EUROPE

As a result of sustainable forest management, Europe's forests are on the increase. When mature trees are felled, at least the equivalent surfaces are replanted and the biodiversity of the area preserved. Concerted efforts are also made to ensure that they can be used for recreational purposes. The EU has a total forest area of 130 million hectares, accounting for about 36 percent of its total land area. In comparison with the other regions of the world, the EU's forest resources are modest and represent only 4 percent of the world's forest resources.

There is a wide variety of forest types defined by their bio-climatic and soil conditions. Their ecological characteristics can be divided into numerous vegetation zones, ranging from the sub-Mediterranean zone to the Arctic belt, and from coastal plains to the Alpine zone. Forestland in the EU is 65 percent privately owned. As there are about 12 million private forest owners in the EU, privately owned forests tend to be highly fragmented into small plots, with most holdings smaller than five hectares. Ownership also varies widely within the Community. In Greece and Ireland, the State owns about two thirds of forestland, while in Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, France and Germany, local communities play an important role as forest owners.

Europe also plays a significant role in the global timber trade as an end consumer of timber products.

Click on the links below to see full document sets for that country.

Sub sections:

DOCUMENTS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR


31/03/2013	Forests and Economic Development: A Driver for the Green Economy in the ECE Region UNECE Reports on Forests and the Green Economy The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in ...	UN
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01/01/2013	EUTR Survey Paper In September 2012 Chatham House undertook a survey of Competent Authorities (CA) to assess their preparations ...	Chatham House (Jade Saunders)
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19/09/2012	Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2011-2012 The UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2011-2012 provides general and statistical information ...	UNECE & FAO
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01/12/2010	Market Requirements for Legal and Sustainable Timber This report provides information for anyone involved in the timber trade on the emerging market requirements ...	Proforest (A.Cura & J. Lam)
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NEWS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR


08/05/2013	American hardwood industry endorses EU Timber Regulation aimed at eradicating illegal timber trade The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American ...	Zawya
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09/09/2012	Bonn negotiations make progress toward legally binding agreement on forests The Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on ...	IISD Biodiversity Policy & Practice
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21/12/2011	FOREST EUROPE and UNECE/FAO launch interactive database on indicators of sustainable forest management in Europe Geneva - A web-based resource tool based on the joint FOREST EUROPE/ECE/FAO State of Europe's Forests ...	UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)
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16/06/2011	Ministers launch negotiations for a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe The protection and sustainable management of Europe’s forests requires a stable and efficient platform ...	Forest Europe
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20/10/2009	European timber sector not ready for recovery - U.N. Geneva - The European forestry sector, hit hard by the U.S.-led housing crash, could benefit from more ...	Reuters
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12/09/2009	The true costs of illegal logging The use of endangered wood to make elegant furniture and hardwood floors for homes in the US, Europe ...	The National, Abu Dhabi
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EVENTS

DATE	TITLE


Tuesday 16th October 2012	70th session of UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Timber Committee This year’s Timber Committee session is about sustainable products and their contribution to a ...
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