Press
Release ECE/TIM/00/1
Geneva, 18 January 2000
Aftermath of the
December windstorms in Europe’s forests:
Emergency clean-up work initiated, planning
for future.
ECE Timber Committee sets up information
clearing house
The December
storms caused major damage in many European forests to stands of trees, wildlife habitat,
buildings, utilities, roads, etc. Foresters are now assessing the damage, initiating
sanitation cuttings and planning for reforestation. Ms. Carol Cosgrove-Sacks, Director,
ECE Trade Division, states, "One of the important roles of the Timber Committee is to
facilitate the transfer of information between countries on catastrophes in forests and
their possible impacts and abatement. To this end we have established a new site under the
Timber Committee website to share information and facilitate the recovery." (www.unece.org/trade/timber/)
European governments, including
France, Germany and Switzerland where substantial forest damage occurred,
are preparing plans to assist with disaster relief. The consequences of the
storms are far reaching, both in time and in their impacts on forests and
forest products markets (see earlier ECE/TIM/99/4 press release for the range of
potential impacts). Current forest harvest plans will be modified to account
for the newly fallen timber. New plans are being made for re-establishment
of forests and wildlife habitat through natural regeneration and planting.
Reliable information is necessary for the
whole process and national and international forest authorities are at present engaged in
collection and analysis. Ms. Cosgrove-Sacks continued, "The Timber Section of the ECE
Trade Division is helping by devoting a portion of its website to updated information on
the consequences of the storms: location and extent of damage, measures taken by
governments and links to additional information."
For further information please contact:
Mr. Kit Prins
Chief, Timber Section
Palais des Nations, room 456
United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UN/ECE)
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +(41 22) 917 2874
Fax: +(41 22) 917 0041
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber