zemeunvalsts.lv commentary
In Latvia, there is a tendency to talk about the good experience of other countries, often forgetting that experience comes from working. It is equally common to forget the traditions of other countries. In Germany, the forestry sector is important, but perhaps not to the same scale and level (relatively speaking) as in Latvia. However, recognizing its significance and importance in certain regions, the German Federal Government has found financial support for the 2020 situation, without forgetting sustainability, the climate, and certification.
In Latvia in 2020, the consequences of a long-term lack of policy are very acutely visible. Specifically, the phrase "There is more money than ever!" rings in the ears, which might be pleasing until you remember that the person uttering the phrase on the TV box has also spoken about their own drawer, which contains documents that would provide the state and its entrepreneurs with the opportunity to earn. An addiction to "incoming or future, not earned money"...
Support during this time is needed by many. But alas: "There was a lot of money..."
The main thing for which the government (more precisely, some of its representatives) can and should be criticized is that it has continued to operate and has activated additional mechanisms of prohibitions, restrictions, brakes, etc., caring little or, like the owner of the drawer, not understanding: "Where there is work, there is bread..."
We have people in Latvia who pretend that one can get by without working, by discussing, reaching agreements, etc., and that "the money will just come". Surely there will be somewhere to take it from. The most peculiar fact is that, for the most part, the restrictors, limiters, and narrow-minded individuals rarely encounter the forest, the land, the countryside, the garden, their care, planting, or weeding, but would gladly green the Riga-Kekava highway by carrying out and placing flower pots along its edges... That will be green, and there will be enough for everyone! ...
Berlin. On Friday, 20 November, the Guidelines for financial assistance and the disbursement of funds for the national forestry sector, approved by the German Federal Minister Julia Klöckner (Julia Klöckner), came into effect. Forest damage (bark beetle) and various types of restrictions associated with the spread of the coronavirus have strongly affected many forest owners and forestry companies in Germany. The coronavirus pandemic has complicated the situation in forest work and the timber market. As revenues from timber sales are decreasing or non-existent, there is a lack of funds for the reforestation of already harvested areas. In these difficult times, financial support for the forestry sector is an important affirmation and support for forest management and maintenance, including for the forest as a significant CO2 reservoir and climate stabilizer with its broad significance in society.
Aid for the forest and forest owners from the so-called “German coronavirus period economic support funds” is intended to total 500 million euros. Applications for this can be made on the website www.bundeswaldpraemie.de. It must be emphasized that the forest support funding is not available to all forest owners. One of the prerequisites for receiving support is forest (sustainability) certification. For forests certified under the PEFC system, the support amount is 100 euros/ha, and for FSC-certified forests — 120 euros/ha.
“Forest management according to clear and concrete sustainability criteria is a legally mandated task and a self-evident action, so it is not understandable why the disbursement of support funds is further linked to certification. Moreover, the privileges of certification systems do not seem useful here”, emphasizes Georg Schirmbeck (Georg Schirmbeck), President of the German Forestry Council (DFWR).
Forestry holdings (forest properties) that are not yet certified can implement this until 30 September 2021. The right to apply for support lies with private and municipal forest owners who own at least one hectare of forest. Forest support is subject to the so-called De-minimis regulation, according to which the maximum support amount is 200,000 euros over a three-year period. The support money must be paid out by the end of 2021, as these are financial funds from the coronavirus period economic stimulus package. This year (2020), 170 million out of the 500 million euros must be paid out.
“All forest owners are invited to apply for support as soon as possible so that the money benefits forest maintenance sooner and it does not expire”, urges Georg Schirmbeck.
The “Sustainability Financial Support” is part of the “Wald & Holz” coronavirus period economic support money, the total volume of which is 700 million euros. Of this, 200 million is intended for investments in modern forest and timber management, as well as construction using timber. Already at the beginning of November this year, using these funds, a 50-million-euro program was launched, investing in IT hardware and software, equipment, devices, systems, and structures used in sustainable forestry and mobile timber processing.
(Translated from German)