Reinhardt Neft, Managing Director of Bayerische Staatsforsten AöR, has been elected as the new President of EUSTAFOR.
In addition to electing the members of the Executive Committee, EUSTAFOR’s General Assembly also decided on the association’s Strategy for the coming 3 years. The new Strategy identifies relevant ways in which EUSTAFOR can effectively contribute to, and cope with, challenging developments in areas such as climate change, the bio- and circular economies, multi-purpose forestry as a provider of income, social benefits and ecosystem services, and biodiversity (including the management of protected areas).
“On behalf of EUSTAFOR, I would like to thank Per-Olof Wedin for his great effort on sustainable forestry in Europe during his presidency,” says Reinhardt Neft. “In my opinion, an important strength of EUSTAFOR is that we offer a platform which perfectly serves knowledge transfer between EUSTAFOR members. Moreover, one important strategic objective will be to increase communication on international and national level as well as to inform and convince the public that sustainably managed forests serve the economy, ecology and society equally,” says Reinhardt Neft.
Reinhardt Neft replaces Per-Olof Wedin, CEO of Sveaskog (Sweden). Mr. Wedin has stepped down from EUSTAFOR’s presidency, which he held for four years, but will continue to serve on the committee.
Further members of the Executive Committee, elected for a term of 2 years, include Metsähallitus (Vice-President – Finland), Lesy České Republiky s.p. (Czech Republic), Office National des Forêts (France), Coillte (Ireland), Lasy Państwowe (Poland), ROMSILVA (Romania) and Riigimetsa Majandamise Keskus (Estonia).
EUSTAFOR was established in 2006. Its members are state forest management organizations from 24 European countries.
