New Forest Policy Statement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment.

This Policy Statement is based on four guiding principles: principle of sustainability, principle of multiple-purpose forestry, principle of integrated management of the forest ecosystem and the principle of participatory decision-making. The Policy Statement defines the vision and the goals and objectives for the conservation, protection and sustainable management of forests and the related actions for implementing these goals. The Policy Statement provides the following vision: strengthening conservation, protection, expansion, improvement and sustainable management of forest resources and greenery in general, utilising modern methods and practices and taking into account the multiple functions of forest ecosystems, the needs and expectations of society as well as international trends, in order to maintain forests in the best possible conditions. Particularly, this Policy Statements goals' are: improving conservation of forests and woodlands; increasing forestry protection measures; adaptation of forests to climate change and strengthening the contribution of forests to addressing climate change; protection of biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage; strengthening measures for tourism and recreational forest utilisation; improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of mountainous areas and forests; strengthening the protective role of forests and their contribution to combating desertification; improving production of timber and other forest products; strengthening protection measures against forest fires.