European Parliament
A6-0015/2006
Zdzisław Zbigniew Podkański (UEN ). –
(PL)
Mr President, the EU’s forests are characterised by their great diversity. The conditions for preserving their multi-functional role are also diverse. This means that forest management must be well-planned and sustainable in order to maximise a forest’s protective and social functions, which are no less important than its productive functions.
Forest owners play a major role in forest management. Studies and reports show that management is at its best in state-owned forests. Unfortunately, in contrast to privately-owned forests, state-owned forests cannot rely on significant assistance from EU funds. It is therefore necessary to reconsider whether the existing forestry strategy is appropriate, and whether state-owned forests should not also come within the scope of EU assistance. We must remember that when all is said and done, what matters to people is the forest, not who owns it.

