On Friday 16 July, the European Commission adopted the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030, a flagship initiative of the ‘European Green Deal’.
The strategy (https://bit.ly/36JvQKh ) contributes to the proposed package of measures to achieve at least a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.
The forest strategy aims to ensure the multifunctionality of the EU’s forests and highlights the central role played by forest holders, according to the European Commission.
This strategy is accompanied by a roadmap (https://bit.ly/3xMfOuT ) for the planting of at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030, in full respect of environmental principles.
Speaking to the press, Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski explained that the new forest strategy respects the competences of EU countries and recognises the multifunctionality of forests.
In terms of protection, “we propose strict protection of all remaining primary and old-growth forests in the EU”, said Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius. In terms of management, “what we need is to promote the most sustainable forest management practices at national and local level, in order to better support climate and biodiversity objectives and thus strengthen the resilience of EU forests”, the Commissioner added.
Socioeconomic functions of forests. The European Commission will develop a 2050 roadmap to reduce carbon emissions over the whole life cycle of buildings. As part of the revision of the Construction Products Regulation, the European Commission will develop a standard, robust and transparent methodology for quantifying the climate benefits of wood construction products and other construction materials.
In the framework of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and in order to increase support to forests, the European Commission proposes to provide new ways of sharing information on good practice in the design and implementation of forest-related interventions.
Other initiatives in this area include: - promoting the use of the Natura 2000 logo for non-timber forest products and services; - completing the delegated act on climate taxonomy for forestry and bioenergy in order to better take into account the biodiversity-friendly practices that are being developed, such as close-to-nature forestry; - a new alliance between tourism professionals and foresters.
Protecting, restoring and expanding forests. There is an immediate need to map primary and old-growth forests and to establish their protection regime, according to the strategy.
The European Commission is working with Member States and stakeholders to agree on a common definition of primary and old-growth forests and a strict protection regime by the end of 2021, the strategy says. Member States must urgently commit to completing the mapping and monitoring of these forests and ensure that they do not deteriorate before they begin to implement the protection regime.
Other initiatives: the European Commission will develop, subject to an impact assessment and stakeholder involvement, a voluntary “closer to nature” certification scheme so that the most biodiversity-friendly management practices can be awarded a European quality label.
As part of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the European Commission will propose a legally binding instrument for ecosystem restoration, covering in particular those ecosystems most able to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.
The European Commission also proposes: - a revision of the legislation on forest plant reproductive material to promote the production and marketing of forest plant reproductive material adapted to future climatic conditions; - promoting forest-related interventions in the future CAP (2023-2027) in relation to the objectives of the ‘European Green Deal’, including through the development of payment for ecosystem services schemes and the deployment of carbon-based agricultural practices; - providing technical advice and guidance on the development of the payment for ecosystem services scheme by November 2021; - promoting forest-related remuneration schemes as part of an action plan (to be adopted by the end of 2021) covering both carbon harvesting and carbon removal certification.
Strategic forest monitoring, reporting and data collection. The flagship measure presented is the presentation of a legislative proposal on forest monitoring, reporting and data collection in the EU. A harmonised data collection system at EU level, combined with strategic planning at Member State level, “is essential to ensure that forests can fulfil their multiple functions for climate, biodiversity and the economy”, the European Commission argues.
In this framework, the competent authorities of the Member States will prepare strategic plans for forests and the forestry sector, in full respect of the subsidiarity principle and the Treaty, “by the first quarter of 2023”, according to the strategy.
The Forest Information System for Europe (FISE) is currently the single entry point for data and information to support forest policies in Europe and is already contributing to the monitoring of European forests based on data and information from EU and EEA Member States. The new EU forest monitoring framework will further strengthen the FISE and its infrastructure. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)