Jun 4, 2013

The stakeholders meeting on the legally binding agreement on forests in Europe was held on the 23^rd May 2013 in Brussels.

The meeting, attended by 27 people, was jointly organized by CEPF (Confederation of European Forests Owners), EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) and FOREST EUROPE.

 

Ms.Dilyana Slavova, Chair of the Specialised Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment EESC, and Aljoscha Requardt, CEPF, opened the meeting remarking the integrated approach of forest management and the multifunctionality of forests.  Jan Heino, the Chair of the Committee, provided information about the on-going negotiations, and there were discussions on the key issues of the LBA for the work of civil society groups and stakeholders and the participation of stakeholders’ in the future LBA.

 

The stakeholders pointed out the complexity of the forest sector and related policies, and that the LBA could give a reference for its actions, improve the visibility of SFM in other sectors, and assure that all the interests are taken into account. They emphasized the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) concept as the basis of the process and the Criteria as the milestones, concepts that came from a long-term process, more than 20 years back, so it have been easier to achieve so a short negotiations. It was stated that environmental NGO’s are observing the process and raising different points. Also some stakeholder participation possibilities were raised for the future of the LBA mainly along with the UN organizative structure.

 

For more information: http://www.cepf-eu.org/