forestry development

(c) achieving food security and sustainable development and management of agricultural, livestock-rearing, forestry and multipurpose activities;

AWARE of the substantial differences existing between national legal systems, natural conditions, population distribution, agriculture and forestry, the state and development of the economy, the volume of traffic and the nature and intensity of tourism,

Noting that developments in agriculture, forestry, industrial and mineral production techniques and in regional planning, town planning, transport, infrastructure, tourism and recreation and, at a more general level, changes in the world economy are in many cases accelerating the transformation of landscapes;

(c) Positive and/or negative impacts on society of implementing possible control measures: (i) Health, including public, environmental and occupational health; (ii) Agriculture, including aquaculture and forestry; (iii) Biota (biodiversity); (iv) Economic aspects; (v) Movement towards sustainable development; and (vi)Social costs;

(b) the frequent use of unsustainable development practices in affected areas as a result of complex interactions among physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors, including international economic factors such as external indebtedness, deteriorating terms of trade and trade practices which affect markets for agricultural, fishery and forestry products; and

A strategic environmental assessment shall be carried out for plans and programmes which are prepared for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, industry including mining, transport, regional development, waste management, water management, telecommunications, tourism, town and country planning or land use, and which set the framework for future development consent for projects listed in annex I and any other project listed in annex II that requires an environmental impact assessment under national legislation.

(c) a sharp drop in the productivity of ecosystems being the main consequence of desertification and drought, taking the form of a decline in agricultural, livestock and forestry yields and a loss of biological diversity; from the social point of view, the results are impoverishment, migration, internal population movements, and the deterioration of the quality of life; the region will therefore have to adopt an integrated approach to problems of desertification and drought by promoting sustainable development models that are in keeping with the environmental, economic and social situation in each country.

sustainable forest management and development of forestry,

Whereas forestry is an integral part of rural development and forestry measures should, therefore, be included under the rural development support scheme, whereas support for forestry should avoid distorting competition and should be market neutral;

Support for forestry shall contribute to the maintenance and development of the economic, ecological and social functions of forests in rural areas.

As regards rural development, the provision specified in point 2.1 applies without prejudice to specific rules established in Commission Regulation (EC) No 445/2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) for the case of the determination of standard unit costs for certain investments in the forestry sector.

As regards rural development, it should be made clear that the rule whereby proof of expenditure may take the form of receipted invoices should apply, but without prejudice to specific rules established in Commission Regulation (EC) No 445/2002 of 26 February 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)(3), where standard unit costs for certain investments in the forestry sector have to be determined.

Whereas such reorganisation should take into account the experience gained in applying existing instruments and thus be based on those instruments, which are those implemented under the current priority objectives promoting rural development by speeding up the adjustment of agricultural structures in the framework of the reform of the common agricultural policy and facilitating the development and structural adjustment of rural areas (Objectives 5a and 5b), as laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments(7) and Council Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section(8), and those introduced as accompanying measures to the 1992 common agricultural policy reform by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside(9), Council Regulation (EEC) No 2079/92 of 30 June 1992 instituting a Community aid scheme for early retirement from farming(10) and Council Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 of 30 June 1992 instituting a Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture(11);

the development and protection of forestry resources,

4. Agriculture, rural development, forestry and fisheries 0

the protection and sustainable development of forestry resources,

the protection and development of forestry resources, particularly in relation to tropical forests;

Prepare a strategy for the introduction of the Community rural development policy and the forestry strategy.

Set up the administrative structures required for the implementation of EC rural development policy and the forestry strategy.

the operation and development of the common agricultural policy and forestry policy (Articles 32 to 38 and, where appropriate, 95 and 152 of the EC Treaty);

the modernisation and sustainability of agriculture and forestry, including their multifunctional role in order to ensure the sustainable development and promotion of rural areas;

Upgrade administrative structures for design, implementation, management, monitoring, control and evaluation of Community funded rural development programmes and the EU forestry strategy.

In respect of results obtained from forestry practice, information and documentation concerning survival and development of forest reproductive material including growth, must be provided.

The Contracting Parties agree to establish cooperation in the areas of crop and livestock farming, forestry, agro-industry, agri-foodstuffs and tropical products, with a view to raising development levels.

(14) The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, should ensure the coordination, monitoring and development of the scheme and report on it, in particular to the Standing Forestry Committee set up by Council Decision 89/367/EEC( 12 ).

protection and conservation of existing primary forests, with the particular aim of putting an end to illegal logging, and sustainable development of new forest resources by raising the profile of forestry bodies and involving local inhabitants.

