29 January 2009

Poplar: a strategic wood species for Europe: Creation of Pro-Populus

On December 5th, 2008, representatives from a wide range of organisations interested in the production and use of “poplar” have created the non-profit “European poplar association”, in short “Pro-Populus”.
The new association is unique in the sense that, for the first time ever, it assembles both growers, promoters and industrial users of poplar for the variety of uses it offers (panels, packaging, energy etc.).

The main goals of the new association will be to
o Position poplar as a strategic raw material;
o gather, promote, defend and represent the production and use of poplar;
o present a platform for information exchange;
o study any question of interest to the poplar sector.

All founders are convinced that poplar presents unique features rendering it ideal in supporting many transversal policy areas within the European Union, such as e.g. raw material availability, climate change mitigation, renewable energy use, development of territories.
Nevertheless we regretfully notice that politicians do not act much due to the fact that they are unaware of these qualities. Far from being helped, poplar cultivators much too often meet with administrative barriers which prevent from properly developing the plantings.
This is the reason why everyone related in a way or another to poplar created this association so as to develop a close co-operation with the European Commission services and the European Parliament.
The Board members appointed during the first meeting have received the tasks of developing a detailed action plan to be agreed upon at the first General Assembly of the association later this year.

Founding members of the association are:
o Associazione Pioppicoltori Italiani, asbl, Via Isonzo 27. 20121 Milan, Italie
o Centre de populiculture du Hainaut asbl, Rue Paul Pastur 11, 7800 Ath, Belgique
o Chambre Syndicale du Peuplier de France, 6 Rue Francois Ier, 75008 Paris, France
o FEDEMAR asbl, Galerie du Centre, Bloc I, Rue de la Fourche 26, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
o Fédération nationale des Scieries, asbl, Rue royale 163, 1210 Bruxelles, Belgique
o Federlegno-Arredo asbl, Foro Buonaparte 65, 20121 Milan, Italie
o Unie Vlaamse Bosbouw vzw, Blijkheerstraat 48, 1755 Gooik, Belgique
o Pedro Garnica Ortiz, Espagne

The creation of the new association was supported by CEI-Bois, the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, where the association has its legal seat.