Activities of Petri SARVAMAA related to 2019/2157(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
The European Forest Strategy - The Way Forward (debate)
The European Forest Strategy - The Way Forward (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the European Forest Strategy - The Way Forward
Amendments (40)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of the 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
— having regard to the Council conclusions of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 17 and 18 December 2018 on the 29 November 2019 on the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy1a; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/knowledge4policy/pu blication/council-conclusions-updated EU B-eu- bioeconomy S-strategy, -29-november- 2019_en
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas properly funded high- quality research, innovation, collection of information, maintenance and development of databases, best practise and knowledge sharing are of utmost importance for the future of EU´s multifunctional forests and for the entire forest-based value-chain, in light of the increasing demands being placed upon them and the needs to meet the multiple opportunities and challenges facing the society;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the Rural Development Fund, in the framework of the CAP, has provided tools and resources to support the forestry sector and should continue to do in the post-2020 CAP, through a strong focus on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM);
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the crucial role of sustainable forest management should be promoted to European society, which is increasingly disconnected from forests and forestry, underlining the multiple benefits forests provide under the economic, social and environmental, as well as cultural and historical point of view;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the actions taken by the Member States and the Commission to meet the objectives of the EU Forest Strategy and the involvement of the Standing Forestry Committee, the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork, the Expert Group on Forest Fires, the Expert Group on Forest-based Industries and Sectorally-related Issues and relevant stakeholders in the multiannual implementation of Forest MAP;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that the eight plus one priority areas of the strategy have been implemented with relatively few impediments, with the exception of ongoing challenges in the areas of ‘What forests do we have and how are they changing?’ and ‘Fostering coordination and communication’specifically concerning the public perception and information on the forestry sector and ‘Fostering coordination and communication’, specifically concerning forest-related policies;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Concludes that the differences between Member States, including the differences between regions within Member States has been an important factor when considering measures on an EU-level;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Commends the forest-related research and innovation already undertaken, especially under the Horizon 2020 and LIFE+ programmes; applauds those cases where the results contribute to the development of the sustainable bioeconomy, seeking a balance between different aspects of sustainable forest management and underlining multifunctional role of forests;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are multifunctional and characterised by great diversity, including differences in ownership patterns, size, structure, biodiversity, resilience and challenges; points out, in addition, that forests offer society a wide variety of ecosystem services including raw materials, improved air quality, clean water, erosion control, and protection from droughts, floods and avalanches; points out that forests are a reservoir of carbon and unique ecosystems, species and genetic resources and nonetheless already absorb around 10% of the European Union´s greenhouse gas emissions;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are multifunctional and characterised by great diversity, including differences in ownership patterns, size, structure, biodiversity, resilience and challenges; points out, in addition, that forests offer society a wide variety of ecosystem services including raw materials, improved air quality, clean water, erosion control, and protection from droughts, floods and avalanches and recreational and cultural benefits;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that over the past decades EU´s forest resources have been increasing in terms of forest cover and volume, and currently forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU and; points out that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly in the EU4 and that maintenance of this workforce and the sector´s long-term competitiveness require constant efforts to attract skilled and trained workforce to the sector; _________________ 3 Eurostat database on forestry, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/forestry/d ata/database 4European Parliament fact sheet of May 2019 on the European Union and forests.
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that over 60 % of the productive forests in the EU, and over 20 % worldwide are certified according to Sustainable Forest Management voluntary standards; notes also that the share of the round wood stemming from certified forests processed by the wood- based industries globally is higher than 20 % and that this share is reaching 50% in the EU;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that around 60% of the EU´s forests are privately owned; supports all measures improving the exchange of information and best practises as regards the implementation of sustainable forest management;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reiterates that forests and the forest-based sector significantly contribute to the development of local, circular bioeconomies in the EU; stresses that in 2010 the bioeconomy represented a market estimated to be worth over EUR 2 trillion, providing 20 million jobs and accounting for 9 % of total employment in the EU; notes that every euro invested in bioeconomy research and innovation under Horizon 2020 will generate about EUR 10 in added value;
Amendment 184 #
8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy; notes however the importance of avoiding unnecessary market distortions for wood- based raw-materials as it comes to support schemes for bioenergy;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines the importance of resilient and healthy forest ecosystems including fauna and flora, in order to maintain and enhance delivery of multiple ecosystem services forests provide such as biodiversity, clean air, water, healthy soils, wood and non-wood raw-materials; highlights that voluntary tools and legislations in place, such as the EU Birds and Habitats directives, affect land management decisions and must be respected and implemented appropriately;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that farmers and forest owners are key actors in rural areas; welcomes the recognition of the role of forestry, agro-forestry and forest-based industries in the Rural Development Programme of the 2014-2020 CAP, and the improvements introduced through the Omnibus Regulation; encourages to safeguard this recognition in the CAP 2021-2027 and in the implementation of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the suitability and viability of the two-step approach to verify sustainability of forest biomass, as agreed in the recast of Renewable Energy Directive; notes that this should be achieved by continuing the halted development of non-end use specific sustainability criteria by the Standing Forestry Committee and the Commission;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Recognises the role of forests as regards provision of recreational values and forest-related activities such as harvesting of non-wood forest products e.g. mushrooms and soft fruits; takes note on the opportunities in enhancing biomass removals as forest fire prevention via grazing but also notes that wildlife grazing have a negative impact on seedlings and therefore notes on the needs for sustainable management of grazing fauna;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that an ambitious, independent and self-standing EU Forest Strategy is needed for the post-2020 period which is not subordinate to any other sectoral strategy; calls for a new EU Forest Strategy that builds on the holistic approach to