Photo: Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash
The event opened with a panel with interventions from João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Portuguese Minister for the Environment and Climate Action, Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Luc Bas, Director of IUCN European Regional Office, and Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director General, DG Environment, EU Commission. The sense of urgency to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change was clear throughout, with restoration of forests acknowledged as one crucial tool by all speakers.
The discussions were then followed by an open dialogue between Ester Asin, Director of WWF European Policy Office and Fanny Pomme Langue, Secretary General of the Confederation of European Forest Owners. Both speakers agreed on the importance of forests for both people and planet and for stakeholder engagement and governance structures. Another number of issues were raised, such as the strict protection of old-growth and primary forests, the upcoming legally-binding restoration targets, the voluntary or compulsory character of commitments, the need to support or compensate users and owners and the necessary steps the EU must take to protect and restore Europe’s forests. The lively debate concluded with a clear message: there is a strong need for continued dialogue between the different stakeholders. IUCN, given its membership of forests organisations, civil society and governments, is willing to help with this dialogue.
Three case studies from Portugal, Estonia and Finland then took the floor, proving that sustainable management of forests can be beneficial to people, climate and biodiversity.
- Conceição Santos Silva, R&D + i Coordinator at UNAC – Mediterranean Forest Union, Portugal
- Kaupo Kohv, Head of Nature Conservation Department of RMK (State Forest Management Centre), Estonia
- Markus Nissinen, Environmental Advisor at Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), Finland
ENDS
Contact:
Edel Shanahan
Edel.shanahan@iucn.org
Policy and Communications Officer
