The EU Forest Action Plan 2007-2011

In the past the European Union has dealt with forest-related matters on a piecemeal basis, using the limited number of policy instruments available in a sector which is mainly market-based and under the responsibility of national governments. As the need for a more structured approach has become apparent, not least due to EU enlargements that have significantly increased its forest area, a series of initiatives has been developed, the most significant of which is the EU Forest Action Plan (FAP).

The FAP aims to provide a coherent framework for implementing forest-related measures and to serve as an instrument of coordination between what the EU does and the forest policies of its 27 Member States. Adopted in 2006, the Action Plan covers a period of five years starting in 2007. It encompasses both EU forest-related actions and those to be carried out by the Member States according to their specific conditions and priorities.