Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Kostov took part in the Sixth Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe "Forest Europe", held from 14 to 15 in Oslo, Norway. During the forum major issues affecting the sustainable management of forests and forest ecosystems were discussed and a report on the state of European forests in 2011was presented The Sixth Forest Europe Ministerial Conference ended by signing a binding agreement on forests. An intergovernmental committee was set up and given a mandate to hold negotiations. The document, entitled "Oslo Ministerial Decision: European Forests 2020" sets forth the vision, objectives, Europe's tasks and the mission of Forest Europe until 2020. The participants discussed the sustainable management of forests and forest ecosystems.
After a good assessment of the state of European forests 4 main challenges have been identified, namely:
Reporting on the forest sector in Bulgaria, Kostov emphasized that a new Forests Act had been adopted by which Bulgaria became the first state in Europe which introduces rates for ecosystem services. The act regulates the activities involved in taking an inventory of woodlands and the application of new, environment-friendly forestry practices, and sets rules for access to forests.
After a good assessment of the state of European forests 4 main challenges have been identified, namely:
- The importance of forests for mitigation and adaptation to climate change;
- Biodiversity conservation and forest habitats;
- Implementation of green policies - increasing the share of energy production from renewable energy sources and especially from forest resources;
- Sustainable forest management in the conduct of a green economy;
Reporting on the forest sector in Bulgaria, Kostov emphasized that a new Forests Act had been adopted by which Bulgaria became the first state in Europe which introduces rates for ecosystem services. The act regulates the activities involved in taking an inventory of woodlands and the application of new, environment-friendly forestry practices, and sets rules for access to forests.