No C 301/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 12. 78 
Proposal for a Council resolution concerning the objectives and principles of 
forestry policy 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 6 December 1978) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Whereas it is desirable to enable the forestry sector to 
contribute more effectively to the achievement of the 
objectives of the Treaty; 
Whereas certain objectives pursued at national level 
affect the interests of the Community as a whole; 
Whereas the coordination of national forestry policies 
should be furthered to the extent that is necessary in 
order to orientate these policies towards the 
achievement of objectives of common interest, Where practicable, these objectives should be pursued 
in conjunction with one another by multiple use 
management the weight to be attached to each being 
varied according to ownership and the particular 
needs at a given place and time. 
Forestry policy should 
recognize the long term nature of forestry which 
renders sudden major changes in policy 
undesirable, 
take account of the distinctive characteristics and 
complementary roles of 
— private forests, 
— state forests, 
— other publicly owned forests, 
seek to create conditions in which efficiently 
managed woodlands are economically viable. 
HEREBY ADOPTS THIS RESOLUTION: 
The policies of Member States shall pursue the 
objectives and respect the principles of forestry policy 
which are stated in the Annex. 
OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF FORESTRY 
POLICY 3. Forestry policy measures should be formulated 
and implemented with due regard to other national 
and Community policies, especially those concerned 
with: 
— land use, 
— agriculture, 
— wood using industries, 
1. General principles 
1. Forests s!-.uld be protected and managed as a 
renewable resource to supply products and services 
which are essential to the quality of life in the 
European Community now and in the future. The 
main objectives should be: 
— a sustainable increase in the economic production 
of timber, 
— the conservation and improvement of the 
environment, 
— public access to forests for recreation. — regional development, including employment and 
standards of living, especially in economically less 
favoured regions, 
— urban and rural environment. 
4. Conversely, agricultural as well as other policies 
with possible forestry implications should pay due 
regard to the functions of the forest and its effective 
management. 
5. Within the limits set by national legislation, 
forest owners should be free to manage their forests 
as they wish. 
15.12.78 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301/9 
6. Forestry policy measures should be coordinated 
at Community level to the extent necessary to 
achieve common objectives. 
2. The forest estate 
1. In regions where, because of climate, 
topography or population density the use to which a 
particular piece of land is put, is of special public 
concern, the conversion of forest land to other land 
use and of other land to forestry should only be 
undertaken after consultation between the owner, the 
forest authority and other authorities concerned with 
land use in order to ensure a fair balance between 
— forestry, farming and other land use interests, 
— the interests of the owner of the land and the 
public interest. 
2. The criteria should be clearly defined which 
should be taken into account when considering such 
changes of land use. In particular woodlands should 
not be regarded as land reserves but in their own 
right on the basis of all the products and services that 
forests provide to the community. 
3. Measures should be taken to protect forests 
against serious damage by fire and other calamities 
and to repair the damage when a major calamity has 
occurred. 
3. Wood production 
1. When deciding on forest policy measures to 
increase wood production the expected direct return 
on the investment should be only one of the 
considerations; others should include the possible 
environmental benefits of forestry and the 
contribution which increased wood production can 
make to 
— regional development and the living standards of 
rural populations, especially in less favoured 
areas, 
— the profitability of forest industries, 
— improving the viability of forest holdings, 
— cover the Community's requirements of wood. 2. The aim should be to raise the production and 
promote the better use of wood by measures 
appropriate to the particular circumstances of each 
country or region. 
Among the measures to be considered are: 
(a) silvicultural measures 
— accelerating the regeneration of over-mature 
stands, 
— more general application of timely and 
adequate thinnings in young stands, 
— choice of species and provenances suitable for 
the site, application of fertilizers and other 
measures to promote faster growth in high 
forest, 
— conversion into productive high forest of 
poor quality coppice and other woodlands of 
low productivity, 
— additional protection against fire, storm and 
disease, 
— afforestation of bare land which is more 
suitable for forestry than for other purposes, 
— the planting of trees outside the forest, 
especially of fast growing species. 
(b) Fuller utilization of 
— trees that are harvested (branches, stumps, 
roots), 
— wood and wood residues by the wood 
processing industries, 
— waste paper through recycling. 
(c) Organizational, infrastructural and institutional 
measures to promote efficient management, 
harvesting and marketing in order to reduce costs 
and increase revenues from wood production; 
such measures could include 
— encouragement of associations of woodland 
owners, 
— encouragement of consolidation of scattered 
small parcels of woodland which are in a 
single ownership, 
— provision of roads and tracks to improve 
access to forests, 
— market promotion and the monitoring of 
markets, 
No C 301/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 15.12.78 
— the creation and development of appropriate 
wood processing industries within reasonable 
distance of the forests, 
— the promotion of relevant research and 
development, 
— the improvement of training and educational 
facilities. 
3. Member States should draw up on a comparable 
basis and periodically review programmes relating to 
the measures listed in paragraph 2 giving estimates of 
costs and expected benefits. 
