In the European context the Baltic States along with the Nordic countries have the largest forest areas. For example the contribution of forestry to Latvian GDP amounts to ca 5%. With the development of green economy and growing use of renewable resources the demand for timber and timber products is expected to grow even further.
In March 2012 the European Commission published a declaration titled "Inclusion of Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector in the Union's climate change commitments". The declaration deal with the latest issues related to the LULUCF and proposes their gradual adjustment – harmonisation of the LULUCF sector's accountancy requirements at the EU level and inclusion of the LULUCF sector into the EU reduction objectives of greenhouse gas emissions.
Regional cooperation is tremendously important for the exchange of technical knowledge. Geographic and climatic similarities allow the methodology of calculating greenhouse gas emissions (in forestry, agriculture) to be adapted in another neighbouring country. Such projects offer a platform for discussion, activate interaction of experts as well as make it possible to invite scientists and take part of their latest findings.
The project is being successfully implemented and is highly appreciated also by EU institutions. The project's coordinator Daiga Zute, senior officer at the Forestry Strategy and Support Division of the Latvian Ministry's of Agriculture Forest Department, will present the project both in Novara (Italy) and in Brussels.
