21. 11. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 326/5 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3529/86 of 17 November 1986 on protection of the Community’s forests against fire THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (3, Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas forests play an essential part in maintaining fundamental balances, particularly as regards soil, water, climate, fauna and flora; whereas they therefore contri- bute to safeguarding and promoting the development of agriculture, a sector in which production conditions and, in some cases, the very existence of activity depend largely on the presence and health of neighbouring forests ; 4 Whereas the forests of the Community have been serio- usly damaged by fire; whereas the situation is increa- singly giving grounds for concern; Whereas the protection of forests against fire is thus a matter of particular importance and urgency in the Community ; whereas the Community must contribute to the improvement of such protection ; Whereas Member States must be encouraged to reinforce forest fire prevention measures in order to reduce the number and the scale of outbreaks of fire ; Whereas, by encouraging the development of fire preven- tion techniques, equipment and products, Member States will be able to reduce the number apd scale of forest . fires ; Whereas the implementation of forest fire prevention measures will be more effective if backed up by supple- mentary measures to encourage harmonization of techni- ques and equipment, including coordination of the neces- sary research ; Whereas to facilitate implementation of the measures envisaged, provision should be made for a procedure establishing close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission ; () OJ No C 187, 13. 7. 1983, p. 9. () OJ No C 172, 2. 7. 1984, p. 87. () OJ No C 358, 31. 12. 1983, p. 50. Whereas before the end of a five-year period the measures taken must be reviewed in the light, inter alia, of the experience acquiréd and the results obtained ; Whereas the Community should help to finance Commu- nity schemes for the protection of forests against fire ; Whereas, given the innovatory nature of some of the measures provided for, it is appropriate to review the financial aspects of this Regulation after a period of two years, to enable any necessary budgetary adjustments to be made ; ‘ Whereas the Treaty has not provided for all the powers necessary for this purpose, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 A Community scheme is hereby established to protect forests against fire, hereinafter referred to as ‘scheme’, in order to provide increased protection for forests in the Community and thereby contribute to safeguarding in particular the productive potential of agriculture. Article 2 1.  The scheme shall cover the following preventive measures : (a) encouragement for forestry operations designed to reduce the risk of fire ; (b) encouragement for the purchase of brush-clearance equipment where indispensable ; (c) the provision of forest roads, fire belts and water supplies ; (d) the installation of fixed or mobile look-out structures ; (¢) the organization of information campaigns; (f) assistance in establishing interdisciplinary data- gathering centres and assistance for subsequent ana- lytical surveys of the data gathered. These measures shall be supplemented by the following : — encouragement for the training of highly specialized personnel, — encouragement for the harmonization of techniques and equipment, ) : — co-ordination of the research necessary for implemen- ting the measures referred to in the first and second indents.