The EU Commission's forest strategy puts too much focus on climate protection for the agriculture ministers of the European Union.
In a joint position they demanded a “balance” between ecological and economic aspects.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) criticized a “one-sided view” of climate and environmental goals after a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels.
“Economic aspects” primarily refer to the wood industry.
It should be given more consideration in the protection and management of forests.
At the meeting in Brussels on Monday, the ministers adopted a joint forest strategy with which forests should contribute to the EU's climate goals.
"It is about a good balance between biodiversity, climate protection and economic efficiency in order to secure the EU's self-sufficiency with wood," said Klöckner.
Commission had rushed ahead
The ministers welcomed the plan for the protection and management of forests presented by the EU Commission in July.
Among other things, this provides for the planting of three billion trees.
The Authority also proposed setting binding targets for Member States to make forests more resilient to climate change.
A compensation system for forest owners who leave certain areas untouched is also planned.
When implementing concrete measures, however, the EU agriculture ministers demand that "the diversity of forests and forest management methods in the various member states and regions" be respected.
The authority had developed the forest strategy without consulting the member states.
However, forest management is a matter for individual countries and not for the EU.
Klöckner had also criticized this: the member states “did not believe that centralized requirements could ultimately replace specialist knowledge, science, but also local practice,” she said before the ministerial meeting.
The European Association of Forest Owners (CEPF) welcomed the conclusion of the EU ministers.