Future forest monitoring in the European Union

The Conference “Future forest monitoring in the European Union. Providing information for multifunctional forest management”, which will take place 11-12 November under the Swedish EU Presidency, aims at providing the relevant international bodies and representatives of forest monitoring schemes in the EU member states and other European countries an opportunity to discuss how a streamlined European forest monitoring programme shold be set up.

“We need a harmonised European forest monitoring scheme. This should be based on the National Forest Inventories but also capitalize on the experiences of the international programme which since 25 years monitor the effects of air pollution on forests,” says professor Göran Ståhl, responsible for the Environmental Assessment Programme at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and being the moderator of the Conference.

“The European Commision should continue to support this development through the European Forest Data Center and support to the member states.”

Michael Hamell, Director at the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment, stresses the importance of recognising the challenge faced in preparing forests for climate change.

“Forest functions which have an overwhelming socio-economic and environmental importance will come under pressure. Information needs related to forests will be necessary both nationally and in the value added the EU can bring”, says Michael Hamell, who will will participate in the Conference.

More information about the Conference: Tor-Björn Larsson, +46 733-13 10 25, Tor-Bjorn.Larsson@srh.slu.se

Press contact: Ann-Katrin Hallin, +46 70-323 38 25, Ann-Katrin.Hallin@adm.slu.se