A3-0020/94

Resolution on cork oak disease

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr da Cunha Oliveira on cork tree disease in Portugal (B3-1093/92),

-having regard to its opinion of 26 May 1989 on the Community's strategy and action in the forestry sector, highlighting the protection of the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution and fire, the establishment of a European Forestry Information and Communication System and the setting-up of a Standing Forestry Committee,

-having regard to its opinion of 10 July 1992 on the proposal concerning protection of the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution,

-having regard to its opinion of 10 July 1992 on the proposal concerning protection of the Community's forests against fire,

-having regard to its opinion of 24 January 1991 on the specific programme of research and technological development in the field of agriculture and agro-industry (1990-94),

-having regard to its resolution of 16 September 1993 on the process of desertification in the European Community and measures to control it,

-having regard to the research programme on raw materials and recycling (1990-92), which contains a sub-programme for renewable raw materials: forestry and wood products (Forest),

-having regard to the Commission report on the plant health situation of forests (1991), drawn up by the Directorate-General for Agriculture,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having delegated the power of decision, pursuant to Rule 52 of its Rules of Procedure, to the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development (A3-0020/94),

A.whereas cork oak plantations, which represent a specific and unique agroforestry system in the Community, have a high economic and social value for the regions in which they are situated,

B.whereas the Community is currently the world's largest cork producer, accounting for 87% of production and 61.3% of the area covered by cork trees in the Mediterranean region; whereas it therefore has a special responsibility to protect this important part of our heritage; whereas the remaining 13% of production and 38.7% of area covered in the Mediterranean region are accounted for by the neighbouring Maghreb countries,

C.whereas the rational exploitation of cork plantations requires human presence and cork groves are thus an important factor in keeping the rural population on the land without leading to surplus production,

D.whereas cork plantations have deteriorated alarmingly in recent years with a considerable increase in the death of trees,

E.whereas this decline could lead to the cork oak's complete disappearance unless appropriate measures are taken as a matter of urgency,

F.whereas this worrying situation is likely to cause extremely serious economic and social problems in regions which are already at a disadvantage,

G.whereas the causes of the decline in cork plantations have not been clearly established and appear to be complex and highly diverse in nature,

1.Calls on the Commission to plan and encourage rapid and vigorous action at Community level, with the necessary cooperation of the Member States concerned, designed to check the current decline in cork oak plantations;

2.Proposes that a systematic analysis of the causes of decline in a series of representative ecosystems should be embarked upon immediately, to be followed by the drawing-up of a suitable coordinated R&D programme at national and Community level;

3.Recalls that since identical problems are to be found in the cork forests of neighbouring Mediterranean countries such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, it would, perhaps, be appropriate and useful to involve bodies and individuals from these countries both in the systematic analysis of the causes of decline and in the drawing up of a suitable coordinated R&D programme at Mediterranean regional level;

4.Calls on the Commission to include three fundamental elements in action to combat the decline in cork cultivation: the restoration of existing plantations, the regeneration of abandoned plantations and the creation of new plantations;

5.Asks the Commission to adapt current Community aid schemes for forestry to the specific nature of cork cultivation, particularly with respect to subsidies and premiums and the distinction between agricultural, agro-forestry and forestry land;

6.Draws the attention of the Commission and Council to the need for the speedy formulation of a Community policy for the entire cork sector, which provides an important link between agriculture, forestry and industry;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.