world news - 17.08.2010
The Danish government under pressure to review its forest policy
Since
2002 Denmark has a forest policy, which enjoys large support by both
the forestry sector and environmental organizations. However, in
practice the government has ceased to implement the activities for
implementing that policy. For that reason the Danish government has
been severely criticized by all participants in the forestry debate for
not having any forest policy at all. That concerns timber production,
environment friendly energy, biodiversity, outdoor activities, research
and education.
The criticism culminated on 1 June when the opposition tabled a
proposition in the Danish parliament to oblige the government to
implement a sustainable forest policy. In order to forestall the
proposal the government established a forest policy commission only a
few hours before the debate in parliament. Thereafter the government
and its supporting parties rejected the proposal.
However, the commission does not take a position concerning the acute
and fundamental problems in Danish forestry. The forests are not
economically sustainable and forestry looses labour and know-how. This
is detrimental for forest health and timber production, as well as for
the improvement of natural values and the supply of healthy outdoor
activities for the population.
The commission is expected to finish its work in the first half of 2011.
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- — The Danish government under pressure to review its forest policy
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