As regards rural development, the provision specified in point 2.1 applies without prejudice to specific rules established in Regulation (EC) No 445/2002 for the case of the determination of standard unit costs for certain investments in the forestry sector.

NOTING the rapid development of human activities at the Baltic Sea area, the considerable population living within its catchment area and the highly urbanized and industrialized state of the Contracting Parties as well as their intensive agriculture and forestry,

Cooperation in this field shall have as its aim the modernisation and restructuring of agriculture and the agro-industrial sector, water management, rural development, the gradual harmonisation of veterinary and phytosanitary legislation with Community standards and the development of fishery and forestry sectors in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

In this area, particular attention has to be given to the maintenance and improvement of work with international organisations above all for the development of better quality forestry statistics, including specific criteria and indicators required for environmental management and sustainable forest management.

Activities eligible for financing shall include pilot projects in the field, innovative programmes, studies and research, the results of which will, in addition to their specific objectives, contribute to the development, adjustment and better implementation of forestry policies of the Community and of partner countries.

In reply to the request by the European Parliament in its Resolution on the European Union's forestry strategy(4) the Commission has adopted, a Communication "Forests and Development: the EC approach" setting out a strategy for Community action on the promotion of the conservation and sustainable management of forests in developing countries.

(14) Experience to date in the implementation of rural development programming for the 2000 to 2006 period has shown a need to clarify and simplify certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 and adapt certain aid levels. Such clarifications and adaptations concern mainly the scope and detailed content of support for less-favoured areas and areas with environmental restrictions, training, forestry and promoting the adaptation and development of rural areas.

promote and cooperate in the development, application and diffusion, including transfer, of technologies, practices and processes that control, reduce or prevent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol in all relevant sectors, including the energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management sectors;

(6) As regards rural development, it should be made clear that the rule whereby proof of expenditure may take the form of receipted invoices should apply, but without prejudice to specific rules established in Commission Regulation (EC) No 445/2002 of 26 February 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) fn, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 963/2003 fn, where standard unit costs for certain investments in the forestry sector have to be determined.

(9) Measures under the scheme concerning forest fire monitoring should complement those measures which are undertaken, in particular, pursuant to Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection( 9 ), Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)( 10 ) and Council Regulation (EEC) No 1615/89 of 29 May 1989 establishing a European forestry information and communication system (EFICS)( 11 ).

The cooperative relationship will involve, inter alia, matters relating to urban development and land use for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes; desertification; management of waste, including hazardous and nuclear waste; management of dangerous chemicals; conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; the sustainable management of forestry resources; water quality control; control of pollution from industrial and other sources; control of coastal and marine pollution and the management of marine resources; integrated water catchment management, including management of international river basins; water demand management and issues surrounding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Development of more harmonized Community forestry statistics.

Development of better harmonised Community forestry statistics.

the group on 'Sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry, including integrated development of rural areas`,

achieving food security and sustainable development and management of agricultural, livestock-rearing, forestry and multipurpose activities;

In order to ensure closer and more constant cooperation in the forestry sector between the Member States and the Commission and thereby support forestry measures initiated under the Community agricultural structure and rural development policy, a Standing Forestry Committee, hereinafter referred to as 'the committee' is hereby set up.

Taking account of Member States' forestry policies and measures and programmes relating thereto, of the role of the forestry sector in the context of agricultural structure and rural development policy and of the links between the forestry sector and the various Community policies, the Member States shall keep each other and the Commission informed, within the committee, of the situation and developments in the forestry sector and the relevant policies.

Whereas, moreover, the various Community policies affect the forestry sector and its role in the context of agricultural structure and rural development policy;

Attention will be paid to the development of tools and to providing information on natural landscapes in the context of forestry, land use and biodiversity conservation.

Whereas close and constant cooperation between the Member States and the Commission including in particular a permanent exchange of information between the Member States on forestry situations and developments and the various Community policies affecting the forestry sector is an appropriate instrument for maintaining the effectiveness of forestry measures taken in the context of the agricultural structure and rural development policy;

Whereas in this context the forestry sector must make a major contribution both to creating alternative sources of agricultural income and to the development of forest ecosystems which are favourable to agriculture;

Whereas, by Decision 94/805/EC (3), the Council adopted a specific programme of research in the field of agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development);