2022/2016(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to the Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of25 February 1999 in Joined Cases C-164/97 and C- 165/97: European Parliament v. Council of the European Union (Regulations on the protection of forests against atmospheric pollution and fire - Legal basis - Article 43 of the EC Treaty - Article 130s of the EC Treaty - Parliament's prerogatives),

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 j (new)

— having regard to the United Nations Environment Programme Report "Preventing the next pandemic - Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission" of 6 July 2020,

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

E b. whereas, according to the European Environment Agency's report on 'The European Environment - state and outlook 2020', long term trends in bird populations, including common forest birds, demonstrate that Europe has experienced a massive decline in biodiversity, of which intensive forest management is one of the drivers;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas forest habitats are especially affected by the removal of dead and dying trees, as well as by land use changes, such as conversion to monocultures;1a _________________ 1a See also:FUTURE BRIEF: European Forests for biodiversity, climate change mitigation and adaptation, EC, November 2021

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas a healthy, viable, managed forest is more sustainable and productive than one that is unmanaged, and also makes for a better carbon sink;

Amendment 103 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

E c. whereas criteria and indicators to define sustainable forest management commonly used in the EU are based on pan-European cooperation within the FOREST EUROPE process to which all Member States and the European Commission are signatories; whereas as part of its ongoing work programme, FOREST EUROPE has initiated a reassessment of the definition of sustainable forest management; whereas FOREST EUROPE collects and provides information on the status and trends in forests and forestry based on the criteria for sustainable forest management;

Amendment 104 #

E c. whereas in Europe, tree cover loss worsened by 74 percent from 2009-2018, amounting to 1.5 million hectares in 2017—about half of the size of Belgium;1a whereas overall forest health has been deteriorating due to pests, diseases and wind damage;1b whereas, as a result, ecosystem resilience has been compromised, and a vast majority of habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive are in an unfavourable conservation status;1c _________________ 1a Joint Research Centre (JCR), ‘Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and Their Services: An EU Ecosystem Assessment’ (Publications Office of the European Union, 2020). 1b Forest Europe, ‘State of Europe’s Forests 2020’, 17 December 2020 1c European Environment Agency (EEA), ‘European Forest Ecosystems: State and Trends’, 2016

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas a large number of EU citizens derive their livelihood from owning and managing forests; whereas it is essential to support and develop the working and processing of wood-based products in Europe to allow the processing industry to develop, thus enabling job creation and the meeting of climate goals;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

E c. whereas data available on forests at EU level is incomplete and of varying quality, which hampers EU and Member State coordination of forest management and conservation; Whereas in particular, there needs to be a better monitoring of forest ecosystems status, as well as of the impacts on biodiversity and climate of forestry measures;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas within sustainable forest management there are as yet no defined thresholds or ranges as benchmarks for determining what the condition of forests should be, and nor are there enough defined criteria relating to ecosystem health, biodiversity and climate change;

Amendment 108 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

E c. whereas global voluntary certification schemes for sustainable forest management are currently in place; whereas certification schemes are an essential tool to meet EUTR requirements for due diligence3a; _________________ 3a https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/afa5e0df-fb19-11eb- b520-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

E d. whereas for the period of 2016– 2018 relative to 2011–2015the average patch size of harvested area increased by 34 per cent across Europe, with potential effects on biodiversity, soil erosion and water regulation; whereas this increase in the rate of forest harvest is the result of the recent expansion of wood markets, as suggested by econometric indicators on forestry, wood-based bioenergy and international trade; whereas if such a high rate of forest harvest continues, the post-2020 EU vision of forest-based climate mitigation may be hampered;1a _________________ 1a Ceccherini, G., Duveiller, G., Grassi, G. et al. Abrupt increase in harvested forest area over Europe after 2015. Nature 583, 72–77 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2438-y

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 k (new)

— having regard to the Kunming Declaration - “Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”,

Amendment 110 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

E d. whereas on international level, the FAO is the main forum for the development of internationally agreed definitions on forests and forestry; whereas the FAO collects and provides data on forests and forestry; whereas the European Commission and Member States contribute to the work of the FAO;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

Ed. whereas new transparent indicators and thresholds could demonstrate the sustainability of the sector and clearly flag up its importance in terms of environmental, economic and social values;

Amendment 112 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

E d. whereas in 2020, the area covered by forests and other wooded land equated to 45.1 % of the EU-27’s land area, a slightly higher proportion than the area of land used for agriculture11a; _________________ 11a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3 217494/12069644/KS-FK-20-001-EN- N.pdf/a7439b01-671b-80ce-85e4- 4d803c44340a?t=1608139005821

Amendment 113 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

Ed. whereas the Member States are responsible for forest management practices;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

E e. whereas area and biomass volume in European forests are increasing1a, in contrast to worrying trends of deforestation globally; whereas the EU can play an important role in addressing global deforestation, which is underlined by the European Commission proposal for a Regulation for Deforestation-free Products; whereas beyond regulating imports, a European Forest Strategy that showcases best practices for economically viable sustainable forest management could contribute to improving forest management globally; _________________ 1a Joint Research Centre report “Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment” (the MAES report) of 2020, for trends in condition see also FOREST EUROPE report on the “State of Europe’s Forests 2020” of 2020.

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

E e. whereas increased harvesting has had dire consequences for EU forest health and devastated biodiversity; whereas increased demand for timber has led to trees being harvested at an ever younger age and from more biodiverse areas; whereas even forests in protected areas are becoming degraded;1a _________________ 1a https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/so er-2020

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

Ee. whereas the war in Ukraine will have a major impact on imports of timber, particularly birchwood, of which Russia accounts for 80% of global production, and on Europe's wood-processing industry and exports of processed products;

Amendment 117 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

E e. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation, since forest ecosystems absorb and store around 10 % of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, and there is potential to increase that capacity;

Amendment 118 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

Ee. whereas an operational definition of primary and old-growth forests is necessary and is required for proper policy design, implementation and monitoring;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E f (new)

E f. whereas the legitimate sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine raise the question of the EU’s dependency on timber imports from Russia; whereas while the EU sources about 80 % of its demand for timber domestically, imports from Russia only account for about 2 % of total consumption; whereas Finland and Sweden are the EU’s major importers of unprocessed roundwood and will be affected by trade bans1a; _________________ 1a https://www.wur.nl/en/research- results/research-institutes/environmental- research/show-wenr/does-the-eu-depend- on-russia-for-its-wood.htm.

Amendment 12 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

— having regard to Commission communication of 30th of June 2021 on a Long-term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 20401a; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files /strategy/strategy_documents/documents/l tvra-c2021-345_en.pdf

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E f (new)

E f. whereas several biodiverse forests have been turned into fast growing tree monocultures ; whereas to satisfy wood demand an area larger than Greece (14.5 million hectares) has been converted to plantations which are more vulnerable to climate shocks such as the forest fires ; whereas millions of hectares of planted single-species forests are not officially registered asplantations;1a _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets /en/sheet/105/the-european-union-and- forests

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E g (new)

E g. whereas forests containing several tree species could store twice as much carbon as the average monoculture plantation; whereas planting a diverse range of trees could also bring many co- benefits, including providing habitats for a larger range of animals; whereas this suggests that suggest that afforestation programmes should switch from using just one plant species to a more diverse mix;1a _________________ 1a X. Liu et al., “Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests,” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 285, no. 1885, Aug. 2018.

