Europe’s forests can combat climate change

15 June - APA OTS - FOREST EUROPE report reveals trends in sustainable management and challenges ahead

Oslo, 15 June 2011 - APA OTS - Europe, the most forest-rich region in the world, represents 25% of our global forest resources. Europe‘s expanding forests have a huge potential to mitigate climate change. They provide renewable materials wood and energy, and foster a green economy. Sustainable forest management practices increasingly promote conservation of biodiversity. But, diseases, extreme weather conditions (e.g. storms), and fires also threaten forests. These main results derive from the report on the State of Europe‘s Forests 2011, which has been launched today in Oslo, Norway. The launch takes place on the occasion of the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (14 – 16 June 2011). At the conference, ministers responsible for forests, as well as high-level representatives from 46 countries and the European Union meet to take decisions aimed at preserving forests and safeguarding their environmental, societal and economic benefits for present and future generations.

The State of Europe‘s Forests 2011 report aims at providing decision makers and the broad public with up-to-date, comprehensive and fact-based information on the status and trends in forests and sustainable forest management in Europe in the period 1990-2010. The report has been jointly prepared by FOREST EUROPE, UNECE and FAO.

The FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference, under Norwegian chairmanship, is the sixth in a row since the ministerial collaboration started in Strasbourg in 1990. Much progress has been made in finding a common policy voice and appropriate action to recognise Europe’s forests as a vital shared resource - not only among the signatory countries but also as a global resource.

For further information, please contact:

FOREST EUROPE

Liaison Unit Oslo

Kristin Dawes

Mobile: + 47 941 49 351

Email: kristin.dawes@foresteurope.org

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