Speech
The conference Adaptation of Forests and Forest Management to Changing Climate with emphasis on Forest Health, Umeå 27 August 2008
Eskil Erlandsson J, Minister for Agriculture

Speech by Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Agriculture, during the conference Adaptation of Forests and Forest Management to Changing Climate with emphasis on Forest Health

Highly Esteemed conference participants,

Let me start by welcoming the initiative behind this conference identifying the importance of international research and cooperation on a global issue. I am very pleased to be able to meet you here in Umeå and I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to you about this very important issue. I find the initiative to the conference excellent and will take the opportunity to thank the organisers and other who have supported the conference.

The climate issue is global and requires measures in all countries. International cooperation and exchange of experiences and research-results are essential both in the work against global warming and in the challenge of adapting our society to a changed climate. This also includes adaptation of forest management. Cooperation and exchanging experiences with developing countries is a particularly important part of long-term global work to address climate change. I am therefore very happy to se representatives from so many different countries present here at the conference. I am convinced that this conference will lead to further cooperation and deepened knowledge. But I also believe and hope that the dialogue and the discussions during the conference between individuals and groups from different parts of the world will lead to an increased understanding for each other's specific problems and situations. This will be very important while working for an efficient future global climate agreement. For example, this week the parties of the United Nations Climate Convention meet in Accra in Ghana to discuss how forestry and other land uses can be part of a global climate agreement.

The Swedish Government consider the climate change to be a major priority issue. The challenge is clear; greenhouse gas emissions must be stabilised at a level that prevents harmful impact on people, animals and the environment.

The Government's climate policy includes a strong international commitment. We have bilateral agreements with for example the United States and Brazil in the field of renewable energy. We also have close cooperation with all parts of the Swedish society; from consumers and researchers to businesses and NGO:s. We do have great ambitions! The Government provides further about 155 millions US Dollars in the field of climate and energy and 65 millions US Dollars in energy efficiency measures during 2008-2010. Part of this is aimed for sustainable production of bio energy in agriculture and forestry. We also contribute to more energy efficient house building, promote sustainable cities and communities, initiate projects on developing environmental technology, and, of course, invest just over 155 millions US Dollars on climate and environment research for 2008.I will give you a few examples of ongoing Swedish research programmes in the climate field:

One basic program is research on greenhouse gas balances and the effects of climate change on various ecosystems.

Another program concerns research on climate tools to give different actors better basis for drafting strategies for adjustment to climate change.

To find ways to increase the amount of biomass available, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences will investigate the possibilities to manage forests in a more intense way than what is common in Sweden today.

The Government will also commission the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with the Swedish Forest Agency to report the development of emissions and mitigation of green house gases from Swedish forests and to develop predictions for the future.

The forests are affected by climate change in several ways;
- decreased use of fossil resources will increases the demand for biomass from forestry and agriculture
- the forest ecosystems are highly exposed and directly affected by a changed climate which means that we need to adapt our forest management too meet a changed climate.

But forests can also offer solutions that are beneficial both from a mitigation and from an adaptation perspective. In Sweden we work for a long-term sustainable use of our forests, and increased production of biomass. It is up to the market to decide what the produced biomass should be used for. The main part of bio energy that comes from Swedish forests consists of branches, tree tops and other wood that normally is not used for other purposes. To me, that is an effective use of the forest resource.

The Government's policy is that a high and stable growth of the forests is fundamental for using the forest as a tool in the climate work. A high growth counteracts climate change by storing carbon in the growing forests, in the soil and in forest products as well as by an increased use of bio energy production

In Sweden we have the view that the changed climate will lead to rather big changes for the land ecosystems. The changed climate might also lead to increased insect- and fungal infestations, storms and flooding which in turn definitely will affect the forests. Because of the long rotation periods in the forests, especially here in the Northern parts of the world, it is even more important to adapt the forest management at an early stage. It is important, however, - that the adaptation of forest management does not lead to a loss of biodiversity. Stable and diverse forests and forest ecosystems are important for the resilience of the environment and also for the long-term sustainable forest production.

We need to know more about how we can adapt the forest management to a different climate situation. It is therefore important to focus on intense and high quality research with a broad participation from as many countries as possible. And this conference is a good example of such an initiative. I have also understood that this conference is the first of three, which puts the necessary focus on the issue.

Finally let me once again point out the global perspective. Sweden tries to the best of our abilities, to meet the threat of a changed climate, but measures and economical means of control in such a small country as Sweden is of no effect if corresponding measures are not taken in other parts of the world. Sweden has high hopes for the ongoing negotiations within the United Nation-system. It is extremely important to keep to the timetable and agree on a new effective global agreement when the parties meet in Copenhagen in the end of 2009.

Thank you very much for listening to me. I wish you good luck for the continuing conference here in Umeå as well as for the two following conferences in China and in Russia later this year.

Thank you!