Matecna to Support Non-productive Functions of Forests with €2 million

Bratislava, October 9 (TASR) – The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry has prepared a decree, in effect from October 1, on providing support in forest management for meeting the so-called non-productive functions of forests, stated Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matecna (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) at a press conference in Bratislava on Monday.

Head of the Agriculture Ministry’s service office Jaroslav Regec and General Director of the ministry’s Department of Forestry and Wood Processing Peter Kicka were also present at the press conference.

Matecna said that forests serve not only as a reservoir of wood, but they also fulfil important protective, environmental and community functions. These non-productive functions of forests are often being taken for granted by the public, as if they didn’t require any special effort or attention.

“We’re aware of the importance of such forests and we want to support those who take care of them. That’s why we’ve introduced this decree,” she said. According to the minister, the new decree is aimed at motivating forest managers and keepers to manage the forests in a sustainable way, whose primary objective isn’t profit, but meeting the public and non-productive functions of forests.

“By introducing the decree we’re also meeting the Government Manifesto…,” said Matecna, adding that the ministry has allocated €2 million to this effect, which will be available via the Agricultural Paying Agency (PPA).

The Environment Ministry has welcomed the Agriculture Ministry’s aforementioned initiative.