Position Paper – Preserving forests, jobs, and local economy: EUSTAFOR’s call for balanced and sound land protection approaches

EUSTAFOR released its latest position paper, which underscores the crucial role of state-owned forests in Europe. These forests cover 30% of the continent’s forest land and are vital for environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

📈 Key Takeaways from the Position Paper:

• State Forests’ Contribution: EUSTAFOR members manage 55.5 million hectares of state forests across Europe. Of this, al most over 18 million hectares are protected under national nature conservation laws. In addition, 11 million hectares are classified as protective forests, while another 11 million hectares have been designated as Natura 2000 sites.

• Balancing Roles: State forests are not only essential for nature protection but also play critical roles in supplying sustainable timber, creating jobs in rural areas, ensuring public access, and supporting government financing, especially for activities related to climate change and nature conservation.

• The Risks of Solely Nature Protection: While preserving forests is crucial, dedicating public forests solely for nature protection could have significant financial implications. This approach could lead to higher costs for governments, taxpayers, and workers, and may negatively affect local communities and the environment in the long run.

• A Smarter Approach to Nature Protection: Achieving biodiversity goals requires more than just increasing the number of hectares protected. It’s crucial to focus on scaling up management strategies that have been proven to be effective in conservation efforts.

🔗 Read the Full Paper Here