SCB-Europe Supports Efforts to Protect Bialowieza Forest

carloscarroll — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:20:16 +0000

Bialowieza Forest is the last lowland primeval forest within the European Union. It is a unique biodiversity hotspot and a fascinating source of scientific knowledge. It represents a much needed ecological blue-print for the restoration of forests in Europe. In 2003, SCB’s European Section delivered a resolution concerning the preservation of the Bialowieza Forest to the Polish Minister of the Environment. In 2010, the Polish Minister of the Environment imposed a restriction on logging in Bialowieza Forest that limited timber extraction to an amount sufficient to support local needs as well as sustainable in safeguarding both the ecological and cultural uniqueness of this Polish, European and World Heritage Site. SCB-Europe recently sent a letter to the new Minister of the Environment, Marcin Korolec, encouraging the government to retain this limit and to avoid logging of the remaining old-growth.

SCB-Europe also recently joined with other SCB sections in issuing a declaration on sustainable forest management to mark the 2011 International Year Of Forests.

SCB issues declaration on sustainable forest management for the International Year Of Forests

carloscarroll — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:42:14 +0000

The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests, in order to strengthen the conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations. In conjunction with the UN campaign, SCB has issued a declaration outlining twelve recommendations based on conservation science that can help further these goals.

The SCB declaration states:

“The 21st century is a time of unprecedented demands on forests. If forests are going to continue to sustain humans’ basic needs, society must adopt science-based conservation stewardship, and new policies to respond to rising demand for the products and services provided by forests. New measures are needed to halt the decline of forests regionally and globally, and to encourage broader tracking, accountability, and reporting metrics on forest degradation and deforestation. Additionally, because many protected areas currently are protected in name only, they will require appropriate and relevant policy interventions, enforcement, and local incentives to ensure that they are truly protected. Recognizing the demands placed on forests and the need to sustainably manage them, the United Nations prepared a resolution on forests adopted by the General Assembly in its quest towards sustainable management of forest ecosystems and associated resources.”

The full declaration is here.

SCB Policy Blog » Europe Section

SCB-Europe Supports Efforts to Protect Bialowieza Forest

SCB issues declaration on sustainable forest management for the International Year Of Forests