This week, the Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze, along with other ministers from European countries, participated in the "Forest Europe" conference in Bonn, Germany. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation in the forestry sector at the European level and share the latest discoveries and examples of sustainable forest management development in Europe.
In his address to the conference participants, Minister Armands Krauze emphasized: "Every resident can perceive forests differently—first, as an area for nature protection and preservation of biodiversity; second, as a place for relaxation and recreation; and third, as a resource for economic activity. These three approaches must be balanced when creating sustainable forest management in Europe. It is impossible to allocate all the forests in a country, for example, solely for nature conservation and forget about the economy and the well-being of the countries’ residents."
During the event, ministers and leaders of observer organizations discussed sustainable forest management, forest resilience, and youth engagement. A ministerial declaration titled " Forest Europe - Preserving the Concept of Sustainable Forest Management for the Future" was also signed. The signatory countries emphasized the need to adapt strategies to new challenges, as well as the importance of multifunctional, resilient forests, a skilled workforce, and the preservation of forest genetic resources.
The ministerial decision at the Bonn conference lays the foundation for the creation of a coordinated European Forest Risk Institute. This document and its annex acknowledge the need to respond to increasing forest damage in Europe, both nationally and internationally.
"In Latvia, forestry and the wood industry account for 10% of the gross domestic product and provide jobs and well-being for tens of thousands of Latvian residents. Therefore, at the Ministry of Agriculture, we work to ensure that forests are managed sustainably, providing both income and recreational opportunities for the people of Latvia," stated Minister Armands Krauze.
"Forest Europe" is a collaborative platform for European ministers, aimed at promoting the adaptation of forest management to the changing climatic and environmental conditions, as well as maintaining the resilience and potential of forests and the forestry sector at the European level.
The event was attended by 37 ministers and high-level representatives, two observer countries, and 20 observer organizations.