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E h (new)

E h. whereas climate change is likely to increase the rate at which trees grow; whereas these trees may be likely to die sooner; whereas this “live fast and die young” effect would significantly reduce the ability of these forests to act as a carbon sink over long timescales; whereas this trend would decrease the interest of planting new forests to mitigate climate change in comparison to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion and avoiding deforestation;1a _________________ 1a Büntgen, U., Krusic, P.J., Piermattei, A. et al. Limited capacity of tree growth to mitigate the global greenhouse effect under predicted warming. Nat Commun 10, 2171 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019- 10174-4

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E i (new)

E i. whereas recent research has shown that natural regeneration can potentially absorb 40 times more carbon than plantations1a,and provide a home for more species; whereas It is also significantly cheaper than tree planting, with different studies in Brazil showing costs reduced by38%1b, or even up to 76%1c; _________________ 1a https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.111 1/gcb.15498#gcb15498-bib-0102 1b https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.111 1/gcb.15498#gcb15498-bib-0117 1c https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.111 1/gcb.15498#gcb15498-bib-0041

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E j (new)

E j. whereas restoring natural biologically diverse forests is the cheapest, most effective, and most readily available way to address the climate and biodiversity crisis;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E k (new)

E k. whereas two main types of agroforestry in the EU can be distinguished: silvo-pastoral agroforestry(animals grazing, or animal fodder produced under trees) and silvo- arable agroforestry (crops are grown under trees, with row spacing allowing for tractor trafic); whereas the majority of existing agroforestry systems in the EU are silvo-pastoral systems;1a _________________ 1a Burges, P.; Newman, S.; Pagella, T.; Smith, J.; Westaway, S.; Briggs, S.; Knight, I.; Whistance, L.; Raskin, B.; Osborn, S. (2019): The Agroforestry Handbook: Agroforestry for the UK 1st Edition. Bristol, UK. - Agroforestry for the UK. Soil Association, UK., 2019

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E l (new)

E l. whereas the total potential of scaling up agroforestry practices to areas affected by multiple environmental pressures (referred to as priority areas) in the EU-28 (plus Switzerland), covering 13.7 Mha or 8.9 % of agricultural land, is estimated to be between 2.1and 63.9 MtC/year or between7.7 and 234.8 MtCO2/year;1a _________________ 1a Kay, S.; Rega, C.; Moreno, G.; den Herder, M.; Palma, J. H.; Borek, R.; Crous-Duran, J.; Freese, D.; Giannitsopoulos, M.; Graves, A.; Jäger, M.; Lamersdorf, N.; Memedemin, D. et al. (2019): Agroforestry creates carbon sinks whilst enhancing the environment in agricultural landscapes in Europe. In: Land Use Policy 83, pp. 581–593. DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.02.025

Amendment 127 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Recital E m (new)

E m. whereas a vision based on close-to- nature forestry appears to be necessary to uphold and reconcile ecological, economic and social values;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests to the targets of the Green Deal and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050; acknowledges that forest-related climate and biodiversity aspects are well reflected in the New EU Forest Strategy, but the total potential of forests and the forest sector, including the economic and social aspects of sustainability are not presented in a balanced way; stresses the need to correct this balance when setting targets for forests and the forest sector as in addition to climate and biodiversity goals, forests provide economic and social benefits and wide range of services from livelihoods to recreation;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests to the targets of the Green Deal and of achieving a c~~ircular economy and climate neutrality by 2050~~arbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy within planetary boundaries by 2050 at the latest; stresses that the new EU forest strategy could play a crucial role in applying the multi-sectoral One Health approach, which recognises that human health depends on the state of the environment and is connected to its components and factors, including animal health, and that actions to tackle threats to health have to take into account a complexity of health and environmental interrelations;

Amendment 13 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)

— having regard to the Draft Commission Regulation declaring certain categories of aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 702/20142a; _________________ 2a https://ec.europa.eu/competition- policy/public-consultations/2022-agri_en

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests to the targets of the Green Deal and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050; stresses that the EU's new forest strategy should at the same time ensure the right balance between the three pillars of sustainability - namely environmental protection, social development and economic development;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests to the targets of the Green Deal and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050; highlight the importance of an balanced and solid scientific based strategy and vision for the forest-based sector, considering all three dimensions of sustainability in an integrated and balanced way;

Amendment 132 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the publication of the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests, to ~~the targets of the Green Deal and of~~ achiev~~ing~~e a circular economy and climate neutrality ~~by 2050~~through, inter alia, carbon sequestration and the provision of a diverse supply of renewable raw materials;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests to the targets of the Green Deal, particularly the goals of creating green growth and green jobs, and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-functional forests to the targets of the Green Deal, and in particular of the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy ~~and its ambition to inc~~; is concerned, however, that the strategy does not prease ~~the~~nt a balanced ~~contribution of~~view on the multi-functional ~~forests~~role of forests with regard to the targets of the Green Deal and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcomes~~Has reservations about the new EU forest strategy ~~and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multi-func~~, which on the one hand supports the legitimate fight against the increasing degradational of forest~~s to the targets~~ry systems in the EU, but ofn the ~~Green Deal and of achiev~~other is not free of shortcomings a ~~circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050~~nd inaccuracies, especially as regards definitions and a convincing legal basis;

Amendment 137 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Feels that the new EU forest strategy should not be held hostage to the overall goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, but should be shaped from the bottom up in response to regional and local demands and expectations, and thus independently define its own goals and courses of action, striking the right balance between environmental, economic and social considerations;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Regrets that the new EU Forest Strategy was not properly developed together with the European Parliament, Member States and stakeholders and that the positions of the co-legislators were not adequately taken into account, stresses the importance of strengthen co-operation in terms of implementing the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy and its ambition to increase the balanced contribution of multifunctional forests to the targets of the Green Deal and of achieving a circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 14 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 c (new)

— having regard to the European Commission Communication on "Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems";

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Emphasises that, since the Member States have competence in this area, the Commission cannot establish sustainable forest management practices or set thresholds for sustainable forest management;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Considers that the new EU forest strategy could greatly contribute to the full realization of the 2050 Vision of “Living in Harmony with Nature” envisioned by the Kunming Declaration;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Draws attention to the negative economic consequences of restricting forest management in protected areas, which are set to account for as much as 30% of the EU's territory and which will mainly comprise rural areas and small settlements, making the new EU forest strategy appear inconsistent with the objectives of the long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas, particularly as regards combating unemployment and poverty in rural areas;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Considers that the new EU Forest strategy should rest on three pillars, by order of priority: (a) preserving and increasing carbon stocks through the restoration of forest ecosystems; (b) preserving and increasing carbon stocks in wood derives products; (c) reducing emissions from the wood industry.

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Stresses the need to respect the national forest strategies of Member States and their responsibility for forest matters;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Stresses that the new EU Forest Strategy should optimise the climate role of European forests whilst safeguarding the rest of their ecosystem services: (a) preserving biodiversity and in particular species and habitats typical of forests; (b) preserving soil stability and fertility; (c) protecting surface water quality and regulating its flow; (d) providing material resources and preserving and developing quality local jobs; (e) enabling the development of educational and tourist services in forests.

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Expresses its concern that the Commission, on the basis of its power to act on environmental matters, is interfering in forest policy, which falls, and in future must continue to fall, within the exclusive competence of the Member States;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the maintenance and protection of healthy and resilient forests is a fundamental goal of all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, including the various livestock farmers who keep their livestock there, cleaning the forests and reducing the likelihood of fires, as well a key priority for people in the EU;

Amendment 148 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the maintenance and protection of healthy and resilient forests ~~is a fundamental goal of~~, and hence sustainable forest management, is a fundamental goal of the forest strategy for 2030, all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, as well a key priority for people in the EU;

Amendment 149 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

2. Recognises that in line with Sustainable Forest Management the maintenance and ~~protection~~strengthening of healthy and resilient forests is aone of the fundamental goals of all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, as well a key priority for people in the EU;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

— Having regard to Commission communication of 30 June 2021 on A long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040 ( COM(2021) 345),

Amendment 150 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the maintenance ~~and~~, protection and sustainable use of healthy and resilient forests is a fundamental goal of all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, as well a key priority for people in the EU;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the maintenance ~~and protec~~, protection and restoration of healthy and resilient forests is a fundamental goal of all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, as well a key priority for people in the EU;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the maintenance and protection of healthy and resilient forests is a fundamental goal of all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, as well a ~~key priority for people in the EU~~s being in line with social expectations and demands;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the maintenance and protection of healthy and resilient forests ishould be a fundamental goal of all actors in forestry and the forest-based value chain, a~~s well~~nd is a key priority for people in the EU;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that the main objective of the European forest strategy is the sustainable use of forests and their resources, in order to optimise the total utility of all of the functions of forests; notes that this includes in particular the conservation of forests as a significant source of life for humans, animals and plants and for the protection of soils, water, the climate, biodiversity and human health, the use of timber as a versatile, renewable raw material and energy source for achieving the greatest possible degree of self-sufficiency in the EU, the promotion of the forest-based sector as an economic driving force that creates many jobs in rural areas;

