The New EU Forest Strategy and recent Forest Policy Developments

Lovisa LilliehöökDG Agriculture and Rural Development

Unit H.4: Environment, forestry and climate change

North Sweden European Office Seminar, Brussels, 4 June 2014

AGRI Unit H4 – what we do

• New EU Forest Strategy

• Advice regarding the forestry measures of the Rural development regulation and the new RD-programmes

• Negotiations on the pan-European Legally Binding Agreement on Forests (LBA)

• Coordination of external and internal communication through: • Organiser of the meetings of the Standing Forestry Committee (≈

4 times/year)• Organiser of the Inter-Service Group on Forestry • Exchange with other DG's developing legislation/ measures/

communications etc. that touch upon forests, incl. replies to Inter-Service Consultations

• Replies to questions from MEP's, citizens, stakeholders

• Presentations, conferences, communication activities, …

2

Outline of the presentation:

1. Background information on European forests2. The New EU Forest strategy3. Energy and climate in the 2030 framework4. Forests in Rural development5. The Legally Binding Agreement on forests

3

Outline of the presentation:1. Background information on European

forests2. The New EU Forest strategy3. Energy and climate in the 2030 framework4. Forests in Rural development5. The Legally Binding Agreement on forests

4

EU Forests

5

• Forest and other wooded land:≈180 million ha (42% of total EU land) of which 117 million ha are available for wood supply.

• Growing stock (FOWL): 24 billion m3

• Felling: 60 % of the net annual increment from forests available for wood supply)

• Ownership: 40% public and 60% private

• Natura 2000: • 25% of forests and other wooded

land under Natura 2000 Network• 50% of total Natura 2000 network in

forests and other wooded land

• Certification: around 50% certified

•

EU Forest-based sector: increasing demands

• Forest-based industries• - Mr Jeremy Wall will cover this part further

• Forest bioenergy • - Around 50% of total EU renewable energy

consumption• - Most imports (mainly pellets) from Canada,

USA and Russia• - Imports expected to increase in the future

• Emerging bio-based industries• Wood is considered as an important source

of raw material (green chemicals, viscose, bioplastics, …)

6

Non-wood products: Cork, resins, medicinal plants, mushrooms, truffles, game, nuts, berries…

Services: protection of soil, air purification, water quality, flood prevention, …

In many cases, non-wood products and services are important in order to diversify income and as a source of employment in less favored rural areas

Importance of non-wood forest products and services

EU rural development policy supports SFM and multifunctionality, contributing to further developing these

non-wood products and services7

Problems of mobilisation, e.g. fragmented ownership and small size:

1991 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 20001992 1993 1994

112

115

113

114

116

0

EU forests: + 350 000 hectares/year

- 16 million private forest owners- average size of private holdings 13ha (many < 5 ha) - many forest owners are not market actors- large national and regional variations in supply and use

Potential of Forest Biomass Mobilisation

8

Mha

Outline of the presentation:

1. Background information on European forests2. The New EU Forest strategy 3. Energy and climate in the 2030 framwork4. Forests in Rural development5. The Legally Binding Agreement on forests

9

Forestry Strategy and Forest Action Plan

History: 1998: EU Forestry Strategy2005: Implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy

2006: Forest Action Plan (2006-2011)2011: Launch of the review of the EU Forestry Strategy

2013: The Communication on a New EU Forest Strategy adopted by the European Commission

10

Overall policy context

- Europe2020- Common Agricultural Policy, Rural development- EU targets on renewable energy sources- EU FLEGT Action Plan and EU Timber Regulation- EU Biodiversity Strategy- Communication on "innovative and sustainable

forest-based industries"- Communication on "Green Infrastructure (GI) —

Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital"- Green Paper on forest protection and information- Resource efficiency- Bioeconomy- International forest-related processes (UNFF, FLEGT,

REDD+..)- LULUCF

11

12

New EU Forest Strategy

Communication from the Commission to the Council and Parliament; COM(2013)659 “A new EU Forest Strategy: for forests and the forest-based sector”

Accompanied by 2 Staff Working Documents:-Staff WD accompanying the Communication on a New EU Forest Strategy-Staff WD on a blueprint for forest-based industries (todays' presentation by Jeremy Wall)

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/forest

12

Adopted 20/9/2013 by the Commission; Submitted to Council and European Parliament

Presented at the Council of Ministers of Agriculture on 23/9/2013 by Commissioner Cioloş

Builds on 2 years work with Member States and stakeholders

Council conclusions adopted on 19 May 2014

CoR opinion in January 2014, EESC expected in July 2014

EP debate in COMAGRI in Dec 2013, new EP to decide if they will take up the subject

Lead Cioloş (AGRI)

Co-responsible Potočnik (ENV) and Tajani (ENTR)

Associated Heedegard (CLIMA), Oettinger (ENER) and Geoghegan-Quinn (RTD)

EU Forest Strategy

13

New EU Forest Strategy

Forest Strategy -- for forests and the forest-based sector

A holistic view of forests and all related policies, addressing also the value chain.

