The challenges of Europe’s forest ecosystems, with particular emphasis on climate change, forest fires, the protection of biodiversity and the need to strengthen the resilience of forests, the focus of the discussions held during the meeting of the EU Directors General for Forestry.
The meeting took place in the coastal town of Paphos on April 28-29, in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A press release by the Department of Forestry notes that the deliberations were based on the new European approach to Integrated Wildfire Risk Management, as well as the European Commission’s Guidance Document Natura 2000 Network and Climate Change.
Director of the Forestry Department, Savvas Ezekiel welcomed the participants on behalf of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and chaired the meeting.
The meeting of the Directors General of Forests constitutes an established action organised by each Presidency of the EU Council and provides the framework for the exchange of views, experiences and know-how on the most important issues concerning European forests and the forest-based sector. The meeting was attended by 58 representatives from 23 Member States, the European Commission and 5 European organisations and bodies.
The meeting in Paphos highlighted the essential role of the Cyprus Presidency in shaping the European dialogue on forests, biodiversity, climate change and integrated forest fire risk management, the press release says.
The meeting highlighted the need for active, evidence-based and sustainable forest management as a key condition for protecting Europe’s forests and strengthening their resilience to increasing environmental and climate pressures, it concludes.
