Event - Thematic Group meeting

1st meeting of the Thematic Group on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities

This was the first meeting of the Thematic Group on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities, which explored the Needs of Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities and will lay the groundwork for networking under the Forest Strategy.

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Forest-dominant rural areas and municipalities

This was the first meeting of the Thematic Group on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities, which explored the Needs of Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities and will lay the groundwork for a Network under the Forest Strategy.

The EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (EUFS) outlines forests’ economic importance in providing the raw materials for wood-based products, income for local businesses, jobs for rural populations, etc. Additionally, forests serve critical environmental functions for biodiversity and wildlife habitats, climate mitigation and adaptation through carbon sequestration as well as flood management and soil erosion prevention, and air and water nutrient cycling for combatting pollution. They also offer other social benefits as places rich with cultural heritage, providing opportunities for recreation and connecting with nature for physical and mental health benefits and traditional non-wood products that local communities use and depend on.  

Those who own and manage forests will play a key role in achieving the EU-wide goals laid down in the European Green Deal, the European Climate Law, the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the proposed Nature Restoration Regulation. To thrive economically and socially, as well as deliver against these overarching commitments, local communities and areas where forests are dominant need to be enabled and empowered to do so.   

Thus, one of the EUFS commitments is to develop ‘a network of forest-dominant rural areas and municipalities…to give voice to forest rural areas, ensuring their representation in key initiatives…and facilitating specific assessments of reality and needs of forest areas across the EU’. The Thematic Group was aimed at bringing actors together to explore the potential shape and scope of the proposed network.  

Aims of the meeting:  

  • Take stock and explore the socio-economic and environmental needs and issues facing forest-dominant rural areas and municipalities;  
  • Share experiences between actors to identify challenges and barriers to addressing their needs / issues;  
  • Explore existing structures for involving forest-dominant areas in policy processes and what the added benefit of a network to support key stakeholders might be. 
English language

Draft agenda - 1st meeting of the Thematic Group on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities

(PDF – 232.09 KB)

Resources

English language

Introduction, Beth Dooley, CAPI CP, EU CAP Network

(PDF – 17.67 MB)

English language

Recap of EoI key themes, Kaley Hart, CAPI CP, EU CAP Network

(PDF – 535.24 KB)

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Forest pasture re-organisation in Oberammergau Bavaria / Germany, Anton Burkhart, CEPF

(PDF – 4.69 MB)

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Forests and depopulated rural areas in Spain, Marta Corella Gaspar, Mayor of Orea (Spain)

(PDF – 9.9 MB)

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Land of the oaks, Ivan Ambros, Competence Center for Research and Development

(PDF – 9.36 MB)

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EU CAP Network Thematic Group on Forest-dominant Rural Areas & Municipalities, Marc de Smet, DG AGRI, European Commission

(PDF – 147.46 KB)

English language

Supporting the Needs of Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities: Laying the Groundwork for a Network under the Forest Strategy, Leena Leskinen, Metsäkeskus

(PDF – 2.59 MB)

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Short Overview on Forest Networking and Policy from the Perspective of German Forest Owners, Roderich Freiherr von Loë, DFWR

(PDF – 622.86 KB)

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Next steps, Cristina Rascón and Michael Gregory, CAPI CP, EU CAP Network

(PDF – 6.85 MB)

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1st Thematic Group meeting on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities - Miro board Group 1

(PDF – 370.33 KB)

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1st Thematic Group meeting on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities - Miro board Group 2

(PDF – 494.54 KB)

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1st Thematic Group meeting on Forest-Dominant Rural Areas and Municipalities - Miro board Group 3

(PDF – 417.12 KB)