European Commission launches public debate on protecting Europe's forests against climate change

Focus Information Agency: The European Commission today adopted a Green Paper which sets out options for a European Union approach to the protection of forests and to information about forest resources and their condition. Responses to the Green Paper from the public, Member States, EU institutions and other stakeholders will guide the Commission on whether additional action is needed at EU level, the press office of the European Commission reports.

European Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Europe's forests are a precious resource that must be protected against the harmful impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Their wide range of social, economic and environmental functions means that the stakes are high. We need to explore what value European action can add to national efforts to safeguard forests and maintain reliable, coherent and up-to-date information about them."

Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action said: "As huge stores of carbon, forests will play a critical role in efforts to keep global warming below 2°C. Ensuring that Europe's forests can continue to perform all their functions is essential to the EU's climate strategy. I very much welcome the timely launch of this debate.The inputs we receive will help us to design effective EU policies related to climate and forests."

The Green Paper sets out the main challenges facing Europe's forests. It presents existing forest information systems and the tools available to protect forests, and raises a series of questions relevant to the development of future policy options. The paper is part of the follow-up to the White Paper on adapting to climate change adopted by the Commission in April 2009....

Evening in the Black Forest, 1953, by Margret Hofheinz-Döring