New EU Forest Strategy for 2030

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 16 July 2021, setting out a new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 in the framework of the European Green Deal.

Further information:

This Strategy sets a vision and actions for increasing the quantity and quality of forests in the European Union (EU) and strengthening their protection, restoration and resilience. It addresses social, economic and environmental aspects, aiming to ensure the multifunctionality of EU forests. It also highlights the role played by foresters.

The Communication was unveiled by the European Commission on 16 July 2021. It is accompanied by a roadmap for planting three billion additional trees across Europe by 2030. It is seen as a flagship initiative of the European Green Deal, and it builds on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It also contributes to the outcomes expected from the Fit for 55 package of initiatives.

The Council of the European Union adopted a set of conclusions regarding this strategy on 15 November 2021.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

CEPF: Press Release, 03/02/2021: The EU Forest Strategy post-2020 must also be a strategy with and for forest owners and managers! https://www.cepf-eu.org/news/press-release-eu-forest-strategy-post-2020-must-also-be-strategy-and-forest-owners-and-managers

CEPI: Press Release, 16/07/2021: New forest strategy misses the opportunity to maximise climate mitigation effect of the forest-based sector https://www.cepi.org/press-release-new-forest-strategy-misses-the-opportunity-to-maximise-climate-mitigation-effect-of-the-forest-based-sector/

WWF: News, 16/07/2021: EU Forest Strategy hampered by shortsighted interests https://www.wwf.eu/?uNewsID=4040816

FERN: Press Release, 16/07/2021: Forest Strategy: Encouraging but too timid to face up to the challenge https://www.fern.org/publications-insight/forest-strategy-encouraging-but-too-timid-to-face-up-to-the-challenge-2373/

FERN: Publications, 27/07/2021: What does 'Fit for 55' mean for forests? https://www.fern.org/publications-insight/what-does-fit-for-55-mean-for-forests-2377/

Reforest'Action: The Mag, 02/08/2021: EU Forest Strategy for 2030: a strong environmental path https://www.reforestaction.com/en/blog/eu-forest-strategy-2030-strong-environmental-path

EurActiv: Interview, 23/09/2021: Finnish MEP: ‘I’m against the power creep in the EU’s forest strategy’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/interview/finnish-mep-im-against-the-power-creep-in-the-eus-forest-strategy/

European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Letter on the EU’s New Forest Strategy for 2030 and the upcoming Council Conclusions (24 September 2021) https://eeb.org/library/letter-on-the-eus-new-forest-strategy-for-2030-and-the-upcoming-council-conclusions/

Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF): News, 07/10/2021: The new EU Forest Strategy criticised in Forest Owners Conference in Vienna https://www.cepf-eu.org/news/new-eu-forest-strategy-criticised-forest-owners-conference-vienna

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News

The Guardian, 16/07/2021: ‘Enough with the burning’: EU executive accused of sacrificing forests https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/16/enough-with-the-burning-eu-executive-accused-of-sacrificing-forests

Bloomberg, 16/07/2021: EU Plans to Plant Three Billion Trees Under Forestry Strategy https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-16/eu-plans-to-plant-three-billion-trees-under-forestry-strategy

The Baltic Times, 16/07/2021: EU adopts forest strategy to protect old forests, plant 3 billion new trees https://www.baltictimes.com/eu_adopts_forest_strategy_to_protect_old_forests__plant_3_billion_new_trees/

Agriland, 16/07/2021: ‘Extensive consultation needed with Irish forestry owners’ – EU commissioner https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/extensive-consultation-needed-with-irish-forestry-owners-eu-commissioner/

Delfi (Lithuania), 18/07/2021: EU adopts forest strategy to protect old forests, plant 3 billion new trees https://www.delfi.lt/en/lifestyle/eu-adopts-forest-strategy-to-protect-old-forests-plant-3-billion-new-trees.d?id=87719131

The Helsinki Times, 19/07/2021: Finland’s handprint is on EU forest strategy, gauge stakeholders https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19616-finland-s-handprint-is-on-eu-forest-strategy-gauge-stakeholders.html

EUObserver, 19/07/2021: EU to plant three billion trees by 2030 under new forestry plan https://euobserver.com/climate/152473

Helsinki Times, 20/07/2021: Leppä: EU’s forest strategy reaches too deep into everyday forest management https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/19617-leppae-eu-s-forest-strategy-reaches-too-deep-into-everyday-forest-management.html

Politico, 27/07/2021: Sweden goes to war over its forests https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-forests-europe-strategy-climate-change/

Clean Energy Wire, 27/08/2021: Austria and Germany want EU to keep out of national forest policy https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/austria-and-germany-want-eu-keep-out-national-forest-policy

EurActiv, 01/09/2021: MEPs blast Commission’s flagship forest strategy as vague, overstepping EU remit https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/meps-blast-commissions-flagship-forest-strategy-as-vague-overstepping-eu-remit/

EUObserver, 16/09/2021: EU diplomats oppose common forest-monitoring rules https://euobserver.com/climate/152929

Bloomberg, 05/10/2021: Austria Leads Timber Industry Rejection of EU Forest Strategy https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-05/austria-leads-timber-industry-rejection-of-eu-forest-strategy

EurActiv, 08/10/2021: Six EU countries ‘strongly’ condemn Commission’s EU forest strategy https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/six-eu-countries-strongly-condemn-commissions-eu-forest-strategy/

The Baltic Times, 16/11/2021: Estonia introduces its positions to Europe re new EU forest strategy https://www.baltictimes.com/estonia_introduces_its_positions_to_europe_re_new_eu_forest_strategy/

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)651: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge For 2030 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:651:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)652: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Stakeholder consultation and evidence base https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:652:FIN

European Commission: Forestry https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/forestry_en

European Commission: Press Release, 16/07/2021: European Green Deal: Commission proposes new strategy to protect and restore EU forests https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3723

European Commission: Questions and Answers: European Green Deal: new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (16 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_3548

European Commission: Statement delivered by Commissioner Sinkevičius during the press conference on EU Forest Strategy (16 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_3744

Greens/EFA Group: Press Release, 16/07/2021: New Forest Strategy gives hope for both biodiversity and climate goals https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/new-forest-strategy-gives-hope-for-both-biodiversity-and-climate-goals

EPP Group: Newsroom, 16/07/2021: Sustainable forestry must be economically sustainable https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/sustainable-forestry-must-be-economically-sustainable

Slovenian Government: News, 09/09/2021: EU Forest Directors-General on the new EU forest strategy and the role of forests in achieving the global objectives https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-09-09-eu-forest-directors-general-on-the-new-eu-forest-strategy-and-the-role-of-forests-in-achieving-the-global-objectives/

Finnish Government: Press Release, 05/10/2021: Forest ministers from Finland and five other EU countries publish a joint statement on promoting forest cooperation https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/1410837/forest-ministers-from-finland-and-five-other-eu-countries-publish-a-joint-statement-on-promoting-forest-cooperation

General Secretariat of the Council: Council Conclusions on the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (5 November 2021) https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13537-2021-INIT/en/pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 15/11/2021: Council adopts conclusions on the new EU forest strategy for 2030 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/11/15/council-adopts-conclusions-on-the-new-eu-forest-strategy-for-2030/

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