1. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 Forest Policy in Europe

2. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 1. Some figures about forest and wood in Europe: Total forest area (EU 25): 162 Mio. ha or 40 % of EU land area Productive forests: 87 Million ha 5 % of worlds forest, but provide 12 % of global felling of roundwood and 23 % of global industrial wood 15 Million private family forest owners 60 % of forest are (15 % in Greece, 83 % Austria) managed by families Small scale ownership: average size 5 ha FBI (EU 15) employs 2.7 Million people and has a turnover of 335 Billion € FBI (CEEC) employs 650.000 people and has a turnover of 20.6 Billion €

3. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 2. Characteristics of forest management in Europe Multifunctional forest management (balancing economic, social, ecological and cultural requirements High natural diversity (from Lappland to Crete) of stands; diverse cultures of management and cooperation; various traditions and experiences Generation contract Local ownership, contributing to economic and social sustainability of communities Nature oriented management (integration of nature conservation values) Only 1 % of EU forests undisturbed by man, but over 2/3 are seminatural 12 % protected areas Annual increase of wood and forest land

4. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 3. Forestry in EU Policy Forest + timber are not part of EU treaties (Rome treaty): no special EU competence over forestry ART 32/3 EG – treaty without wood Subsidiarity No market regulation for wood

5. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 4. Forestry in EU Policy Many regulations concerning forests and wood, but no coordination and no strong strategy in favour of wood: Council Regulation 3528/86: protection of forests against atmospheric pollution Council Regulation 1467/94: genetic ressources Directive 1999/105/EG: marketing of reproductive material Forest focus regulation (2002): monitoring of forests and environmental interactions Natura 2000 (FFH, Birds directive) EFICS: European Forestry Information and Communication System (1615/89), data collection about forest sector

6. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 EC 1257/99 Rural development Biodiversity strategy 1998 and Community Biodiversity Action Plan adopted Kyoto Protocol 1997 and 2001 European Climate Change Programme FLEGT Revision of the EU forestry strategy (1999/C56/01) in progress

7. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 5. Coordination and support needed Efforts to include forestry under Article 1-16 of the Draft Constitutional Treaty on “Areas for supporting, coordinating or complementary action” in 2003/2004 without success Concentration on the revision of the EU forest strategy

8. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 6. Our Partners at EU Level CEPF: specialised in forestry issues ELO: general ownership matters

9. Hauptverband der Land- und Forstwirtschaftsbetriebe Österreichs ELO 07.10.2004 7. Action in Brussels →Member in different Commission Advisory Commitées (forestry + corke, Rural Development, Climate Change) →Lobbying in EU institutions DG Agri, Environment, Enterprise, Trade Parliament →CEPF+CEPI+Cei Bois Working groups Natura 2000 Forum (ELO,CEPF,FACE, Fishers) →CEPF Working Group for Climate Change, Communication etc. →Close Cooperation between CEPF and the Certification System PEFC