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NGO Statements

The new Forest Strategy

October 1, 2011

The EU Forestry Strategy, adopted in 1998, acted as a response to concerns about the lack of coherence and coordination between national forest policies and other forest related EU policies. Though the non-legally binding Forestry Strategy represents the first significant attempt to create an EU-wide framework for forests, its development and implementation left much to be desired.
We have new challenges ahead of us, such as increasing demands for wood resources and continuing biodiversity decline, but no clear mechanism to resolve the trade-offs. There is therefore a need for a new Forest Strategy that sets clear priorities for forests in the EU within a framework of enhanced forest protection and resource efficiency. The new strategy also needs to be more effective in improving coherence between an increasing amount of policies impacting forests in the EU.

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application/pdf iconFERN_review_forestry_strategy_110908.pdf237.4 KB

Enhancing forest protection is key in future CAP

October 22, 2010

In this position paper, FERN explains that the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should prioritise enhanced forest protection and improved forestry practices that have notable and measurable positive environmental and climate benefits.

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application/pdf iconOPEN174.78 KB

NGO open letter on the Legally Binding Agreement on forests in Europe

October 5, 2010

NGOs are concerned that a Forest Europe working group is pushing ahead with creating a Legally Binding Agreement on forests in Europe despite the fact that key questions have not been considered. The biggest among those unanswered questions is: what value would such a new agreement add to the protection of the forests in Europe? NGOs think the answer is 'none' and are also concerned that the process has been very poor.

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application/pdf iconOPEN175.7 KB

NGO Common Vision for Transforming the European Paper Industry

May 24, 2006
Long term vision from a coalition of close to 50 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from 21 countries  to see a future Europe that consumes 50% less paper than at present, produced by an industry that is less reliant on virgin tree fibres, makes maximal use of recycled materials, protects biodiversity, respects local people's land rights, provides employment, and has social impacts that are beneficial, conflict-free and fair.
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application/pdf iconOPEN1.33 MB

Towards an Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management

November 8, 2005
FERN submission to DG AGRI re the proposed Forest Action Plan
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application/pdf iconOPEN97.62 KB

Can a legally binding agreement for forests make a difference?

August 2, 2005
A joint statement on the ongoing discussions regarding a forest convention and other possible agreements on forests
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application/pdf iconEnglish31.42 KB
application/pdf iconSpanish31.92 KB