Amendment 155 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Recognises that climate change is altering the growth capacity of forests in some areas, and increasing the frequency and seriousness of drought, floods and fires as well as fostering the development of new pests and diseases which affect forests; notes that intact ecosystems have greater capability to overcome environmental stressors, including changes to climate, than degraded ones as they have inherent properties that enable them to maximize their adaptive capacity;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Recognises the vital role played by forests in contributing to the health of the environment, provision of clean air, water and soil whilst offering diverse habitats and micro-habitats to many species supporting diverse biodiversity while also supporting the human economy, recreation and culture;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Highlights the essential role of forests for human health and wellbeing, and the need to promote the “One Health” approach which recognises the intrinsic connection between human health, animal health and healthy nature;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Stresses that there is mounting evidence of forests' contribution to human health and well-being;1a underlines in particular the fact that forests protect citizens from noise and air pollution, reduce stress and cardiovascular risks, strengthen immunity, and provide the environment for exercise and recreation; stresses that urban and peri-urban woodlands are particularly significant sources of health and well-being, as they are accessible to the people most lacking contact with nature; _________________ 1a Forest Europe, ‘Human Health and Sustainable Forest Management’, 2019

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses the importance of natural regeneration for the future of forests, as it results in undisturbed root development, improved vitality and stability of trees and low planting costs;

Amendment 16 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)

— having regard to the European Commission's Communication on "A Renovation Wave for Europe - greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives";

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience, while overall the pressure on forests must be reduced; stresses that climate change will have an even greater negative impact on European forests in the coming years and that this will particularly affect areas with mono-specific and equal-aged forests; stresses that the growth of European forests has decreased in recent years; underlines, in this connection, the special role of stable mixed forests including native species of trees suited to local conditions, as well as the essential role that mixed forests play in ecosystems and their contribution to biodiversity;

Amendment 161 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. IHighlights the continuous growing stock in European forests that differs from the global deforestation trend1a; acknowledges the efforts of all actors across the forest-based value chain that contributed to this development; is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats, mainly driven by climate change, and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience; , including by measures for adaptation to climate change, and to reduce pressures where feasible; notes with concern that the vulnerability of Europe’s forests to invasive pests and pathogens seems to have increased and that outbreaks are a threat to sequestered carbon1b; _________________ 1a FOREST EUROPE report on the “State of Europe’s Forests 2020” of 2020. 1b Science for Environment Policy (2021) European Forests for biodiversity, climate change mitigation and adaptation. Future Brief 25. Brief produced for the European Commission DG Environment by the Science Communication Unit, UWE Bristol. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/ science-environment-policy.

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to ~~increase forest~~better protect and restore existing forest ecosystems by reducing pressures on these ecosystems, as a way to improve on the current levels of biodiversity and ecosystem resilience;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience in a proportional manner, taking into account the needs and characteristics of each Member State;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change;

Amendment 165 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the quickly increasing climate related pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest adaptation to climate change and ecosystem resilience;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience and ability to adapt to climate change;

Amendment 167 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest adaptation to climate change and ecosystem resilience;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on the EU’s forests ~~and~~, their habitats, and the forestry sector as a whole, and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience;

Amendment 169 #

3. Is concerned by the increasing pressure on some of the EU’s forests and their habitats and stresses the urgent need to increase forest and ecosystem resilience;

Amendment 17 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)

— having regard to the new European Bauhaus initiative;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Member States to ensure that their legislation provides forests with the best possible protection against pollution and damage; points in particular, in this connection, to protection against contamination, such as by lead munitions or pesticides, extreme soil compression because of inappropriate use of machinery, and protection against damaging browsing by game or damage caused by too large a cloven-hoofed game population;

Amendment 171 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are characterised by diverse natural conditions, such as biogeography, size, structure and biodiversity, as well as in ownership patterns, forms of governance, challenges and opportunities, and that they have been formed by centuries of human intervention and management; stresses that in implementation all types of forests and situations require differing approaches in terms of forest management and the delivery of ecosystem services;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Emphasises~~Highlights the specificity and diversity of the forestry sectors in the Member States and emphasises the fact that the EU’s forests are characterised by diverse natural conditions, ownership patterns, forms of governance, challenges and opportunities, and that they have been formed by centuries of human intervention and management, and that their exploitation must take into account the multiple functions they perform;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are characterised by diverse natural conditions, ownership patterns, forms of governance, challenges and opportunities, and that ~~they have been formed by centuries of~~most of them are characterised by centuries of human intervention and management; stresses that primary forests and old-growth forests are forested areas that have developed through natural processes with little or no human intervention and management;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are characterised by diverse natural conditions, ownership patterns, forms of governance, challenges and opportunities, and that they have been formed by centuries of human intervention and management, intervention and management which are all the more necessary in the climate change environment we are experiencing;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 177 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are characterised by diverse natural conditions, ownership patterns, forms of governance, ~~challenges and opportunities,~~ and that they have been formed by centuries of human intervention and management;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Stresses that forest policy falls firmly within the national competence of Member States, and therefore details related to forest management need to be adjusted at national and regional level with a bottom up approach whereby sustainable forest management happens most effectively through the use of best knowledge of local natural conditions;

Amendment 179 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that the terms used to describe forests should be unambiguous and internationally recognised in order to establish commonly understood policy actions without investment uncertainty;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

— having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 08/12/2021 on the report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘New EU Forest Strategy for 2030"’,

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recognises the complexity of assessing the state of forests, as well as the uneven availability and quality of data and therefore stresses the need for continuous policy and scientific dialogue at all levels to improve data collection and harmonisation, as well as the need for financial and human resources, in particular so that both resource-efficient uses and forest use limits can be identified at an early stage;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recognises the complexity of assessing the state of forests, as well as the ~~uneven~~typically variable availability and quality of data, and therefore stresses the need for continuous policy and scientific dialogue at all levels, beginning with consultations with the Member States and especially with forest owners and managers, to improve data quality, collection and harmonisation;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Recognises the complexity of assessing the state of forests, as well as the uneven availability and quality of data and therefore s~~Stresses the need for continuous policy and scientific dialogue at all levels to improve data collection and harmonisation on the state of forests;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recognises the complexity of assessing the state of forests~~, as well as the uneven availability and quality of data~~ and therefore stresses the need for continuous policy and scientific dialogue at all levels to improve data collection ~~and harmonisation~~;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recognises the complexity of assessing the state of forests, as well as the uneven availability and quality of data and therefore stresses the need for continuous policy ~~and~~, scientific dialogue and increased financing at all levels to improve data collection and harmonisation;

Amendment 186 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 187 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recognises the complexity of assessing the state of forests, ~~as well as the uneven availability and qual~~given the diversity of data available and therefore stresses the need for continuous policy and scientific dialogue at all levels to improve data collection and if possible its harmonisation;

Amendment 188 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Notes that over the past decades, the EU’s forest resources have been increasing in terms of forest cover and volume, and that currently forests and other wooded areas cover around 45% of the total EU land area, representing close to 180 million hectares; further notes that according to EUROSTAT, between 1990 and 2020, the area of EU forests increased by 10.2 million hectares4a;highlights that forests represent significant parts of the territories of some Member States, which makes them dependent on forestry; further stresses out that in the EU-28 forests, every year more wood grows than is harvested and that 75% of the net annual increment is utilised by fellings5a; _________________ 4a https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/SR21_21/SR_Forestry_EN.pdf 5a p 89-90, https://foresteurope.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/08/SoEF_2020.pdf

Amendment 189 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

5 a. Highlights the contribution to-date of forest owners and actors across the forest-based value chain to the efforts to achieve a sustainable and climate neutral economy by 2050 and the value of generational and historic knowledge and expertise in forestry and sustainable forest management;

Amendment 19 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

— Having regard to the responsibilities of the EUMS under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the role of forests in mitigating climate change on the basis of a profitable, innovative bioforest economy and not a narrowing of their role so that they merely become passive carbon sinks;

