From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Senator Pippa Hackett delivered a statement with other European Forestry Ministers to the Forest Europe Ministerial Conference being held in Bartislava, Slovakia. The conference which is taking place over two days from the 14th to 15th April 2021 will see Ministers adopt resolutions on the subjects of adapting forests to climate change and the future of European forests.
The Minister stated,
“On behalf of the Irish Government and as Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry I am delighted to acknowledge and support the excellent work of Forest Europe. I am especially pleased to make a statement to the Conference on the important topic of adapting forests to a changing climate. I am also pleased to show Irelands support for the Ministerial resolutions and declarations that I will sign during the conference proceedings.”
Minister Hackett continued,
“The world’s forests play an important role in regulating our climate and supporting biodiversity but they are also vulnerable to the impacts of rising temperatures. Climate change will continue to have significant impacts across many habitats and species.
“In Ireland, we have published a Climate Change Adaptation Plan and a strategy for the Sustainable Development and Conservation of forest genetic resources. These plans are important and bring together existing knowledge and expertise to chart a path forward to identify the likely risks and adaptation strategies for the future.”
Notes for editor:
Established in 1990 ‘FOREST EUROPE’ is the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. It is a Pan-European voluntary high-level political process for intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation on forest policies in Europe. There are 47 signatories to it (46 countries and the European Union). FOREST EUROPE develops common strategies for these signatories on how to protect and sustainably manage their forests.
Further information on the 8th Ministerial Conference taking place (virtually) in Bratislava, Slovakia is available here - 8th Ministerial Conference - Forest Europe
ENDS