On Monday 15 November, EU agriculture ministers adopted conclusions welcoming the publication of a new EU forestry strategy for 2030.
They recall the contribution of forests, through their multifunctional role, to the European Green Deal and to the global forest-related objectives and targets, including those of the 2030 Agenda.
The Council takes note of the initiative for a legislative proposal for a Forest Observation, Reporting and Data Collection framework, including Member States' Strategic Plans for Forests. It also requests clarification on the added value of these plans.
EU Ministers urge that the added value of existing voluntary certification schemes for sustainable forest management should be a precondition for any consideration of introducing new certification schemes. The EU Council is awaiting the Commission’s planned legislative proposal and non-legislative measures on “minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market”.
Link to the conclusions: https://bit.ly/3nf5VTO (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)