Amendment 191 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes that the progressive abandonment of forests and lack of forest management diminishes their potential as carbon sinks and sources of employment, reduces the ability of rural areas to remain viable, increases dependency on exports and heightens the risk, inter alia, of plant diseases and forest fires;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that although focussing on forests in the EU, the strategy must align with the work undertaken in international forums, such as FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and should avoid duplicating work; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable sourcing and use of resources globally, as underlined by the Commission’s proposal on a Regulation on Deforestation-free Products, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices and attracts imitators in other regions;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy must align with the work undertaken in international forums, such as FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and should avoid duplicating work and the introduction of insufficiently mature and ill-defined concepts; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices with the flexibility called for by the diversity of points of departure;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy must align with the work undertaken in international forums, such as FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and should avoid duplicating work and leading to over-regulation; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices, while taking into account the specific local and regional nature of socio-economic impacts;

Amendment 195 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy and its implementation must align with the work undertaken inat pan-European level by FOREST EUROPE and other international for~~ums, such as FOREST EUROPE and~~ganisations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, and should avoid duplicating work; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable production and use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices;

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy must align with the work undertaken in international forums, such as FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, not forgetting farmers and producers themselves, and should avoid duplicating work; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy must ~~align with~~notably take into account the work undertaken in international forums, such as ~~FOREST EUROPE and~~ the Food and Agriculture Organization~~, and should avoid duplicating work~~; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to protecting biodiversity and carbon sinks and promoting the sustainable use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to monitor ongoing actions nationally and to serve as a model of best practices;

Amendment 198 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy must align with the work undertaken in international forums, such as FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and should avoid duplicating work and increasing administrative burden; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the strategy must align with the work undertaken in international forums, such as FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and should avoid duplicating work; further believes that, given the EU’s strong commitment to promoting the sustainable production and use of resources globally, the strategy should be implemented in such a way as to serve as a model of best practices;

Amendment 2 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

— having regard to the Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 17 April 2018 in Case C-441/17 : European Commission v Republic of Poland (Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Environment — Directive 92/43/EEC — Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora — Article 6(1) and (3) — Article 12(1) — Directive 2009/147/EC — Conservation of wild birds — Articles 4 and 5 — ‘Puszcza Białowieska’ Natura2000 site — Amendment of the forest management plan — Increase in the volume of harvestable timber — Plan or project not directly necessary to the management of the site that is likely to have a significant effect on it — Appropriate assessment of the implications for the site — Adverse effect on the integrity of the site — Actual implementation of the conservation measures — Effects on the breeding sites and resting places of the protected species),

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)

— having regard to the number of projects and practices to coordinate forest information in Europe (European National Forest Inventory Network (ENFIN), FUTMON project, DIABOLO project, European Atlas of Forest Tree Species Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) programme),

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Stresses that a successful EU Forest Strategy should be complemented by stronger spending through Overseas Development Aid and the Neighbourhood, Development & International Cooperation Instrument to support Rights-based Forest Restoration which aims at pursuing the SER International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration1a in conjunction with gender equity, secured land and tree tenure rights, social justice through participatory governance and planning, formalised structures for equitable benefits and safeguards and a long-term socio-ecological approach;1b _________________ 1a Gann GD, McDonald T, Walder B, Aronson J, Nelson CR, Jonson J, Hallett JG, Eisenberg C, Guariguata MR, Liu J, Hua F, Echeverria C, Gonzales, EK, Shaw N, Decleer K, Dixon KW. 2019. International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Second edition. Restoration Ecology S1- S46 1b Clare Bissell (2020), Restoring more than forests: how rights-based forest restoration can empower communities, recover biodiversity, and tackle the climate crisis, FERN

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that to deliver on its various objectives, the implementation of the strategy must be fit-for-purpose and fine-tuned at the regional and local levels in terms of the socio-economic impacts it can create, including by adapting the implementation to local conditions and experiences, and must be based on the full recognition and protection of property rights and an economically, climatically and socially viable forestry sector, as key contributors to providing forests’ various services, their exploitation based on their functions, and improving resilience;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that to deliver on its various objectives, the implementation of the strategy must be fit-for-purpose at the regional and local levels, including by adapting the implementation to local conditions and experiences, and by providing stakeholders with necessary skills; notes that it must be based on the full recognition of ~~propert~~the polluters pay pri~~ghts~~nciple and of an economically viable forestry sector, as key contributors to providing forests’ various services and improving resilience;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to recognise the EU’s competences, responsibility and funds available in the area of forest protection, within the framework of EU environmental policy; highlights that to deliver on its various objectives, the implementation of the strategy must be fit- for-purpose at the regional and local levels, including by adapting the implementation to local conditions and experiences, and must ~~be based on the full recognition of property rights and an economically viable forestry sector, as key contributors to providing forests’ various services and improving resilience~~fully comply with the principle of subsidiarity;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that to deliver on its various objectives, the implementation of the strategy must be fit-for-purpose at the regional and local levels, including by adapting the implementation to local conditions and experiences, traditional knowledge and uses, and must be based on the full recognition of property rights and an economically viable forestry sector, as key contributors to providing forests’ various services and improving resilience;

Amendment 205 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Calls on the European Commission to provide a comprehensive impact assessment of the strategy to identify the implications for market conditions, rural areas and the various funding needs, including for research and innovation, skills development, infrastructure, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity enhancement;

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

~~Fost~~Preserving ~~a balanced multi-functionality~~Forest Ecosystem Services

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises th~~e key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple socioeconomic func~~at forest ecosystems provide critical and dive rse services and values to human society; underlines that the multiple ecosystem services provided by forests comprises biodiversity maintenance and conservations, such as the provision of raw materials, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy muequestration and storage of carbon from the atmosphere (contributing to regulation of the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigatio n), soil conservation and prevention of land degradation and desertification, water regulation and conservation, multiple socioeconomic functions, such as the provision of food, fibre, timber, and other forest products for subsist en~~sure a balanced~~ce and income generation, the provision of ~~all services~~clean water and mai~~ntain competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable active management~~r, protection against natural hazards, aesthetic, spiritual and recreational value, improvement of the well-being of the population;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests, which only close to nature management can fulfil, comprises multiple socioeconomic functions, ~~such as the provision of raw materials~~on top of storing and sequestrating carbon and hosting biodiversity, such as the provision of raw materials as well as non extractive economic activities including sustainable eco-tourism, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services ~~and maintain competitiveness and innovation~~; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable ~~active~~ management;

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises the key role of forests and the entire forest-based vaolue chain in protecting the climate and biodiversity and in achieving, by 2050, a sustainable and climate-neutral economy; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple socioeconomic functions, such as the provision of raw and nature-based materials, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services and maintain competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable active management;

Amendment 21 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)

— having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the "New EU Forest Strategy for 2030";

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple socioeconomic functions, such as tourism or the provision of raw materials, medicinal, edible and culinary products, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services and maintain competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable ~~active~~ management;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple socioeconomic functions, such as the provision of raw materials, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value, as well as economic functions and serving to anchor rural populations to the land; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services and maintain competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable active management;

Amendment 212 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple socioeconomic functions, such as the provision of renewable raw materials, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural and urban areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services and maintain and enhance competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable active management;

Amendment 213 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; u~~Underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple socioeconomic ~~functions, such as the~~, climate and environmental functions, such as the conservation of biodiversity, climate change mitigation and provision of renewable raw materials, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services and maintain and enhance competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable active management;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recognises the key role of forests in ~~protecting the climate and~~mitigating climate change and in protecting biodiversity; underlines that the multi-functional role of forests comprises multiple ~~socioeconomic~~ functions, such as the provision of raw materials, which leads to jobs and economic growth in rural areas, the provision of clean water and air, protection against natural hazards and recreational value; stresses that the implementation of the strategy must ensure a balanced provision of all services and maintain competitiveness and innovation; underlines that the successful provision of services requires sustainable active management;

