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
http://5th.mcpfe.org/ , accreditation section.
Source: MCPFE Liaison Unit Warsaw
www.mcpfe.org
