United Nations ECE/TIM/2015/INF.3−FO:EFC/2015/INF.3 Economic and Social Council Distr.: General 15 October 2015 Original: English Economic Commission for Europe Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry European Forestry Commission Seventy-third session Thirty-eighth session Engelberg, 2–6 November 2015 Engelberg, 2–6 November 2015 Item 6(d) of the provisional agenda Rovaniemi Action Plan implementation Implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan for the Forest Sector in a Green Economy Note by the secretariat Summary This document provides an overview of activities reported by several member States and the secretariat/organizations supporting the implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan for the Forest Sector in a Green Economy. Delegates will be invited to take note of these activities and to provide guidance on further work to be undertaken and the format of reporting for monitoring the implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan. I. Introduction 1. The Rovaniemi Action Plan for the Forest Sector in a Green Economy was adopted on 13 December 2013 at the joint session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry and the FAO European Forestry Commission (“Metsä2013”) in Rovaniemi, Finland. 2. The Rovaniemi Action Plan proposes an overall vision, strategies and areas of activity to enhance the transition of the forest sector in the UNECE region towards the emerging green, bio-based economy. GE.15- ECE/TIM/2015/INF.3 FO:EFC/15/INF.3 3. The Rovaniemi Action Plan is not an obligatory tool and is only meant to encourage actions based on the specific principles, objectives and activities, grouped under the following five pillars: • Sustainable production and consumption of forest products; • A low-carbon forest sector; • Decent green jobs in the forest sector; • Long-term provision of Forest Ecosystem Services; and • Policy development and monitoring of the forest sector in relation to a green economy. 4. The Rovaniemi Action Plan contains recommendations to Governments of Member States, international organizations, private sector and other stakeholders and identifies potential actors involved in the implementation of the Action Plan. II. Implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan 5. This section gives an overview of activities undertaken for the implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan, following the structure of its five pillars. Specific activities of the Action Plan are referred to by their number (example: A.1.1 for Pillar A, objective 1, activity 1). A. Sustainable production and consumption of forest products 1. Activities undertaken by the member States and other stakeholders Austria 6. In 2012, Austria presented the National Resource Efficiency Action Plan1, which contributes to developing strategies for sustainable production and consumption in the green economy (A.0.1). 7. The Programme of the Austrian Government includes objectives of relevance to forestry and timber management, among them the promotion of sustainable timber use in domestic forests as well as the provision to use renewable energy sources in order to reduce the use of fossil fuels (A.0.3). 8. Action Area 7 of the Austrian Forest Programme concerning "Austria’s international responsibility for Sustainable Forest Management" calls for active involvement of Austrian representatives in forest related international activities (A.0.4). Where resource limitations don't allow direct involvement, the forest sector follows national coordination procedures. 9. Upon evaluation of risks and benefits of including genetically modified trees in sustainable forest (A.0.5) a widespread consensus was reached in Austria that genetically modified organisms are politically a no-go area. 10. EU Timber Regulations provide policy framework for harmonised labelling and certification systems for forest products (A.1.2) and further develop standards and 1 http://www.bmlfuw.gv.at/umwelt/nachhaltigkeit/ressourceneffizienz/aktionsplan_ ressourceneffizienz/aktionsplan.html 2 ECE/TIM/2015/INF.3 FO:EFC/15/INF.3 guidelines at a national and local level followed by all major certification systems, thus simplifying procedures and reducing costs (A.1.3). 11. The National Action Plan for Sustainable Public Procurement includes binding rules for government procurement of wood to promote sustainable procurement policies and use of certified forest products (A.2.2). Both FSC and PEFC are recognized as the guarantor of legal and sustainable timber. 12. The next national forest inventory assessment is planned to start in 2016 as a continuous forest inventory and will generate information and data to support effective forest planning (A.3.1). 