Prise de Parole Du Ministre René COLLIN Madrid

8/20/2019 Prise de Parole Du Ministre René COLLIN Madrid

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Speech of Minister René COLLIN

Distinguished Co-Chairs, Ministers, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour and pleasure to speak today on behalf of Belgium, of

the three Regions and of Ministers responsible for forest policies being

conducted there.

Belgium is aware of the importance of Forest Europe as a volunteer high-

level political process and widely appreciates its contribution to

strengthening the sustainable management of forests in Europe for 25

years. Given the challenges we face , Belgium considers that cooperation

on forest policy in Europe is a tool and a key lever.

I will mention a few achievements and projects of the Walloon Region, in

areas related to themes developed by Forest Europe for 25 years.

My goal is to further strengthen sustainable forest management by

ensuring the recognition of its multifunctional nature: economic,

environmental and social.

Wallonia, comprising 80% of the Belgian forests, adopted in 2008 a new

Forest Law incorporating in its first article the principles, criteria and

indicators of sustainable development adopted at the Ministerial

Conference in Lisbon in 1998.

Many measures of the Forest Law are an application of those principles

to ensure sustainable development of the Walloon forests. For example,

the Law provides a form of payment for ecosystem services supplied by


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the forest through inheritance tax exemption on the value of standing

timber for private owners.

This exemption is extended to the fund value and property taxes for

forests located in Natura 2000 sites.

The Nature and Forests Department of Wallonia is in charge of the

management of public forests but for better awareness among local

councillors, the new Forest Code has provided that the forest

management plans have to be approved by the Municipal Council after a

public inquiry for fully involving local actors, and no more by the Minister

of Forests.

Let us examine in more detail the implementation of the Forest

Europe tools:

No later than 1997, criteria and indicators have been integrated into the

data collection of the Permanent Forest Resources Inventory of

Wallonia.

This initiative currently allows us to better understand the evolution of our

forest by indicators that were not collected before, including on

biodiversity.

I welcome the work carried out by Forest Europe to improve criteria and

indicators, as presented at this conference.

Similarly, the Guidelines for Sustainable Management at the operational

level have fed some of the provisions of the Forest Code, but also

implementing orders thereof. Examples include conservation measures

relating to limit the sizes of clear cuts, drainage and chemical inputs, the


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choice of species and provenances, the mix of species and structures,

maintenance of dead trees, ...

The same recommendations have provided the basis for forest

management requirements of PEFC International, which allowed to

certify an important part of Walloon and European forests, according to a

common understanding of sustainable management.

In Wallonia, more than 53% of forest areas are PEFC certified, the

proportion being 98% for public forests.

This PEFC processes in Wallonia allow to improve forest practices of the

owners, but is also a place for collective learning. It also led groups with

sometimes divergent interests to collaborate and better communicate,

which is a prerequisite for sustainable management.

In an urbanized society like ours, forests are places of healing that must

remain open to the public. It is also a prerequisite for awareness of the

preservation of biodiversity and the importance of ecosystem services.

Significant efforts have been made to welcome youth movements in the

forest and their coaching through awareness activities. Efforts have also

been devoted to the tourism development of Walloon forests that

constitue the first attractiveness for tourists and contribute to local

development.

The economic function of the forest is essential; for rural municipalities, it

contributes significantly to their budget, and offers resources to improve

the well-being and therefore maintaining populations while ensuring local

jobs.


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Let us turn to future challenges , notably the protection of forests

against environmental changes: Wallonia established a Walloon Forest

Health Observatory, in collaboration with our French friends. Increasing

the resilience of our forests must be a priority while these are being

undermined in particular by low species diversity and excessive pressure

of the big game.

A Framework Agreement on Forest Research and Extension binds the

Government and the Forest Faculties of Wallonia, to develop adaptive

management and anticipate global changes. The Extension part helps to

quickly disseminate research results towards the managers.

Concerning the forest-based sector , the “Office Economique Wallon du

Bois” created in 2012 is in charge among others of the monitoring of the

sector, and of boosting the development of the timber sector via

innovative activities within the scope of bio-economy. Particular attention

should be paid to the issue of wood energy that must be

the last stage of

the processing, when there is no other possible use.

Beyond these examples , Belgium supports the Madrid resolutions and

decisions , and calls for greater collaboration at the 'Large Europe' level,

under the umbrella of the Forest Europe voluntary process , and in the

context of a future convention on forests, if a consensus is developing in

the future.

I thank you for your attention.

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Prise de Parole Du Ministre René COLLIN Madrid