With the decarbonisation target of 2013 having been increased (‘fit for 55’), the European Commission tabled a proposal in mid-July 2021 to modify the 2018 rules, improving the way in which emissions and absorptions from the LULUCF sector are recorded and pinpointing the national trajectories.
Most significantly, the institution unveiled the ‘New EU Forest Strategy for 2030’, to replace its predecessor from 2013 (see EUROPE 12764/1). This weighty document contained a plea in favour of vaster, healthier and more diversified forests, particularly in terms of carbon storage and sequestration, human health and biodiversity. It listed the socio-economic importance of forests in rural areas, the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems, data monitoring and collection, improving our understanding of the forests through research and innovation, EU governance in this area and, finally, a reinforcement of the application of the legislative texts already in place. The many actions announced include the planting of an additional 3 billion trees in the EU by 2030 and a legislative proposal to block imports that contribute to global deforestation. The tone is voluntary and the Commission’s role stands at front and centre.
On 3 September, the MEPs of the parliamentary committee on agriculture critiqued the new strategy: it places too much emphasis on the role of forests as carbon sinks, the financial support to forest managers is in at, there were no prior consultations of other institutions and it goes beyond the Commission’s remit (see EUROPE 12783/8). The Council responded in a similar vein. Several ministers expressed their misgivings over the course of the autumn; finally, the conclusions of the Council dated 15 November 2021 welcomed the initiative, but stressed the role of the member states, FOREST EUROPE and the standing committee on forests, regretting the fact that certain aspects of forests had been overlooked and casting doubt upon the need for national strategic plans (see EUROPE 12832/9).
Two days later, the Commission tabled its proposed regulation aiming to reduce global deforestation caused by imports of certain products into the EU. It held the line more than the above-mentioned strategy, but also responded to an own-initiative Parliament resolution (see EUROPE 12586/21) aiming to clean up the supply chain: only products that make no contribution to deforestation would be allowed onto European soil; operators had to be able to guarantee this for six base products (beef, soya, wood, palm oil, cocoa and coffee, reserving the right to add other products in the future). This was a global first: the EU called upon its partners to follow suit (see EUROPE 12834/1).
In a lengthy resolution voted through on 13 September 2022, the Parliament had its say on the new forest strategy. This was a result of an extremely thorough study (different types of forest and the management of these, the importance of water, etc.) and calls for balanced multi-functionality, tackling illegal forestry, the roles of the CAP and the ‘Natura 2000’ network, and much more besides (see EUROPE 13020/5).
The spring of 2023 would prove a fruitful time, with two legislative procedures taking shape.
Firstly, the modification of the 2018 rules on LULUCF was completed in the regulation of 19 April 2023. Its aim was to achieve 310 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in net carbon absorptions by 2030. Current progress seems on the scanty side; at least this is what was suggested by a meeting held on 12 September between the MEPs of the committee on the environment and a senior European Commission official (see EUROPE 13481/6).
Secondly, an agreement was signed between the Parliament and the Council (see EUROPE 13165/12), followed by the ‘global deforestation’ regulation on 31 May 2023. Its implementation, however, will not be straightforward. Certain key articles will not be applied until 30 December of this year and others not until 30 June 2025. Even so, several member states and various entities, including six countries of South America (see EUROPE 13467/6), have requested that the commitments be postponed (see EUROPE 13404/5). And then Germany called for the suspension of the regulation, prompting a reaction from former European Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, now a member of the European Parliament, arguing that the parties concerned had had several years to prepare and that the implementation date should be respected. On 22 August, the Commission had reminded member states that this would be the case (see EUROPE 13482/13).
Within this dual legislative framework, the institution was able to adopt delegated acts. It is also worth noting that in March 2023, it published guidelines on forestation, reforestation and the planting of trees, as well as the definition, cartography, monitoring and stricter protection of the primary and ancient forests (see EUROPE 13146/9) followed, in July, by guidelines on more nature-friendly forest management and payment systems for forestry ecosystem services (see EUROPE 13232/4).
In 2024, the European Parliament’s vote in February in favour of the regulation on the restoration of nature (see EUROPE 13359/1), followed by the agreement of the Council of the EU on 17 June (see EUROPE 13433/2), led, after a period of considerable suspense, to an historic act in favour of biodiversity. This highly publicised text concerns all ecosystems and therefore also covers forests.
In the framework of the competition policy, moreover, several state aid notifications aiming to regenerate forests received favourable responses. The planting of more than 3 billion trees between now and 2030 is running to schedule (see EUROPE 13376/34). Finally, civil protection is now being organised more intensely at European Union level so as to provide the assistance in the event of natural disasters such as flooding and forest fires. Following Albania and Greece, Portugal became its most recent beneficiary to save the forests of Madeira, which enjoy World Heritage status (see EUROPE 13466/9).
Reacting effectively to emergency situations is one thing; prevention and avoiding disaster quite another. It was no doubt with this in mind that the Commission tabled a proposed regulation on 22 November 2023 on forest surveillance, aiming, amongst other things, at the early detection of threats, the identification of remedial action needed and resilience planning with an eye to the developing climate (see EUROPE 13298/15). Accompanied by an impact assessment, a report on forest fires and a reform of the standing committee on forests, the dossier made a very strong case, particularly as several forests cover at least two national territories. The text has been discussed several times at the Council and the Economic and Social Committee has returned its opinion. Procedurally speaking, the work is done.
All these initiatives must not detract from the fact that the CAP remains the EU’s principal financing tool for forestry (in the neighbourhood of 90%). Overall, therefore, it is an extremely vast area that is both complex and decisive for our future. Our forestry sector represents 2 million jobs; it covers more privately-owned (60% in terms of area) than public land. The contrasts are even more striking when comparing member states: the most forested countries of Finland and Sweden (more than 60% of total surface area), followed by Slovenia, Latvia and Estonia; at the other end of the scale, with less than 10%, come the Netherlands and Malta. Many other distinctions are possible besides: primary forest, planted or naturally regenerated, alpine, Mediterranean or boreal forests, land wooded or not. Our forests also differ along the lines of tree species, biodiversity, types of habitat, water content and much more.
Looking at our planet as a whole, deforestation alone is responsible for 11% of greenhouse gas emissions; it can seriously harm the rights of native populations. It is possible to monitor this using the ‘Copernicus’ satellite system and the European Observatory of Forests, launched on 8 December 2023 (see EUROPE 13310/36).
In the new ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission currently taking up office, the word ‘forests’ does not make the headlines. I may have missed red, but I could not find it in the mission letter of the likely incoming Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, nor those sent to the three nominees for portfolios of Environment and Climate – Teresa Ribera, Wopke Hoekstra and Jessika Roswall. 160 million hectares simply overlooked? I really hope that the members of this new Commission will be able to see the forest for the trees.
Renaud Denuit