Europe’s Cities Choose PEFC Certified Christmas Trees Once Again

16 December 2013 News

The Christmas trees adorning St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City and the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, once again come from PEFC certified forests. By choosing a PEFC certified tree, for the fourth time in the Vatican and the second time in Brussels, both cities have ensured their tree has come from a forest that is sustainably managed and has a bright future ahead of it.

This Christmas, the sixty year old 25 meter spruce tree decorating Vatican City comes the municipal forests of Domažlice in the Czech Republic, a longstanding holder of a PEFC certificate.

“A beautiful tree from PEFC certified forests is certainly a dignified and opportune gift, and I believe it was chosen not only for its extraordinary appearance, but also because it comes from controlled forests that are healthy, beautiful and retained for future generations,” said Stanislav Slanina, National Secretary of PEFC Czech Republic. “Among other things, a PEFC certified tree helps to highlight the need to protect endangered and threatened forests, which are among the world's most endangered ecosystems.”

A symbol of Czech-German friendship, the tree grown in the Czech Republic was donated to the town of Waldmunchen just across the border in Germany. It was then transported to the Vatican, arriving a day early on 5 December. Lifted into place with a giant crane, the tree was decorated and then lit for the first time on 13 December, in the presence of Pope Francis.

In Brussels, the giant spruce tree, which reaches 17 meters high, was erected in the Grand Place on 19 November as part of the city’s annual Christmas festivities.

“During the Winter Wonders, the visitors are always enchanted by the Christmas tree on the Grand Place, it is a tradition that they are extremely attached to,” said Philippe Close, Alderman for Tourism of the City of Brussels. “We are happy that the spruce tree chosen this year comes from our own forests and, even more, it carries the PEFC label. This represents the values which our citizens also take to heart.”

This carefully chosen PEFC-labelled spruce tree is a present to the City of Brussels from the Walloon region and originates from the Soor valley in the western Hertogenwald forest of the Belgian High Fens.

Carlo Di Antonio, the Walloon Minister of Forests was delighted to offer the Grand Place a Walloon Christmas tree. “Beyond all the charm and tradition that this tree represents, it is also a unique opportunity to promote Wallonia to the people of Brussels and to the millions of international visitors who come to our country’s capital every year.”

Elsewhere in Europe, the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, London, UK - an annual gift from Norway - is also sourced from a PEFC-certified forest area.