Members of the newly founded European interest group “EUSTAFOR – the European State Forest Association” met in Brussels at the beginning of May for their first general assembly. On the agenda of the state forest heads from Austria, Finland, France and Latvia were the election of a EUSTAFOR chair and an examination of the role of state forests in the EU.
In order to work together more efficiently for the interests and maintenance of Europe as a continent of natural importance, the Austrian, Finnish, French and Latvian state forest organisations have founded the “European State Forest Association” – EUSTAFOR for short. EUSTAFOR is designed to be the voice of the Europeans state forests within the EU and as a powerful lobbying organisation with its headquarters in Brussels, will speak up for the interests of Europe’s state forests. It will also collaborate with other international interest groups such as the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF).
At the inaugural general assembly held in Brussels on May 3, 2006, Director General Jan Heino of Metsähallitus/Finland was elected as the chairman of EUSTAFOR. The other members of the Executive Committee are Thomas Uher (Österreichische Bundesforste, Austria) and Pierre-Olivier Drege (Office National des Forets, France), Tim Crowley (Coillte Teoranta, Irland), Klaus Merker (Niedersächsische Landesforsten, Germany/Lower-Saxony), Roberts Stripnieks (Latvijas valsts mezi, Latvia), Tomasz Wojcik (Lasy Panstwowe, Poland).
The focus of EUSTAFOR’s work for 2006/2007 was also set at the meeting. This is to include the securing of timber production in Europe by means of a sensible balance between environmental and economic considerations. Other issues include increased use of forest biomass as a renewable source of energy accompanied by the relevant resource planning at a European level, an intensification of timber research and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol at state forest level.
Membership of the “European State Forests Association” is open to state forest organisations from all 25 EU member states as well as European countries outside the EU. There are currently 21 prospective members.
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