The main topic at the concluding UN International Year of Forest is the forest for people. The Rome based UN World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) serves as the global coordination point for forest topics, publishing regular overviews of the condition of the world's forests. Overviews are published every two years. The ninth overview in the series raises the following three topics to the forefront: the sustainable development of forestry, the roll of forests in climate change and the value of forests to local populations. The international seminar was dedicated to the different values and diverse use of forests. Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment Rita Annus, Head of the Forest Department Marku Lamp, and adviser Hanno Zingel, gave a presentation about the importance of forests to Estonia and on the organisation of forest management. FOA representative Peter Csoka, who participated in the seminar, considered it important to emphasise the roll of the organisation’s member states in the propagation of sustainable forestry and the opportunities for wider use of wood as a renewable resource, including in the production of energy. The seminar was opened by Enersto Mazzetti, Vice President of Italy’s Geographical Society, who realised that Italy has much to learn from Estonia’s forestry, and a mutual exchange of information would be of benefit to both parties. Additional illumination regarding Italy’s forestry topics was provided representatives of Corpo Forestale from the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory and the Ministry of Agriculture. Within the framework of the seminar a photo exhibition of Estonia's forests was opened. |