Amendment 215 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Welcomes the European Commission's communication on "A long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040" and the acknowledgement of the role of forests and of sustainable forest management in safeguarding decent work and livelihoods in rural areas; ; considers that the important environmental, social and economic of forestry in rural areas should be preserved; is concerned, though, that the contribution of agriculture, forestry and fisheries to rural regions has decreased both in economic and employment terms to 12% of all jobs and 4% of gross value added, while crucially maintaining food security in the EU13a; calls therefore on the European Commission to find new ways to make the combination of different funds more attractive and easily implemented, reflecting and leveraging on the multi- functional character of forests and forest ecosystem services; _________________ 13a https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscor ner/detail/en/IP_21_3162

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Expresses concern about adverse factors linked to climate change, such as the exposure of forest areas to prolonged periods of drought and to tree diseases, including those caused by pests and insects, which cause damage to the environment and the forest economy; stresses the need to provide remediation mechanisms and financial compensation to forest managers for damage linked to these factors;

Amendment 217 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Believes that the key principle of balancing multiple forest functions and of defining goals and measures towards the achievement of all ecosystem services should be to seek maximising synergies and minimising trade-offs built on evidence-based information;

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Stresses that forests in the European Union are the common heritage of all European citizens and calls for them to be recognised asa common good; calls for state forestry agencies to be maintained and strengthened;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Stresses the issue of the under- utilisation and abandonment of forests, resulting in a loss of jobs in rural areas and increased imports of forest products from parts of the world where sustainable forest management is often not guaranteed; notes that the progressive abandonment of forests and lack of forest management diminishes their potential as carbon sinks and sources of employment, increases dependency on exports and makes forests more vulnerable to various disturbances, including forest fires; stresses the need for coherent, collective action for prevention, preparedness and response;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)

— having regard to the report "Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" of the Working group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Points to the Commission’s recognition of the diversity of forests and the need for sustainable forest management practices based on a duly recognised dynamic concept of sustainable forest management;

Amendment 221 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and wood products for fossil fuels and derived products and other products with high environmental and carbon footprints; notes that the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sector and believes its implementation should clearly support a broader use of different options for storage and substitution, ~~in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy~~regardless of life-span of products and based on science-based and robust life-cycle assessments, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy and the industrial strategy and to unlock the full potential of forest-based products in strengthening the circular economy and in the fight against climate change;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and wood products for fossil fuels and derived products;, not~~es that the strategy has a~~ably for long-lived products; welcomes the particular focus of the strategy on storage in the construction sector and believes its ~~implementation should support a broader use of different options for substitution, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy;~~ other options for substitution should only be supported if they are in line with the cascading principle and the waste hierarchy1a, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy; stresses the need to reduce the EU's consumption in general, and also of wood and wood-based products by promoting a more circular economy; welcomes the establishment of a methodology to quantify the climate benefits of wood construction; _________________ 1a Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives

Amendment 223 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and wood products for fossil fuels, fossil-based products, materials and energy sources and derived products; notes that the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sector and believes its implementation should support a broader use of different options ~~for~~so as to ensure the best combination of sequestration, storage and substitution, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy; and in order to achieve a post-fossil-fuel economy;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and wood products for fossil fuels and derived products; notes that the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sectorin addition to better carbon storage and resilience, biodiversity, water (filtration, flood control, reduced pollution),air (filtration, reduced pollution), and believe~~s its implementation should support a broader use of different options for substitution, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy~~lihoods are significantly improved when forests are restored;

Amendment 225 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and wood products for fossil fuels and derived products; notes that the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sector and believes its implementation should support a broader use of different options for substitution, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy without minimising the value of products with a much shorter life cycle but which are highly significant for the replacement of fossil-based products;

Amendment 226 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of ~~wood and wood products for fossil fuels and derive~~fossil resources by wood and wood products; notes that on substitution the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sector and believes its implementation should support a broader use of different options for substitution, in ~~line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy~~cluding short-lived wood products, in line with the goals of the EU climate policy, the EU bioeconomy strategy and the reality of forest management;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and all wood products for fossil fuels and derived products; notes that the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sector and believes its implementation should support a broader use of different options for substitution, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy; emphasizes the role of research on substitution of fossil-based materials and fossil fuels.

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that forests contribute to climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration, carbon storage and the substitution of wood and wood products for fossil fuels and derived products; notes that the strategy has a particular focus on storage in the construction sector and believes its implementation should support a broader use of different ~~options for~~wood-based substitut~~ion~~es, in line with the goals of the bioeconomy strategy;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Emphasizes that the high importance of healthy and fertile forest soil should not be overlooked as it is mandatory for sustaining life, increasing forest productivity1a, storing carbon and protecting the vital underground fungal network that enables trees to share resources such as nutrients, water or defence signals, granting increased resistance against pests and diseases or even drought and extreme weather events2a 2b 2c that are likely to increase in intensity or frequency due to climate change. _________________ 1a EU Soil Strategy for 2030 2a Pickles and Simard, Mycorrhizal Networks and Forest Resilience to Drought, Mycorrhizal Mediation of Soil, 2017, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-804312- 7.00018-8. 2b Gorzelak et al., Inter-plant communication through mycorrhizal networks mediates complex adaptive behaviour in plant communities. AoB PLANTS, 2015, doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plv050 2c Usman et al., Mycorrhizal Symbiosis for Better Adaptation of Trees to Abiotic Stress Caused by Climate Change in Temperate and Boreal Forests. Front. For. Glob. Change, 2021 doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2021.742392

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 b (new)

— having regard to the Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that wood is the only natural, significant renewable resource that can replace a number of materials which are very energy-intensive in some respects, such as concrete in the construction industry, plastics in the packaging industry and many others, and will be in increasing demand in the future;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that the current situation in Ukraine will have a real impact on Europe's processing sector, since our companies import large quantities of wood, including birchwood; stresses that it is very likely that production will be brought to a halt by a raw material shortage;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Highlights that for wood-based products to contribute optimally to climate change mitigation and a circular economy requires that they be used in the most efficient and sustainable way; ~~believ~~stresses that t~~he cascading principle8is a good guideline for efficient use, but must not use a static approach and therefore must~~imber removals must be restricted by sustainability limits and that wood, which is a limited resource, should be ~~adj~~usted regularly to reflect innovative uses; stresses that a well-functioning, un- distorted market incentivises the efficient use of wood-based resources; _________________ 8 As outlined in the Commission’s ‘Guidance on cascading usein the best possible way in accordance with the cascading principle; stresses that, in a market serving the public interest, it must be ensured that wood-based resources are used as efficiently as possible; underlines the fact that only by re- establishing forests ofr b~~iomass with selected good practice examples on woody biomass’.~~y using wood in a resource-efficient way can sink effects be achieved through substitute effects and through sustained CO2 savings;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Highlights that for wood-based products to contribute optimally to climate change mitigation and a circular economy requires that they be used in the most efficient and sustainable way; ~~believ~~stresses that ~~the cascading princip~~all sustainable wood-based materials and products play an important role8 i~~s a good guideline for efficient use, but must not use a static approach and therefore must be adjusted regularly to reflect innovative uses~~n the green transition, independently of their lifespans; recalls that long-and short-lived products are produced simultaneously as the whole tree is used in are source efficient way and underline that EU legislation should not define the end-use of raw materials, or set up or define a cascading principle; stresses that a well- functioning, un- distorted market incentivises the efficient use of wood- based resources; ~~_________________ 8 As outlined in the Commission’s ‘Guidance on cascading use of biomass with selected good practice examples on woody biomass’.~~

Amendment 234 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 236 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Highlights that for short- and long- lived recyclable wood-based products to contribute optimally to climate change mitigation and a climate neutral and circular economy requires that they be used in the most efficient and sustainable way; believes that the cascading principle8 is a good guideline for efficient use, but must not use a static approach and therefore must be adjusted regularly to reflect innovative uses, such as in construction, textiles, biochemicals, medical applications and battery materials; stresses that a well-functioning, un- distorted market incentivises the efficient use of wood- based resources; _________________ 8 As outlined in the Commission’s ‘Guidance on cascading use of biomass with selected good practice examples on woody biomass’.

