Strengthening of Forest Policy in Europe Based on the Expansion of Sustainable Forest Management(Feature Articles for the Symposium)

Abstract

European Union is eagerly forwarding forestry related policies in recent years. At the same time, timber production in Europe is gradually expanding. Why are they? This paper analyses trend of forest policy and present status of forestry and forest related industries in Europe. For instance, development of EU forest policies, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, National Forest Programmes, trend of timber production in various countries, and popularization of forest certification are examined. As a result of the analyses, it is prevailed that European countries are aiming to be a world environmental leader with placing forest issues as one of important advantages.