38 Amendments of María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS related to 2019/2157(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas forests and other wooded land cover at least 43 % of the EU’s territory, and some Member States have more than half of their territories covered by forests and are heavily invested in forestry; half of the Natura 2000 network is made by forest areas, though this covers around 20% of the total forest surface of the EU. Forest areas are crucial for regulating the water cycle, absorbing CO2 and providing close-to-nature recreation possibilities.
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; points out, however, future European Forest Strategy needs to be fully aligned with the European Green Deal and with an ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy; adheres to the decision and recognition by the European Court of Justice1a of forest ecosystems as an inherent part of EU natural heritage on which the EU has competence to act, and thus respects both competences of Member States and the European Union; points out that many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest- based sector and require coherence and stronger cross- sectoral coordination; _________________ 1aJudgment of the Court of 25 February 1999. European Parliament v Council of the European Union. Joined cases C- 164/97 and C-165/97, ECLI:EU:C:1999:99
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
— having regard to the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report of 31 May 2019,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)
Citation 6 c (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 d (new)
Citation 6 d (new)
— having regard to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems,
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that European forest-based industries can help decarbonise Europe by replacing CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as sustainably produced biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal; recognises, however, the challenges resulting from the increasing demand for wood including the degradation of critical wildlife habitat and carbon stored in forests and calls on the Commission to address these adequately in the future strategy while facilitating reaching climate neutrality by 2050;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind theRecognises the importance of sustainable forest-based industry for circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support safe, sustainable and recyclable and, bio-based products through public procurement and investment support; notes, however, that it should lead to increase of forest carbon sinks not only in wood but also soils best achieved through non-intervention areas and sustainable forest management in managed forests;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas European forests have a key role to play in flood management: 4.5 per cent of European forests are considered floodplain forests which have a significant role in water retention;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas forests disturbed by fires and logging have seen soil loss as high as 26.6 per cent. This makes soil less fertile and decreases agricultural productivity in surrounding areas. The soil in mature forests stores significantly more carbon than soils from areas that have been clear-cut;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the sustainable use of wood as an environmentally friendly raw material; underlines that wood-based products and wood construction can provide an effective way of increasing carbon storage;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas diverse natural ecosystems are an insurance policy against climate change. Scientists have found that forests with many tree species grow at a faster rate, store more carbon and are more resistant to pests and diseases;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Acknowledges the occurrence of illegal logging and recognises that almost all primary old growth forest has been lost; urges the Commission to act on both accounts and protect the remaining old growth forest; regrets the decline in forest biodiversity as stated in the State of Nature 2020 for Europe; calls on Commission and Member States to act and enforce the Birds and Habitats Directives to reverse this trend;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas biodiversity loss in forest have significant environmental, economic and social consequences;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that there is a continued need for sustained support for forest- related research and innovation throughout the forest value chain, including safe wood- based products to be used as plastic substitute packaging materials, smart and clothing fibres and medicines; stresses that the prioritisation of wood-based alternatives must take into account the whole life cycle of products and their environmental performance;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening of links between research, industry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships; believes that research in forestry and forest restoration has potential to deliver positive results in terms of climate change mitigation, growth of sustainable businesses, employment, maintaining long-term forest health and biodiversity protection;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes work under the EU Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth1a including EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, in the area of forestry and other economic activities related to forests; _________________ 1a Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Central Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action Plan: Financing Sustainable Growth (COM/2018/097 final)
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the fact that a definition of SFM was internationally agreed as part of the pan- European FOREST EUROPE process; notes that the definition has been incorporated into national legislation and voluntary systems, such as forest certifications, in place in the Member States;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises that according to the EEA’s report on state and outlook 2020 of the European environment, biodiversity targets will not be met without wider and more effective implementation of existing policies and stronger societal responses to biodiversity loss in forests and other areas;