4. Conservation of nature and protection of the 
human environment 
1. As a minimum contribution to the conservation 
of nature and the protection of the human 
environment forests should be managed so as to 
— maintain the long term fertility and productivity 
of the site, 
— minimize the risk of causing damage elsewhere, 
— take account of the landscape and wildlife. 
2. Appropriate authorities should be authorized by 
legislation to initiate after consultation with the forest 
owner additional conservation measures where they 
are deemed necessary for specific purposes and 
especially for 
— the protection against 
— erosion by water and wind, 
— desiccation and flooding, 
— avalanches, 
— the conservation of habitats of species of animals 
and plants which are in danger of extinction and 
whose survival is considered important. 
3. As the implementation of paragraphs 1 and 2 
above may add to the costs of forest management 
and reduce the income, the definitions and rules 
concerning the implementation of these paragraphs 
should not differ too widely between Member States 
and should take account of factors such as the special 
requirements of economically less favoured regions. 5. Public access and recreation 
1. Within the limits set by custom and national 
legislation, access on foot free of charge should be 
extended to as many forests as possible subject to 
reasonable and clearly defined exceptions in the 
interests of 
—• nature conservation, especially in areas where the 
survival of the forest is threatened by adverse 
environmental conditions, 
— efficient forest management including protection 
against fire and damage from other causes, 
— prevention of damage on adjacent areas, 
especially land that is farmed, 
— the forest owner, 
— wildlife management. 
2. Where access is granted, the rights and 
responsibilities of the visitor, of the forest owner, of 
the State or other appropriate public authority should 
be governed by criteria which, subject to meeting 
specific national and local requirements, should be 
reasonably consistent throughout the Community. 
3. The cost of the provision of recreational 
facilities in the forest beyond the mere granting of 
access on foot and from which no commercial return 
is to be expected should be borne by the State or 
other public bodies. Private forest owners should be 
under no obligation to provide or to let others 
provide such facilities in their woodlands. 
6. Wildlife management 
Subject to any Community measures which provide 
for more specific obligations, wildlife should be 
managed and controlled with the following aims in 
view: 
— maintaining a healthy but not excessive 
population of as many species as are appropriate 
to a region and in harmony with local traditions, 
— avoiding as far as possible interference with other 
aspects of forest management and agriculture, 
especially through game damage. 
15. 12. 78 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 301/11 
7. Instruments of forestry policy — cover all aspects of forestry, 
1. Organization 
The implementation of forestry policy in each 
Member State should be the responsibility of a 
forestry authority which is effectively organized and 
suitably staffed for the purpose and, given the long 
production cycK in forestry, not too dependent on 
short term flua nations in economic and other 
circumstances. 
2. Forestry legislation 
Member States should ensure that their forestry 
legislation is appropriate for the effective 
implementation of 
— national forestry policy, 
— forestry policy measures agreed at Community 
level. 
3. Taxation and incentives 
Forestry taxation and financial aids for forestry 
should be formulated within the general national and 
Community procedures for taxation and the granting 
of incentives, so as to 
— provide an incentive to efficient and stable forest 
management, including protection against fire and 
other damage. 
4. Research and development 
The major research and development effort should be 
directed to solve as cost effectively as possible 
the most urgent problems confronting forest 
management by 
— careful choice of research priorities, 
— cooperation and coordination at both national 
and Community levels, where this is likely to 
result in a worthwhile economy of effort, 
— the promotion at Community level of selected 
research projects of particular importance and 
beyond the capacity of individual national effort. 
5. Education and training 
Member States should ensure that adequate education 
and training facilities in forestry, including refresher 
courses, are available either nationally or by 
arrangement with institutions elsewhere. The facilities 
should — seek to achieve a reasonable balance between 
supply of and demand for personnel, 
— meet the requirements of forest owners and other 
employers as well as of all categories of 
employees, 
— bring about a gradual approximation of 
qualifications and standards throughout the 
Community as a means of facilitating the mutual 
recognition of qualifications and the free 
movement of personnel at all levels in accordance 
with the accepted social policy of the Community. 
6. Information 
Member States should make use of existing forestry 
statistics and develop them further, applying criteria 
and definitions common to all the Member States, 
so that it will be possible: 
to make valid 
statistics, and comparisons utilizing national 
— to group together statistics of use to the Com­
munity as a whole. 
The exchange of non-statistical information on 
forestry in the Community should also be stepped up. 
7. Consultation 
Where such arrangements do not already exist, 
measures should be taken to ensure that frequent 
consultations are held within the State between the 
forestry authority and the organizations represent­
ing: 
— public and private forest owners, 
— employees, 
— the primary processing industries, 
— the timber trade, 
— nature and landscape conservation interests. 
Consultations should also be encouraged at Com­
munity level between these various types of interest 
which are all concerned with forestry matters. 
8. Public relations 
Steps should be taken to give the general public, and 
young people in particular, a better understanding 
of all aspects of forestry.