EU Presidency Statement - UN Forum on Forests

Summary: March 6, 2002: Statement on Combating Deforestation and Forest Degradation at the Second Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (4-15 March 2002), (New York)

Mr. Chairman:

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

1. First of all we would like to thank the Secretariat and the Bureau for the efforts they have undertaken to provide us the report about "Combating Deforestation and Forest Degradation".

2. The EU welcomes the Secretary General`s report and agrees in particular with its major conclusions. Strengthening political will, addressing the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, addressing key emerging issues such as forest law enforcement, establishing a formal monitoring and assessment process, and enhancing capacity building and financial resources for SFM are indeed essential for making progress in implementing the IPF/IFF proposals for action related to the core issue combating deforestation and forest degradation.

3. We are sceptical regarding the suggestions outlined in the Secretary General's Paper, which do not highlight attention comprehensively on implementation and begin by addressing suggestions to donors instead of all countries. In the view of the EU, UNFF could:

consider deciding on the need of identifying innovative approaches for combating deforestation and forest degradation. One possible way could be to integrate national forest programmes with rural livelihood/development programmes, and address underlying causes of deforestation with a focus on the poverty/environment relationship through multi-stakeholder partnership . The CPF should be invited to contribute to this work and report on this matter at the 3rd session of the UNFF;
consider inter alia the feasibility of a mechanism for south-south and north-south knowledge exchange on national funds and other innovative mechanisms for financing actions to combat deforestation and forest degradation.

4. In the context of the EU, the forest area has increased during the past decade as a result of a range of factors including specific incentives aimed at afforesting agricultural land and promoting sustainable forest management. However, and despite these positive trends, more needs to be done. Forest soil acidification and/or eutrophication as well as uncontrolled forest fires are important factors which continue to threat some parts of the European forests. Specific EU schemes include monitoring and prevention measures for the protection of forests, and where possible, restore degraded forests.

5. The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe has adopted voluntary Operational Level Guidelines based on the criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, which aim to further promote Sustainable Forest Management in Europe by translating the international proposals down to the level of forest management units.

6. The EU also promotes measures to combat deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and countries in transition through its development cooperation activities. The EU supports these countries in developing and implementing national forest programmes insofar as they request such assistance in their bilateral negotiations. For example, the European Community and EU Member States provide around 80 % of the donor contribution to G7 Pilot Programme for the conservation of Brazilian Tropical Forests - PPG7 - which contributes to halting deforestation and forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon Forest.

7. The main issue to be addressed under this topic is how best to tackle the underlying causes for deforestation and forest degradation. Country specific analyses should be done in the framework of inter-sectorial and participatory approaches.

8. The causes and consequences of deforestation and forest degradation affect the three Conventions of Rio 92 (CBD, CCD, UNFCCC), since they are closely linked to the deterioration of forest biodiversity, desertification of subhumid and dry lands, and climate change. The EU believes that the adoption of a focused action oriented work programme on forest biological diversity at the next Conference of the Parties of the CBD will help the implementation of the IPF/IFF Proposals for Actions aimed at combating deforestation and forest degradation. The EU would invite the other Conventions as they develop their work programmes, where they relate to forests, to work with the UNFF.

9. We note with satisfaction that significant progresses have been made in implementing the IPF/IFF PfAs related to this agenda item. We are confident that today's exchange of lessons learned on each country's experience will highlight mechanisms on halting and reversing global deforestation and forest degradation.

Thank you very much.

Ref: PRES02-025EN
EU source: EU Presidency
UN forum: ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council), (including functional Commissions)
Date: 6/3/2002

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