Naujienos
2005 - 01 - 26
*After storm European farmers and forest owners call for solidarity
Forest owners call for solidarity |
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| http://www.nordicforestry.org (25/01/2005) |
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 European farmers and forest owners call for solidarity with those affected by the devastating storm in the Baltic Sea Region.The European umbrella organisation for farmers and their cooperatives COPA-COGECA and the Confederation of European Forest Owners CEPF have sent a joint letter to the European Commission and the Council of Agricultural Ministers of the European Union today calling for solidarity and financial support for those affected by the dramatic storm in the region around the Baltic Sea on the 8-9th of January. The letter, signed by the Presidents of COPA, COGECA and CEPF, Peter GAEMELKE, Eduardo BAAMONDE and Esa HÄRMÄLÄ, was sent to the European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development Mariann FISCHER BOEL, the European Commissioner for regional policy Danuta HÜBNER and the President of the Council of Agricultural Ministers in the European Union Fernand BODEN. The two days lasting storm in the region around the Baltic Sea has dramatically struck several EU-Members States, especially the northern parts of Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and south Sweden, causing considerable losses both to forestry and agricultural producers and their co-operatives. “The storm has destroyed what has been build up during several generations and affected thousands of people’s lives by a total loss of their expected income and devastating the economy of their forestry and agricultural enterprises” the Presidents of COPA, COGECA and CEPF stressed. More than 90 million m³ of wood have been felled. The trees felled during only two days are equivalent with several years’ annual cuttings and growth. In some regions like in the southern part of Sweden, around 300 000 hectare of forests worth 4 billion euros is blown down and the total economic losses are estimated to 1,5 - 2 billion euros. The concern is now that a big part of the remaining forests will be affected by insects, while it seems impossible to get all the wood out from the forests before the summer. The Presidents point out that in this particular situation Community solidarity should play a major role vis-à-vis all those affected by the dramatic nature catastrophe. COPA and COGECA together with CEPF call upon the European Union to take positive actions on a European level and to put in action the adequate Community Funds and in particular the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to support the victims in these exceptional circumstances. They call upon the European Commission to ensure that, within the framework of the European Union Funds, the needs and concerns of EU member states' forestry and agricultural producers and their co-operatives are duly covered. | ||||||||
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