Forests are Contributing to a New Sustainable Rural Development Policy

Abstract

Forests and other forested areas represent over 40% of the land of the EU, varying widely from one region to the next. Forests are multifunctional, having economic, social and environmental uses. Forests provide great advantages to the society, regarding health, recreation and tourism. They contribute to rural development and offer about 3 million jobs. A sustainable management of the forests means using the forests and the forested areas in a way and in a rhythm allowing to maintain their biological diversity, productivity, capacity of regeneration, vitality and capacity to accomplish, now and in the future, useful ecological, economic and social functions on the local, national and world level, without damaging other ecosystems.