14

Sustainable forest management and the multifunctional role of forests, delivering multiple goods and services in a balanced way and ensuring forest protection.

Resource efficiency, optimising the contribution of forests and the forest sector to rural development, growth and job creation.

Global forest responsibility, promoting sustainable production and consumption of forest products.

PRINCIPLES

15

To ensure and demonstrate that all forests in the EU are managed according to sustainable forest management principles and that the EU’s contribution to promoting sustainable forest management and reducing deforestation at global level is strengthened, thus:•- contributing to balancing various forest functions, meeting demands, and delivering vital ecosystem services;•- providing a basis for forestry and the whole forest-based value chain to be competitive and viable contributors to the bio-based economy.

FOREST 2020 OBJECTIVES

16

8 LINKED PRIORITY AREAS

COORDINATION AND

COMMUNICATION

Working together

Forests from a global perspective

CONTRIBUTING TO MAJOR SOCIETAL

OBJECTIVES

Supporting our rural and urban communities

Fostering the competitiveness and sustainability of forest-based industries, bioenergy and the wider green economy

Forests and climate change

Protecting forests and enhancing ecosystem services

IMPROVING THE KNOWLEDGE

BASE

Forest information and monitoring

Research and innovation

17

- Co-financing of forestry measures under the Rural Development Regulation has been and will remain the main means of EU-level funding (€5.4 billion in 2007-2013)

- "Forestry measures under RD should be dedicated to contributing to the objectives of this strategy, and in particular to ensuring that EU forests are managed according to sustainable forest management principles".

RESOURCES

18

Other sources:

-LIFE+ (nature conservation, climate change adaptation, information and protection needs)-Structural funds (cohesion projects)-Horizon 2020 (research and innovation actions, including the public-private partnership on bio-based industries)-Development and climate change policies (financing for third countries, in particular through EU development funds, REDD+ and FLEGT)

RESOURCES

19

• The Standing Forestry Committee should remain the forum for discussing all forest-related issues, ensuring coordination and coherence of forest-related policies.

• The Advisory Group on Forestry and Cork will remain the main multi-stakeholder platform for discussing issues related to forestry and sustainable forest management.

• The Advisory Committee on Forest-based Industries will remain the main platform for issues related to industrial value chains.

GOVERNANCE

20

21

AREAS TO ADVANCE FURTHER

Other areas in which Member States should advance further will be identified.

i.e. -preventing forest fires -combating pests and diseases-promoting sustainable wood-regional/cross-regional cooperation

Some on-going work linked to the new EU forest strategy…

22

Outline of the presentation:

1. Background information on European forests2. The New EU Forest strategy3. Energy and climate in the 2030 framework4. Forests in Rural development5. The Legally Binding Agreement on forests

23

Commission Communication (DG's ENV & ENER)

"An improved biomass policy will also be necessary to maximise the resource efficient use of biomass in order to deliver robust and verifiable greenhouse gas savings and to allow for fair competition between the various uses of biomass resources in the construction sector, paper and pulp industries and biochemical and energy production. This should also encompass the sustainable use of land, the sustainable management of forests in line with the EU's forest strategy and address indirect land use effects as with biofuels"

24

Energy and climatein the 2030 framework

European Council Conclusions on the 2030 framework (March 2014)

"The European Council calls on the Commission to conduct an in-depth study of EU energy security and to present by June 2014 a comprehensive plan for the reduction of EU energy dependence. The plan should reflect the fact that the EU needs to accelerate further diversification of its energy supply, increase its bargaining power and energy efficiency, continue to develop renewable and other indigenous energy sources and coordinate the development of the infrastructure to support this diversification in a sustainable manner"

Energy and climatein the 2030 framework

25

Outline of the presentation:

1. Background information on European forests2. The New EU Forest strategy 3. Energy and climate in the 2030 framework4. Forests in Rural development5. The Legally Binding Agreement on forests