Amendment 186 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the introduction of a coordinated electronic timber tracking and tracing system and for support for the development of automated tools for the timber circulation analysis and monitoring at all stages of its transformation and integration with related government and commercial record keeping, reporting, permits issuance, agreements registration systems;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to maintain and where possible increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil- based materials and energy or substitution of materials with high energy input;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the recent publication of the Commission’s European Green Deal and looks forward to the upcoming post- 2020 EU Forest Strategy, which should be aligned with the European Green Deal and an ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 225 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that accomplishing a unified information system on EU forests is a long-lasting, and not fully achieved endeavour up to now. Stresses that for addressing present data gaps, synergies between authorities and relevant organizations need to be sought, going beyond project-bound limitations. This includes data availability, harmonized methodologies as well as supporting financial and capacity resources;
Amendment 239 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Notes that the implementation of adapted forest management plans takes place on Member State level and requires increased cooperation between forest and environmental authorities, NGOs, the local communities and forest owners;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the crucial role of forests, the forest-based sector and the bioeconomy in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal; stresses that achieving the EU’s environmental and climate goals will never be possible without multifunctional, healthy and sustainably managed forests and viable industries; encourages, in addition, actions to increase forest cover and better integrate biodiversity into forestry;
Amendment 251 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Highlights the importance of the environmental defenders in common efforts to protect and restore EU forest. We call for zero tolerance on attacks or harassment against them;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises that forest policies must be consistent, must combat biodiversity loss and climate-change impacts equally, and must increase the EU’s natural sinks while protecting, conserving and enhancing biodiversity; Stresses the need to create synergies and coherence between EU policy agendas;
Amendment 254 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses the need for the European Union to do more to stop the clear-cutting and illegal logging and enforce EU rules that prohibit the degradation of old- growth forests. Highlights the need for EU to follow through on the illegal logging cases through organisms such EPPO or OLAF;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Expresses its deep concern over the additional stresses on forest and their biodiversity caused by climate change as laid out in the IPCC special report on land of 8 August 2019; considers that additional measures should be in place to drastically minimise the risks of increased heat waves, forest fires, droughts, and floods in particular in southern Europe;
Amendment 259 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Stresses that tree planting schemes must be an adjunct to restoring natural forests as the wrong tree in the wrong place can intensify forest fires and actually release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Notes that forest- restoration schemes must increase their carbon sequestration potential to meet global climate commitments;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Reminds that the risk of fires is expected to increase due to climate change and considers crucial to strengthening prevention and preparedness efforts like disaster risk assessments where a joint European approach is more effective; reminds the important role of awareness raising campaigns, which should promote the development as from the school age of a common understanding of aspects related to nature conservation, fire prevention and extinction, while promoting a deeper understanding of local communities on the specificities of regional and national forests in different Member states;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Reiterates the importance of providing adequate financing to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate pan-European assistance with the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in case of cross border forest fires;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12e. Believes that European disaster resilience and early warning tools should be reinforced. Welcomes the monitoring work delivered by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and calls for greater collaboration with National and regional authorities of EU Member States for forest fire prevention, preparedness and response activities;
Amendment 309 #
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 and alternatives with a higher environmental footprint in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry;
Amendment 334 #
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 better prevent such events by making forests more resilient, for example through research and innovation and by offering better support mechanisms for forest owners to apply prevention measures as well as restoration of affected areas and properties so they can be restored;
Amendment 426 #
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, while taking into account the different degree of ambition as regards to environmental policy in different tropical countries, and the drivers of unsustainable practices in forests from outside the sector; encourages the Commission and Member States of the European Union to foster cooperation with third countries through technical assistance, exchange of information and good practices to consolidate higher standards of sustainability in in preservation, conservation and sustainable use of forest as well as in sectors linked to forests and their value chains, promoting circular bioeconomy; 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;
Amendment 460 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses the results of the Evaluation study of the impact of the CAP on habitats, landscapes, biodiversity, where CAP instruments and measures are described as significant contributors to biodiversity goals, and encourages to explore ways to improve the already existing tools to fill the information gaps on such valuable contribution;
Amendment 475 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses the key role played by forest owners and managers in the implementation of the strategy and therefore calls for their inclusion and consultation;