13. The "Good practice guidance on sustainable mobilisation of wood in Europe" was taken into consideration when elaborating the new National Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 (A.3.2). 14. Austria is involved in carrying out national studies on opportunities to increase the potential sustainable wood supply (A.3.3). A comprehensive study on the potential availability of wood and biomass was conducted in 2008 (HOBI, BFW). 15. In the framework of the Austrian Climate Research Programme conducted by BFW and BOKU hundreds of small-scale forest owners were asked about their motivation and approach to manage their forests (A.3.4). 16. Austria is investing into the forest sector, including forest infrastructure for wood mobilisation. Subsidies for forest infrastructure are an important measure of the National Rural Development Programme (A.3.5). 17. Austria is committed to creating conditions and approaches to promote innovation (A.4.4) and is conducting 10 research projects under the innovative ERA-NET Wood Wisdom Programme focused on strengthening the European forest-based sectors. 18. FLEGT/EUTR Expert Group meets several times a year in Brussels to exchange national experience with regulations on illegal logging (A.7.1). Georgia 19. In 2013, Georgia started the forestry sector reform to improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Georgian forests, existing institutional framework and the structure of forest management units (A.0.1): a) Policy-making function was assigned to the Forest Policy Service under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia; b) Management function was assigned to LEPL National Forestry Agency; and c) Controlling function was assigned to the Department of Environmental Supervision. 20. The National Forest Concept for Georgia was adopted by the Parliament in 2013. 21. The Steering Committee on the Forestry Sector Reform was established and the National Action Plan for the Georgian Forest Sector in Green Economy was drafted in the framework of the joint UNECE/FAO UNDA Project on “Sustainable Forest Management for Greener Economies in the Caucasus and Central Asia”. 22. The development of the National Forest Strategy and the Action Plan for the Forestry Sector Reform was initiated. 23. Wood market study and economic evaluation of forests have been initiated to review challenges and opportunities for sustainable consumption patterns for forest products and related services (A.0.2). 3 ECE/TIM/2015/INF.3 FO:EFC/15/INF.3 24. Georgia also conducted the forest inventory and developed forest management plan for 45,000 ha (A.0.3). 25. To further develop standards and guidelines at a national and local level, Georgia is preparing the Controlled Wood Assessment for FSC Certification (A.1.3). 26. Amendments have been made to the Technical Regulation No. 46 (regulating the origin and transport of timber) to enhance flexibility and transparency of procurement policies (A.2.1). 27. To generate information and data for effective forest planning, Georgia in 2013– 2015 carried out forest inventory and forest management plans for up to 80,000 ha of local forests (A.3.1). 28. Georgia is carrying out national studies on afforestation and reforestation to identify the degree of land degradation and implement afforestation measures or enhance natural regeneration. Georgia is also planning to conduct sustainable forest management projects in the forestry districts (A.3.3). 29. Georgia is investing in the forest sector by forest infrastructure development and road construction. 41 km of new forest roads were built and 60 km of old forest roads were fixed (A.3.5). 30. To review and promote innovation intended to improve efficiency in the use of materials in the manufacturing and processing of forest products, and the competitiveness of the sector, Georgia initiated a research on the potential of Biomass Production and Utilization (A.4.3). 31. Georgia is also carrying out research on wood market and economic evaluation of forests and forest products (A.4.6). 32. To ensure that only legally produced forest products enter the market and to prevent illegal logging, Georgia is establishing an integrated software system for sawmill management (A.7.1). Germany 33. The National Forest Strategy 20202 of the Federal Republic of Germany adopted by the Federal Cabinet in September 2011 is the latest initiative enabling forestry and timber management to meet challenges in a sustainable and, if possible, optimal manner (A.0.1). 34. The Strategy identifies nine main areas of action and related subordinated goals ranging from silvicultural approaches to measures for timber mobilisation, intensification of “cascaded use of wood”, increased efficiency of timber use, optimisation of the closed substance cycle, cultivation of fast growing species outside forests and increased