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MINSK, 17 October (BelTA) - Belarus and Poland will implement a joint forest inventory project. The agreement was reached during the European Forest Week, BelTA learned from the press service of the Forestry Ministry of Belarus.

Other agreements that were reached during the forum include the documents on combating drying out of forests due to climate change, increasing exports to Russia. The high-level roundtable discussed the topical issues such the strengthening of sustainable development in the light of the Paris agreement on climate change.

The adaptation of forests to the changing climatic conditions is a pressing issue for Belarus, Belarus’ Forestry Minister Mikhail Amelyanovich said during the meeting. "Windfalls, forest fires, increased susceptibility to certain pests and diseases are the effects of the climate change which Belarus has faced in recent years. However, the most pressing issue at the moment is the drying out of forests. Together with our Ukrainian partners we are ready to provide a platform for joint studies to develop science-based comprehensive measures to improve the softwoods in the region,” Mikhail Amelyanovich said.

The European Forest Week was hosted by Warsaw on 9-13 October. First held in 2008, the forum brings together the forestry ministry heads of the European states – UN members. This year the forum was held in conjunction with the Joint Session of the UNECE Committee of Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI) and the FAO European Forestry Commission (EFC). More than 50 countries took part in the European Forest Week.