“State Forests in the context of EU Rural Development policy – lessons learned and outlook 2020” Piotr Borkowski Executive Director European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR) 30 September 2014, Zvolen, Slovak Republic

EUSTAFOR at a glance Established 2006 in Brussels Non-profit international organisation based on Belgian law Membership open to State Forest Management Organisations (SFMOs) from all European countries

EUSTAFOR in figures 28 members from 21 countries Total forest area ~46 Mha (28% of EU forest area) Protected forest area ~13 Mha Certified forest area ~28 Mha (PEFC, FSC) Annual increment ~155 Mm3 Annual harvest ~119 Mm3 Number of employees ~

Public forests in the EU – basic info Around 40 % of the forests is publicly owned Public ownership dominates in most of the eastern and south-eastern EU Member States The average size of public forest holding - more than 1000 ha (considerable differences among MS) based on data for 24 EU Member States

Public forests in the EU – basic info /2/ Publicly owned area decreased by a total of 2.9 % between 2000 and 2010 –Decrease in ten EU Member States: RO, Sl, LT, less in AT, FI, LV, EE and UK –In new MS due to the restitution of land to former owners, while other countries sold their public forest assets.

Source:EFI

Vision and Mission Vision: Voice of state owned forestry in Europe Mission: Support and strengthen member organisations in sustainable development of their forests and sharing know-how and experiences among its members

Objectives Represent state forests in EU and pan-European policy making Promote the common interest and specific features of state forestry Assist SFMOs in further advancing sustainable and responsible forest management (economic, social, cultural and ecological contexts)

Whom does EUSTAFOR represents? 2 categories of membership: –Voting (full) members –Associated members Membership requirements: –Practice management of state-owned forests at various levels of administration –Economic activities – part of business Variety of structures and legal setups

Policy challenges Ensure sustainability and multi-functionality of forest management –Economic effectiveness –Protection, conservation, development of forests –Growing societal demands – continuous provision of benefits Maintain integrity of the forest sector and of forest policy –at pan-European level - LBA –In the EU - new EU Forest Strategy –Integration and interaction with other policy areas (Climate change, bio-energy, biodiversity, plant health, etc.)

11 Is New EU Forest Strategy a solution? A holistic view of forests and all related policies, addressing whole value chain. Ensuring that forests play a positive socio-economic & environmental role in the EU: employment and rural development, added value products while delivering ecosystem services (…)

Objectives of RD improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector; improving the environment and the countryside; improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of the rural economy.

Forestry measures Axis 1: Improving and developing infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture and forestry Axis 2: First afforestration of agricultural land First establishment of agroforestry systems on agricultural land First afforestration of non-agricultural land Natura 2000 payments Forest environment payments Restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actions Support for non-productive investments

Long-term strategic objectives for RD in the In the Europe 2020 overall context fostering the competitiveness of agriculture ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources, and climate action achieving a balanced territorial development of rural economies and communities including the creation and maintenance of employment.

Six common EU priorities fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas enhancing the viability / competitiveness of all types of agriculture, and promoting innovative farm technologies and sustainable forest management promoting food chain organisation, animal welfare and risk management in agriculture; restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry; promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift toward a low- carbon and climate-resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors; promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas

Measures relevant for SF Art. 17 “Investments in physical assets” (i.e. forest roads); Art. 22 “Afforestation and creation of woodlands”; Art. 24 “Prevention and restoration of damage to forests from forest fires and natural disasters and catastrophic events”, Art. 25 “Investments improving the resilience and environmental value of forest ecosystems” Art. 34 “Forest-environmental and climate services and forest conservation”.

State forests in the context of RD policy Questionnaire to EUSTAFOR members: 11 replies out of 28 (Brand/DE, BW/DE, CZ, Scotland, PL, RO, IT, FI, HR, SI, FR) 4 organisations benefited from RD organisatios plan to use EU funds from the current perspective

Learning from the past experience measures implemented: –125 - Improving and developing infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture and forestry –226 - Restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actions –227 - Support for non-productive investments Budget – approx. 26,4 million EUR

Outlook 2020 Measures to be employed –Art. 24 “Prevention and restoration of damage to forests from forest fires and natural disasters and catastrophic events”, –Art. 25 “Investments improving the resilience and environmental value of forest ecosystems” Certain interest raised on –Art. 17 “Investments in physical assets” (i.e. forest roads), but not reported in the questionnaire Note a limitation included in Art. 22 p. 1 and Art. 34 p. 1, which states that for measures included in those articles and “In the case of state-owned land, support may only be granted if the body managing such land is a private body or a municipality.”

Conclusions State forests - not a major beneficiary of EU RD policy –Political decision at EU level –Other priorities in MS when programming RD RD support for SF – rather an issue in Eastern Europe then in the old Union No significant interest in SF Developed national schemes for support (along with State Aid rules)

Thank you Piotr Borkowski Executive Director European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR) European Forestry House Rue du Luxembourg Brussels Phone: Mobile: Fax: