2011/06/14: Europe's forests: huge potential in mitigating climate change

Europe is the most forest-rich region in the world. It represents 25% of our global forest resources. Europe’s expanding forests have a huge potential to mitigate climate change. They provide the renewable materials wood and energy’ and foster a green economy. Sustainable forest management practices increasingly promote conservation of biodiversity. But, forests are also threatened by diseases and extreme weather conditions, such as storms, as well as fires. These are the main results which derive from the report on the State of Europe’s Forests 2011, which has been launched today in Oslo, Norway. The launch takes place on the occasion of the FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference on the Protection in Forests in Europe. The conference will convene until 16 June. At the conference in Oslo, ministers responsible for forests, as well as highlevel representatives from 46 countries and the European Union meet to take decisions aimed at preserving forests and safeguarding their environmental, societal and  economic benefits for present and future generations.