-up to be given to the Green Paper on Forest protection and information: results of public consultation and response of the EP expected this autumn • LULUCF accounting methods and possible integration into EU climate commitments • Initiative for a Legally Binding Agreement on forests (LBA) on the Pan–European level (MCPFE/Forest Europe) • Basic principles and elements continue to prevail: - SFM and multifunctional role of forests still the „common denominator“ - new challenges not well covered by existing instruments? • - what are the best instruments to ensure implementation??

  11. Three scenarios: • Green Paper followed by EU legislation on forest protection and/or information • Separate Forestry Strategy and/or action plan superfluous • Harmonised implementation, strong coordination • Balance would tip from SFM to protection? • Legislation delayed/opposed – renewed voluntary instruments: =>New strategy and voluntary commitments (“OMC”) =>Weaker impact/harmonisation =>Easier to accomodate varying interests and objectives • Both tracks in parallel =>Need to differentiate between purposes =>Administrative burden =>Risk of polarisation of competent bodies

  12. Documents • Council Resolution of 15.12.1998 on a forestry strategy for the European Union (1999/C 56/01) • Communication on the implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy, COM(2005) 84 final • EU Forest Action Plan, COM(2006) 302 final • White Paper Adapting to climate change: Towards a European Framework for Action, COM(2009)147 final Forest strategy-related information http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/fore/index_en.htm

  13. Thank you for your attention

More Related