SFM, taking into account all of the economic, social and environmental aspects of the forest-based value chain; stresses that a coordinated and coherent approach to forests, the forest-based sector, including the people directly or indirectly work and live in the forest and the forestry sector, and the multiple services they provide needs to be developed, given the growing number of national and EU policies directly or indirectly affecting forests and their management in the EU;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes the view that the EU Forest Strategy should act as a bridge between national forest policies and EU objectives relating to forests, recognising both the need to respect national competence and, the need to contribute to wider EU objectives and to ensure long term stability and predictability for sustainable forest management, the forestry sector and the whole bioeconomy;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors as well as the importance of digitalisation and investing in research and innovation; stresses the crucial role of wood-based materials in substituting fossil-based alternatives in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry; encourages European Commission to explore different market- based mechanisms to incentivise a substitution from fossil to renewable raw materials such as wood in constructions, which offer climate benefits;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors as well as the importance of digitalisation and investing in research and innovation; stresses the crucial role of wood-based materials in substituting fossil-based alternatives in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry and the need to fully take into account the climate and environmental benefits of this material substitution;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses the importance of developing and ensure a market based bioeconomy in the EU incentivising innovations and development of new bio based products with an effective supply chain making effective use of the biomass materials;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that due to climate change, natural disturbances such as droughts, floods, storms, pest infestations, erosion and fires will occur more frequently and intensely, causing damage to forests in the EU; emphasises, in this context, the need to better prevent such events by making forests more resilient, for example, by strengthening the implementation of sustainable and active forest management, through research and innovation and by offering better support mechanisms for affected areas and properties so they can be restored; highlighting the need for concrete and effective actions in climate adaptation strategies and plans, incorporating the synergies between mitigation and adaptation;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that due to climate change, natural disturbances such as droughts, floods, storms, pest infestations, erosion and fires will occur more frequently, causing damage to forests in the EU; emphasises, in this context, the need to betterdevelop risk management tools to prepare for and prevent such events by making forests more resilient, for example through research and innovation and by offering better support mechanisms for affected areas and properties so they can be restored;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises the role of biodiversity in ensuring that forest ecosystems remain healthy and resilient; highlights the importance of the Natura 2000 sites in which there is a possibility to provide the society with multiple ecosystem services, including raw materials; notes, however, that sufficient financial resources are needed to manage such areas;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises the role of biodiversity in ensuring that forest ecosystems remain healthy and resilient; highlights the importance of the Natura 2000 sites; notes, however, that sufficient financial resources are needed to manage such areas; stresses that economic losses caused by protection measures should be fairly compensated;
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Encourages the completion of the ongoing process to develop a non-end-use- driven sustainability approach with the close involvement of the Standing Forestry Committee and the Member States, building on the two-step approach of the recast Renewable Energy Directive; believes that the two-step approach could be used in other policies aiming to improve theat ensuring sustainability of forestry biomass material; highlights the importance and encourages the use of market developed tools, such as forest certification systems in place, as suitable means of proof to verify sustainability of forestry resources;
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Highlights the importance of strengthened cooperation between Member States in order to enhance the benefits of the new forest strategy;
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses the need for improved communication regarding the importance of the sustainable management of forest areas, together with the possibility of extending, implementing and coordinating information campaigns on the multifunctional nature of forests and the many economic, social and environmental benefits provided by forest management at all relevant levels of the EU;
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the fact that global deforestation and forest degradation are serious problems; points out that policy initiatives should be developed to tackle issues outside the EU, with a focus on the tropics and the drivers of unsustainable practices in forests from outside the sector; stresses the need to foster the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and the FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) action plan in order to prevent the entry of illegally sourced wood into the EU market; highlights the need for the EUFS to comprehensively include EU’s external objectives and action on promoting SFM worldwide, both bilaterally and through multilateral forest-related processes;
Amendment 433 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the fact that global deforestation and forest degradation are serious problems; points out that policy initiatives should be developed to tackle issues outside the EU, with a focus on the tropics and the drivers of unsustainable practices in forests from outside the sector; stresses the need to foster the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and the FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) action plan in order to prevent the entry of illegally sourced wood into the EU market; calls for concrete requirements avoiding arbitrary interpretation of the EUTR due diligence system;
Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses the importance of education and skilled, well-trained workforce as it comes to the successful implementation of sustainable forest management in practice; calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue to implement measures and to use existing European instruments such as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European training programmes (ET2020) to support generation renewal and to compensate for the skilled workforce shortage in the sector;
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Notes that digitalisation and sustainable technologies play a key role in providing added value in the further development of the forest-based sector; calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage knowledge and technology transfer and sharing best practises on e.g. sustainable and active forest management;
Amendment 453 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the need to develop an EU- wide Forest Information System for Europe under the shared responsibility of all of the relevant Commission Directorates-General; stresses the importance of providing real- time, science-based, and balanced information on European forest resources and aiming at forecasting the impact of natural disturbances and their consequences with socio-economic indicators for the development of any forest-related EU policy;
Amendment 472 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission’s Standing Forestry Committee to give the Member States a central role in the preparation and implementation of the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy; stresses the importance of the parallel involvement of relevant stakeholders in the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork; urges the Commission to involve Parliament in the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy and at least on an annual basis;