Ministerial Conference on Protection of European Forests Agrees on Documents

Experts Taking Part in the Meeting of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe Agreed on the Final Content of the Documents for the 5th Ministerial Conference to be Held on 5 - 7 November, 2007 in Warsaw.

Over 80 participants are taking part in the Expert Level Meeting of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe opened by the Polish Minister of the Environment, Prof. Jan Szyszko. It is the last meeting before the 5th Ministerial Conference to be held on 5 - 7 November, 2007 in Warsaw.

During the two-day debates, the experts are to agree on the final content of the documents for the Warsaw Ministerial Summit and the draft Ministerial Declaration and the two theme resolutions are to be endorsed.

First Warsaw Resolution "Forests, Wood and Energy" invokes the essence of timber as en energy resource emphasizing that energy and biomass are the issues to dominate the political discourse on forests. During the press conference accompanying the sessions, the Counsellor of the Mission of Norway to the EU, Knut Oistad, emphasized that maintaining balance in the delivery of timber and biomass by the forests with the simultaneous protection of their resources and biodiversity will be the main objective of European forest policy.

Second Warsaw Resolution "Forests and Water" will serve to emphasise the role of cooperation between the forest and water sector. As highlighted by the Polish Minister of Environment, it is necessary to gain a deeper insight in forest water interactions, especially in terms of quality and quantity of drinking water.

The Ministerial Declaration that will be an integral document of the November summit contains provisions underlining the role of forests in sustainable development, combating adverse effects of climate change and the significance of forests in the preservation of biodiversity, their role in the increasing demand for renewable energy and the impact of the forest management on the protection of water resources. "I believe that it is time for the 5th MCPFE to increase the contribution of forests in the quality of life of the contemporary European societies and future generations", said Mr. Szyszko.

The Report on State of Europe's Forests 2007 prepared by the Economic Commission for Europe and the MCPFE Liaison Unit will be presented during the 5th MCPFE. Christopher Prins of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) presented the structure of the report during the press conference and informed of the increase of forest areas in Europe and the employment of about 4.3 million Europeans in the forest sector.

The 5th Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe will be held between 5 and 7th November in Warsaw. Journalists wishing to participate are requested to register at 5th.mcpfe.org, accreditation section.

Source: MCPFE Liaison Unit Warsaw
www.mcpfe.org