A new UEF position paper about midterm-review of EU forest strategy

Thursday, June 20 , 2019 4304

Union of European Foresters (UEF) is seriously concerned about the future of European Forests.

On June 15 professional forest managers from all over Europe met in Maienfeld (Switzerland) and in the name of 25 foresters association from 21 European countries the XXII Governing Council Meeting of Union of European Foresters adopted the attached position paper "Midterm-review of the EU Forest Strategy shows urgent need of coherence and coordination!"

On the one hand the need for a better coordination and coherence in European Forestry politics in times of climate change is stressed once again.

On the other hand an adequate compensation for forest owners and sufficient resources for a balanced forest management protecting forests ecosystems against climate change is needed.

Today it remains unclear who should pay for the damage caused to the forest ecosystems and the additional forest management efforts needed to mitigate climate change.

In European legal systems, the polluter pays principle applies and climate change is undeniably caused by society as a whole and not by forest owners and managers.
During the great financial crisis a few years ago, millions of euros flowed from tax credits to banking institutions, as these had been systemically important. Of course an expensive rescue package had to be created to keep the system going.

Are European forest ecosystems less relevant for the system than dubious banks or cheating car industry?

On behalf of the European professional forest managers,

Michael Diemer

President of Union of European Foresters