2007

Commissioner Fischer Boel inaugurates the European Forestry House

Brussels, 20^th of March, 2007:  In a festive atmosphere the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel ceremonially opened the newly established European Forestry House by pointing out the great potential of such a house help emphasise the importance of forestry for Europe.

High-level representatives from the entire forest-based sector and related decision-makers came to see what the European Forestry House means and to celebrate the inauguration with its inhabitants.

In the end of January 2007, the idea of having a European Forestry House became true. The four European forestry related organisations CEPF (Confederation of European Private Forest Owners), EUSTAFOR (European State Forest Association), EFI (European Forest Research Institute) and ENFE (European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs) together with the FTP (Forest-based sector Technology Platform) moved into a well-located house at Place Luxembourg – in the heart of Brussels EU quarter. The nice wooden character of the 200 years old building was re-established by showing the durability, sustainability and fashion ability of wood. The house is furnished with old and original wooden floors, doors and a wooden staircase; therefore it has a perfect atmosphere for a Forestry House.

The furniture will be made by solid European wood – each room will show another species: from French nut to a Scandinavian birch. Visitors or participants of the large meeting room get the possibility to guess the different inlays in form of leafs of European broadleaf trees in each meeting room table. 

“This European Forestry House now sets a sign of good communication to the outside and inside of our sector”, the CEPF president Mr. Stefan Schenker said. It shall serve as a communication platform for the entire sector and raise the profile of the forest-based sector by improving its perception.

Mr. Pierre-Oliver Drege, vice-president of the EUSTAFOR, also highlighted the importance of this very special moment: “ The opening of the European Forestry House appears to be a visible demonstration that forest owners, regardless of the nature of their ownership of forest land, have clearly decided to take their responsibility in participating together to debates concerning policies involving forests in Europe.”

The members of EUSTAFOR, the European State Forest Association, are European state forest management organizations which are responsible for sustainable management of over 45 million hectares of public forest land, harvesting annually ca 110 million m3 of wood and providing employment for over 111,300 employees. There are currently 25 members in EUSTAFOR.