Amendment 237 #

Alin MITUȚA, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 238 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has set the binding targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 and reaching climate neutrality by 2050; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests ~~and forest-based industries~~ will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets, while also being major hosts of biodiversity;

Amendment 240 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Highlights that for both the long- lived and short-lived wood-based products to contribute optimally to climate change mitigation and a circular economy requires that they be used in the most efficient and sustainable way; believes that the cascading principle8 is a ~~good~~n important guideline for efficient use, but must not use a static approach and therefore must be adjusted regularly to reflect innovative uses; stresses that a well-functioning, un- distorted market incentivises the efficient use of wood- based resources; _________________ 8 As outlined in the Commission’s ‘Guidance on cascading use of biomass with selected good practice examples on woody biomass’.

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Stresses that the interest of carbon storage in wood products is determined by the lifetime of these products, which can range from a few days for a leaflet, to decades or even hundreds of years for a wooden building;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10 b. Stresses that the benefit of using wood to replace competing energies or materials with higher carbon footprints is dependent on harvesting methods, transport and processing, considers therefore, the overall climate benefit of harvesting wood for use as a material is limited;

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)

10 c. Stresses that the use of wood energy to displace fossil fuels seems to be of questionable interest for achieving climate neutrality; recalls that whether energy is produced from wood or a fossil fuel, combustion unlocks carbon and emits CO2; stresses that the CO2 emitted is not immediately recaptured; underlines that the ensuing carbon debt, according to the findings of the Joint Research Centre1a, can range from several decades to over a century, depending on the type of wood used; _________________ 1a Agostini A., Giuntoli, J. & Boulamanti, A., 2013: Carbon accounting of forest bioenergy, JRC scientific and policy reports, EU 2014

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)

10 d. Recalls that increased wood harvesting for energy could have negative effects on soil fertility and biodiversity; considers that there are thus significant tensions between biomass extraction and the ecosystem functions of forests, and that it is therefore impossible to consider the combustion of wood energy as climate neutral;

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)

10 e. Stresses that the carbon benefits of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) vary widely; that there are concerns about its safety1a, and its feasibility on a large scale is still unproven, expensive and energy intensive; recalls that BECCS also requires a massive production of biomass (either trees or crops), which increases pressure on land and water demand and poses risks for food production, biodiversity and land ownership rights; considers therefore that achieving climate neutrality at EU-level by 2050 at the latest should not rely on BECCS; _________________ 1a S Fuss et al 2016 Environ. Res. Lett. 11 115007 (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/ 1748-9326/11/11/115007/meta)

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 f (new)

10 f. Underlines the need to comply with cascading use of wood– prioritising value adding non-fuel uses so wood is burned for energy only after it has been used, re-used and recycled as a material first wherever possible – and favour the most long-lasting wood-derived products;

Amendment 249 #

10 g. Urges the Commission to lay out sustainable harvesting criteria in order to ensure that the life cycle of harvested wood products do not significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has set the binding target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals ~~and~~, the Paris Agreement and the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP26) pledges; whereas forests and forest-based industries and services will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets;

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 h (new)

10 h. Underlines that in recent decades the energy expenditure involved in conveying wood from forest to consumer has been increasing through increased mechanisation and transport; stresses the need to reduce upstream emissions (extraction-transport-processing) from the wood industry;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 i (new)

10 i. Considers that emissions in the forestry sector could be minimised by means of the following: (a) low-impact forestry operations:no stump extraction or ploughing, respect for diversity during clearing and thinning, limited tonnage and ground pressure; (b) conveyance of wood that limits transport incurred through taking to market, set-up of the site, felling and skidding (regional companies); (c) mechanised felling reserved for small softwoods with few branches, on gentle slopes; (d) low-impact skidding to preserve soil function and carbon stock; (e) limiting use of wood energy to high- efficiency projects (with priority given to heating), locally supplied; (f) sawing at the closest possible facilities and energy-efficient processes.

Amendment 252 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and forest-based biomass to achieve the EU’s sustainability goals and notes that the demand is expected to continue to grow; believes that the EU’s forestry sector provide the most sustainably sourced raw materials; calls on the Commission to consider displacement effects and monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy;deleted

Amendment 253 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and forest-based biomass to achieve the EU’s sustainability goals, including the green growth and jobs goal of the Green Deal, and notes that the demand is expected to continue to grow1a; believes that the EU’s forestry sector provide some of the most sustainably sourced raw materials; calls on the Commission to consider displacement effects and effects on competitiveness of the forestry sector and the forest-based industries, as well as to monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy; _________________ 1a Hetemäki, L., Palahí, M. and Nasi, R. 2020. Seeing the wood in the forests. Knowledge to Action 01, European Forest Institute. ttps://doi.org/10.36333/k2a01; also see WWF Living Forests Report, Chapter 5, https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/ forests_practice/forest_publications_news _and_reports/living_forests_report/.

Amendment 254 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 255 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and forest-based biomass to achieve ~~the EU’s~~a sustainab~~ility goals and~~le bioeconomy; notes that the demand is expected to continue to grow and that the sustainable use of locally produced wood should be encouraged to meet this demand; believes that the EU’s forestry sector provide the most sustainably sourced raw materials; calls on the Commission to consider ~~displacement effect~~leakage effects and substitution effects of fossil and non-renewable materials and monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy;

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable and sustainable supply of wood, wood-based products and sustainable forest-based biomass, used and produced respecting the cascading principle, to achieve the EU’s sustainability goals and notes that the demand is expected to continue to grow; believes that the EU’s forestry sector can provide the most sustainably sourced raw materials using closer to nature approaches; calls on the Commission to consider displacement effects and monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy;

Amendment 257 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and forest-based biomass to achieve the EU’s sustainability goals, including the 2050 carbon neutrality objective, and notes that the demand is thus expected to continue to grow; believes that the EU’s forestry sector provide the most sustainably sourced raw materials; calls on the Commission to consider displacement effects and monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy;

Amendment 258 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and forest-based biomass to achieve the EU’s sustainability goals and notes that the demand is expected to continue to grow; believes that the EU’s forestry sector provide the most sustainably sourced raw materials; calls on the Commission to consider leakage, displacement and rebound effects and monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy;

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and residual forest-based biomass to achieve the EU’s sustainability goals and notes that the demand is expected to continue to grow; believes that the EU’s forestry sector provide the most sustainably sourced raw materials; calls on the Commission to consider displacement effects and monitor any effects on the availability of wood following the implementation of measures under the strategy;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. ~~whereas the EU has set the binding target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050;~~ whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests and forest-based industries will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets;

Amendment 260 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Welcomes the Commission’s initiative on sustainable afforestation and reforestation measures and the target of the additional planting of 3 billion trees in the EU by 2030; points out that increasing the area under forest can contribute effectively to combating climate change and to the natural regeneration of degraded forest systems, leading in the medium and long term to economic and social development and to the creation of new jobs;

Amendment 261 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Points out that the proposal to place as much as 10% of the EU's territory under 'strict protection', i.e. to significantly restrict forest management in the areas concerned, will result in a smaller supply of raw materials for the timber sector, a reduction in employment in the sector and, consequently, a slowdown in economic and social development in the areas concerned;

Amendment 262 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to assess dependencies on imports of timber from Russia in the light of legitimate sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to develop strategies to mitigate disruptions where necessary;

Amendment 263 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11 b. Notes that non-wood forest products (NWFPs) such as various nature-based foods, medicines and solutions for basic materials play an important role as a source of income with an estimated value of around 4 bln EUR in 20151a and are deeply rooted in regional traditions; further notes that supply chains are fragmented and there is a lack of institutional frameworks in many cases; stresses that NWFPs have underutilised potential as an additional source of income, for new innovative products and entrepreneurship in rural areas and calls on the Commission and Member States to include NWFPs in relevant programmes; _________________ 1a Value in 2015 in the FOREST EUROPE area, see FOREST EUROPE report on the “State of Europe’s Forests 2020” of 2020.