26

27

Rural areas in EU

27

1. Knowledge transfer / innovation in agriculture, forestry, rural areas

6 Union priorities for rural development

28

6. Social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas

2. Viability of all types of farming in all regions; innovative farm technologies; Sustainable management of forests

3. Food chain organisation, animal welfare, risk management in agriculture

4. Ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry

5. Resource efficiency, low-carbon / climate-resilient economy in agriculture, food and forestry sectors

• A minimum amount of the total EAFRD contribution to the Rural Development Programs shall be reserved:

• At least 30% for: Environment and climate related investments (Article 18) Forestry measures (Articles 21-26 and Article 34)Agri-environment - climate (Article 28)Organic farming (Article 29)Natura 2000 (Article 30 with the exception of WFD related payments)ANCs (Articles 31-32)

• At least 5% for Leader

Nota bene: These provisions do not apply to the outermost regions and the overseas territories

Required minimum budgetary allocations

EAFRD – European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

29

Forestry measures (art. 21-26, 34)

30

• Contributing to the sustainable management of forests

• Simplified support: One measure (article 21) covering the following sub-measures:

- Afforestation and creation of woodland

- Establishment of agroforestry systems

- Prevention and restoration of damage to forests from forest fires and natural disasters and catastrophic events

- Investments improving the resilience and environmental value of forest ecosystems

- Investments in forestry technologies and in processing, mobilising and marketing of forest products

This simplification allows beneficiaries to implement integrated projects with increased added value.

• Forest-environment payments for going beyond the mandatory requirements. (article 34)

- Forest-environmental and climate services and forest conservation

Forestry – more accessible and stronger EU support• New concept of beneficiaries

- The main objective is to provide support to the person/entity managing the forest.

• New types of support- Preventive actions against pests and diseases.- Conservation and promotion of genetic resources.- The use of grazing animals in prevention of forest fires.- Mobilising of wood.- Support for purchase of forestry machinery to provide forest

management services to a larger group of forest owners.

• Forest Management Plan (FMP)- Information from the FMP is requested for all forestry support. This

information is required from beneficiaries exceeding the size limit set by the Member State.

- Support is available under the Rural Development policy for a preparation of the FMP.

Forestry measures (art. 21-26, 34)

31

Outline of the presentation:

1. Background information on European forests2. The New EU Forest strategy 3. Energy and climate in the 2030 framework4. Forests in Rural development5. The Legally Binding Agreement on forests

32

33

Towards a Legally Binding Agreement on forests

• Aim: to enshrine the principles of sustainable forest management, and improve the management of forests in the pan-European region;

• Mandate from FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in Oslo in 2011 (46 signatory countries);

• Commission and Presidency, co-negotiators on behalf of the EU (based on two decisions adopted in the Council on 7 June 2011).

• Discussions in the Council Working Party on Forestry to coordinate the EU Position

Russia has 80%

of the forest

area of the pan-

European

region…

34

- Six Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings

- At Final INC, Geneva, November 2013 - most of text agreed, including all forest-related articles, but stalemate on which UN System body to adopt and host the agreement

- Informal high level meetings in April in Madrid and in Vienna in May 2014 (with Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine…), but could not resolve the deadlock

- Had it been successful; Extraordinary Forest Europe Ministerial Conference in 2014, but now further steps are still to be decided…

Towards a Legally Binding Agreement on forests

34

Thank you for your attention

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/forest

35

Supplementary information:

• Commission invited to examine solutions for better coordination of forest policies of the EU and the implementation by the MSs of sustainable forest management, adaption to climate change and information on forests.

 

• The Council calls on the Commission to:- identify areas in which certain MSs may make further progress (forest

fires, natural hazards, biodiversity, measures to fight pests, …)

- reinforce and promote the role played by the Standing Forestry Committee as a central coordination body responsible for providing advice and improving the communication on forestry policy.

• The Council urges the Commission and the MSs to further contribute, where appropriate, to a European information system on forests.

-> Cont. ->37

Council conclusions on the New EU FS

• The Council stresses the importance of further prevention of negative impacts on forests; of mitigation and restoration of damage and of extension of forest areas in MSs where this is needed.

• The Commission is called to carry out an evaluation of costs of EU-policies impacting the value chains of the wood sector and to examine whether it is beneficial for the climate to replace materials and energy with forest biomass and to develop the forest biomass market.

• Finally the Council calls the MSs and the Commission to continue to support and reinforce the effect of the forest measures in the RD framework and to seek synergies with other EU funds.

38

Council conclusions on the New EU FS