Forum " municipal forests of Europe" in Strasbourg

In the days of the opening of the new session of Parliament – on 11 and 12 September, Strasbourg - France, forum took place at the Federation of European forest communities (FECOF) with the participation of all members of the Federation.

Moment of the work program of the Forum

Bulgarian Association "Municipal forests" was represented by its Executive Director – inzh.Tihomir Tomanov, and Mr. Georgi Simeonov – Director in Stara Zagora, a member of the Association.

Among the speakers were members of the Parliament of Europe , Ms Corinne Lepage - former Minister of Ecology of France in the government of Prime Minister Alain Juppe, и г-н Гастон Франко – MEP from France.

Actively participate in the forum and Mrs. Loviza Lilihuk - representative of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural developement of the European Commission. In her presentation , Ms Lilihuk informed about the basics of preparing the legal basis of the common agricultural policy for the new programming period 2014-2020 Mr., associated with the pan-European forest policy documents.

Parliament's position on the problems in forest management – owned by the municipalities within the European Union, was presented by Ms. Lepage and Mr. Gaston.

Forum participants agreed on the conclusion, that its successful implementation was the start of an active dialogue between forest communities in the European Union and its institutions to establish a common (single) strategy for forest development in the foreseeable future.

Expected in the near future FEGO to publish official statement on its website.

I dare not comment on the results of the forum outside formal conclusion of the meeting. In our judgment, the forum has failed to make an emphatic way its main purpose - to attract the attention of MEPs to the problems of European Municipalities, especially in the management of this part of the forest areas, which is included in the areas of the European ecological network Natura 2000. Why:

1. The invitation to be responded to only two MEPs.
2. FAO - Rome, does not send its representative, which is scheduled to deliver a presentation on the topic.
3. Turns, although proven losses, municipalities which suffer from the limitations of Natura 2000 in forest management in the amount of 40 per hectare per year, The European Commission is not prepared to accept local – forest owners, be beneficiaries of the measures Natura 2000.
4. There has been significant progress in relation to the adoption of the Pan-European Forest.

That conclusion is, that the objectives, set by the Federation of European forest communities (FECOF), will require significant effort and many times, probably years, given the awkwardness, characteristic of the style of work of the European institutions.

Possible implications for us as a society, And for Bulgaria in the field of forestry, may be:

– Bulgaria can accelerate and complete the process for the adoption of the National Strategy for the Development of the Forestry Sector 2013 – 2020, despite a slowdown of Pan;

– Association "Municipal Forests" to continue its active participation in the legislation of the country in the forestry sector;

– In developing the RDP for the period 2014-2020 g. to use all the possibilities, allow the relevant regulations of the European Commission to extend the range of measures, which municipalities are beneficiaries.

Ing. Tihomir Tomanov – Executive Director of the Association "Municipal Forests"