Amendment 264 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls that 2.1 million people work in the forest-based sector, while the extended forest-based value chain supports 4 million jobs in the green economy, not accounting for retail activities and non- wood activities such as forest-related leisure activities, scientific work on forests, etc.; calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess the effects of a shift in the balance of forest functions on the overall employment situation, especially in rural and mountainous areas; highlights the important role that forests play in the creation of green jobs and in growth in rural areas;

Amendment 265 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

12. Recalls that 2.1 million people work in the forest-based sector, while the extended forest-based value chain supports 4 million jobs in the green economy1a; calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor and assess the effects of a shift in the balance of forest functions on the overall employment situation; , in rural areas as well as in down-stream parts of the wood-processing industries, and highlights the need to maintain or improve the attractiveness of employment in the sector as well as work-place safety when considering changes in management practices; _________________ 1a Commission communication of 16 July 2021 on the “New EU Forest Strategy for 2030” (COM(2021) 572).

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls that 2.1 million people work in the forest-based sector, while the extended forest-based value chain supports 4 million jobs in the green economy; stresses that jobs in the forest-based sector help raise the appeal of and thus invigorate some rural regions; calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess the effects of a shift in the balance of forest functions on the overall employment situation, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 267 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls that 2.1 million people work in the forest-based sector, while the extended forest-based value chain supports 4 million jobs in the green economy; ~~calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess the effects of a shift in the balance of forest functions on the overall employment situation~~notes that employment in the forestry sector declined by 33% between 2000 and 2015 mainly due to mechanisation, while wood extraction was increasing; calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess the economic benefits of a closer to nature approach including the direct and indirect jobs it can create;

Amendment 268 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls that 2.1 million people work in the forest-based sector, while the extended forest-based value chain supports 4 million jobs in the green economy; calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess the effects of a shift in the balance of forest functions on the overall employment situation; underscores the fact that the more simplified and intensive forest management is, the lower the employment rate will be;2a _________________ 2a See also data sets from EUSTAFOR

Amendment 269 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has set the binding target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests and ~~forest-based industries~~the workers and owners, dwellers and visitors who depend on them will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets;

Amendment 270 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Recalls that the EU is increasingly affected by desertification, which can have major negative social and economic consequences, including on agricultural production. Calls on the Commission and Member States that, in the context of the 3 billion trees planting pledge, to pay a special attention to planting young trees in areas with degraded land and those affected by desertification.

Amendment 273 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that it is essential to support and develop the working and processing of wood-based products in Europe to allow the processing industry to develop, thus enabling job creation;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Underlines that the workers and owners, dwellers and visitors who depend on forests stand to lose the most if the green transition fails to deliver;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Underlines that ecosystem restoration must tackle the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, but also reinforce human rights, forest governance, inclusion of communities in restoring degraded forests and promoting less intensive management;

Amendment 276 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Protection, restoration, re- and afforestation and sustainable management

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Protection, restoration and ~~sustainable management~~close-to-nature forestry

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 279 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Takes note of~~Welcomes the Commission’s announcement on developing additional ~~voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and~~indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; whereas these indicators and thresholds should clearly indicate, at forest stand level or at least at landscape level, whether a forest is being managed sustainably or not, thereby allowing comparisons between different management approaches, their impact and the overall state of EU forests, allowing a distinction to be made between healthy forests and degraded ones, and to determine which restoration efforts have been successful; calls for the development of the SFM criteria to include concrete benchmarks and thresholds on, for example, the amount of dead wood, the amount of forests managed in accordance with close-to-nature forestry and, in general, the use of low impact silviculture; underlines the need for the Commission’s work to build on the existing work of stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio- geographic conditions;

Amendment 28 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has set the extremely ambitious binding target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests and forest-based industries will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets;

Amendment 280 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States and forest owners and managers to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions; reminds that FOREST EUROPE has set a think tank on sustainable forest management as part of the ongoing four-year working program and that any EU work related to this subject should be aligned with this ongoing work since the Commission and all EU Members States are among Forest Europe signatories;

Amendment 281 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; highlights the fact that a definition of sustainable forest management was 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; and therefore underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions;

Amendment 282 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States' national and regional competent authorities, public and private forest managers to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions; points out that coherence must be achieved with the Forest Europe think thank on sustainable forest management, since the European Commission and all EU Member States are among Forest Europe signatories;

Amendment 283 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States to, including with forest owners and forest managers, to conduct an assessment of the existing sets of indicators and thresholds and ensure that indicators and value ranges are opportunity-based and fit-for-purpose for their application at the local and regional level under specific bio-geographic conditions;

Amendment 284 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Takes note of~~Regrets that the Commission~~’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and thre~~ proposal for identifying criteria for sustainable forest management is only envisioned as a voluntary activity, as it will not have much effect on forest governance; stresses that it should ~~values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align~~be linked with binding obligations such as forest restoration targets; underlines that the Commission’s work should be coordinated with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization~~, as well as to engage with the Member State~~ (FAO), to avoid duplication of work and increase in administrative burden, as well as to engage with the Member States and relevant stakeholders including forest managers to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for- purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions;

Amendment 286 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

13. Takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management which shall remain voluntary for Member States to implement at national and regional level; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions;

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 289 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Takes note of~~Welcomes the Commission’s announcement on developing additional voluntary indicators and threshold values for sustainable forest management; underlines the need to align the Commission’s work with that of FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as to engage with the Member States to ensure that indicators and value ranges are fit-for-purpose for their application at the local level under specific bio-geographic conditions;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has set the binding target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests and forest-based industries will play a major and irreplaceable role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets;

Amendment 290 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Takes note of the work of the Commission on developing guidelines on biodiversity friendly afforestation and reforestation; stresses that the focus should be particularly in those Member States where forest cover is low, on land that is not suitable for food production, close to urban and peri-urban areas as well as in mountainous areas, where appropriate;

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give due prominence to business ventures in forests, which need to be mindful of all environmental and landscape aspects yet also need to help generate income to then keep people in these disadvantaged areas and to fight against abandonment;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines the necessity to set binding targets to restore biodiversity in managed forests with positive incentives for forest owners to deliver on clear ecological benchmarks;

Amendment 293 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to present a Nature Restoration Law; underlines the urgency of setting binding EU nature restoration targets as recalled by 1,400 European Scientists;1a _________________ 1a https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586- 022-00011-y

Amendment 294 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13c. Welcomes the re- and afforestation roadmap for planting at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030 and reiterates the importance of protecting primary and old-growth forests;

Amendment 295 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience is a matter of urgency and underline that that in order to create more resilient forests, forests needs to be managed by adapting them to a changing climate and emphasis that as forests are biologically very complex, it is not possible to make general claims about, for example, even-aged forests being worse off in relation to climate change than uneven-aged ones; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation; stresses that adaptive forest management is site- specific and acknowledges that varying forest conditions and forest types require different management regimes and that practices should be decided nationally, regionally or locally;

Amendment 296 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience and adaptation is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management as a dynamic concept consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in the climate mitigation potential of forests as well as offering measures, such as introducing better adapted species and provenances, strengthening forests’ contributions to the water cycle, sanitary fellings to contain pests, pathogens and invasive species, forest fire prevention and maintenance of protective functions, whilst underpinning their multifaceted nature and other roles;

Amendment 297 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation; the Member States’ varying forests and climate conditions require differentiated sustainable forest management practices, that should be developed nationally, regionally and locally.

Amendment 298 #

Paolo DE CASTRO, Camilla LAURETI, Giuseppe FERRANDINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience through a greater deployment of sustainable management practices and innovative technologies, such as genetic improvement or adaptive forestry, as defined in the framework of Forest Europe, is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation;

Amendment 299 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from diseases and parasites, natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change, particularly in the regions of Europe facing the highest average temperature rises, such as the Mediterranean, and that strengthening ~~forests’~~the resilience of the various forest ecosystems is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation;

Amendment 3 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)

— having regard to the IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems of 7 August 2019,

Amendment 30 #

A. whereas the EU has set the binding target of reaching climate neutrality by 20501a; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests and forest-based industries will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets; _________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 1119/2021.

Amendment 300 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; ~~notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation;~~

Amendment 301 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afproforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity~~; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation~~ in particular supporting forests in becoming old-growths;

Amendment 302 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration, especially prestoration1a, and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation; _________________ 1a Butterfield et al., Prestoration: using species in restoration that will persist now and into the future, 2016, doi: 10.1111/rec.12381

Amendment 303 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from natural disasters and other natural disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ ~~resilience~~adaption and resilience by active management is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which ~~can~~ play a key role in climate mitigation;

Amendment 304 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests from pests and diseases, natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ adaptation resilience is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which ~~can~~ play a key role in climate mitigation;

Amendment 305 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights that pressure on forests and on the forestry sector as a whole from natural disasters and other disturbances is being increasingly intensified by climate change and that strengthening forests’ resilience is a matter of urgency; notes the role that restoration and afforestation can play in strengthening resilience and enhancing biodiversity; notes that sustainable forest management consists of a broad array of actions and adaptive practices, many of which can play a key role in climate mitigation;

Amendment 306 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Acknowledges that not all management practices contribute to carbon sequestration in forests, but stresses that practices and practitioners can adapt and modernise in order to best balance trade-offs, optimise their approach to achieving multiple objectives and creating synergies with climate change mitigation and adaptation goals and multiple other forest functions; highlights, that certain practices of management can help to restore forests and positively impact on carbon sequestration and the biodiversity and ecological situation, notably including voluntary set-aside;

Amendment 307 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Recognises that there are several co- benefits associated with afforestation and reforestation: water filtration, increased availability of water, drought mitigation, flood control, avoided sedimentation, habitat for wildlife, increase of soil fauna, enhanced soil fertility and air filtration; recalls, however, that afforestation and reforestation may also show trade-offs for biodiversity, e.g. on biodiverse grasslands; underlines that afforestation and reforestation need additional land and therefore may compete with other land uses such as agriculture;

Amendment 308 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Notes with high concern that large-scale and more intense wildfires are becoming an increasing challenge across the European Union, with forest firefighting representing a yearly budget of EUR 2.2 billion for EU governments and public agencies; underlines the need for more resources and development of science-based fire management to tackle the effects of climate change in forests and calls on the European Commission and the Member States to better promote and make use of the integrated fire management concept12a; _________________ 12a https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files /181116_booklet-forest-fire-hd.pdf

Amendment 309 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Emphasises that in many cases, forest protection requires sustainable active management, as unmanaged forests more likely suffer from disturbances such as forest fires, pests and other damage; underlines that this includes enhancing biodiversity;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has set the ~~binding~~ target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050; whereas the EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; whereas forests and forest-based industries will play a major role in achieving these SDGs and Paris Agreement targets;

Amendment 310 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Stresses that forest management depends on local specificities and recognises that changing forest conditions and types require different management regimes and this should be determined nationally, regionally and locally;

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Underlines that levels of protection are part of the sustainable forest management toolbox and stresses that as part of protection certain forms of intervention might be required, for instance to address natural disaster hazards or adaptation needs;

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Recalls that, as a mitigation option, afforestation and reforestation are less effective in boreal areas like in Scandinavia due to the albedo effect;

Amendment 313 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Considers that there should be a strict hierarchy whereas restoration of forest ecosystems is prioritised over reforestation and reforestation over afforestation;

Amendment 314 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)

14d. Recalls that the older a forest, the greater its carbon storage; stresses that several studies show that the absorption capacity of old-growth and mature forests has been underestimated, that very large trees have high productivity rates and that even very old and mature forests continue to provide significant carbon sequestration1a, whereas young forests are often sources of CO2, because their creation frequently follows disturbance to soil, resulting in decomposition of debris, litter and organic carbon;1b _________________ 1a Stephenson N.L. et al. (multiple authors), 2014: Rate of tree carbon accumulation increases continuously with tree size. Nature 507, 90–93. 1b Luyssaert S., Schulze E.D., Börner A., Knohl A., Hessenmöller D., Law B.E., Ciais P. and Grace J., 2008: Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks. Nature 455, 213–215.

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)

14e. Underlines that the resilience of natural forests to climate change has been demonstrated1a and there is abundant literature on the better resilience of mixed stands compared with single-species stands;1b 1c 1d 1e _________________ 1a Thompson I., Mackey B., McNulty S. and Mosseler A., 2009: Forest Resilience, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – A synthesis of the biodiversity/resilience/stability relationship in forest ecosystems. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Technical Series no. 43, 67 pages. 1b Morin X., Fahse L., De Mazancourt C., Scherer-Lorenzen M. and Bugmann H., 2014: Temporal stability in forest productivity increases with tree diversity due to asynchrony in species dynamics. Ecology Letters, 17, 1526–1535. 1c Del Rio et al. (multiple authors), 2016: Species interactions increase the temporal stability of community productivity in Pinus sylvestris–Fagus sylvatica mixtures across Europe. Journal of Ecology https://doi. org/10.1111/1365-2745.12727. 1d Jactel H., Gritti E.S., Drössler L., Forrester D.I., Mason W.L., Morin X., Pretzsch H. and Castagneyrol B., 2018: Positive biodiversity–productivity relationships in forests: climate matters. Biology Letters. 14: 20170747. 1e Van der Plas, F. et al. (multiple authors), 2017: Continental mapping of forest ecosystem functions reveals a high but unrealised potential for forest multifunctionality. Ecology Letters https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12868.

Amendment 316 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 f (new)

14f. Underlines that diversified and undisturbed forests are recognised as higher carbon stocks than highly modified forests1a, present better effects on primary productivity1b and wind stability1c; _________________ 1a Mackey, B., DellaSala D.A., Kormos C., Lindenmayer D., Kumpel N., Zimmerman B., Hugh S., Young V., Foley S., Arsenis K. and Watson J.E.M, 2015: Policy Options for the World’s Primary Forests in Multilateral Environmental Agreements - Policy options for world’s primary forests. Conservation Letters. 8(2), 139–147. http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/conl.12120 1b Augusto L., Saint-André L., Bureau F., Derrien D., Pousse N. and Cécillon L., 2019: Séquestration de carbone organique dans les sols forestiers : impacts de la gestion sylvicole [Organic carbon sequestration in forest soils: impacts of forest management]. Forêt- Entreprise 245, 62–66. 1c Diaz-Yanez O., Mola-Yudego B. and Gonzales-Ollabarria J.R., 2017: How does forest composition and structure affect the stability against wind and snow? Forest Ecology and Management 401, 215–222.

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 g (new)

14g. Underlines that harvesting in itself has a direct influence on carbon stocks, by affecting stock levels and the buffer role of dead wood;1a stresses that carbon storage is affected by the intensity and frequency of cutting, which according to some studies has already reduced the residence time of carbon in many boreal and temperate forests;1b 1c highlights that therefore the higher the rate of wood harvesting, the lower the storage rate; _________________ 1a Roux A., Dhôte J.-F. (Coordinators), Achat D., Bastick C., Colin A., Bailly A., Bastien J.-C., Berthelot A., Bréda N., Caurla S., Carnus J.-M., Gardiner B., Jactel H., Leban J.-M., Lobianco A., Loustau D., Meredieu C., Marçais B., Martel S., Moisy C., Pâques L., Picart- Deshors D., Rigolot E., Saint-André L., Schmitt B., 2017: Quel rôle pour les forêts et la filière-bois françaises dans l’atténuation du changement climatique ? Une étude des freins et leviers forestiers à l’horizon 2050. (What role can the French forestry and timber sector play in attenuating climate change? A study of forest obstacles and levers by 2050). Study report for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, INRA and IGN, 101 pages + 230 pages (annexes). 1b Law B.E, Hudiburg T.W., Berner L.T., Kent J.J., Buotte P.C. and Harmon M.E., 2018: Land use strategies to mitigate climate change in carbon dense temperate forests. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 115 (14), 3663– 3668 1c Nabuurs, G.J, Lindner M., Verkerk P.J., Gunia K., Deda P., Michalak R. and Grassi G., 2013: First signs of carbon sink saturation in European forest biomass. Nature Climate Change 3, 792– 796.

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 h (new)

14h. Stresses that the predominance of monocultures, intensive harvesting and changes in forestry pathways increase the impact of storms and biotic agents;1a 1b _________________ 1a Nageleisen L.M., de Saintonge F.X. and Riou-Nivert P., 2010: La santé des forêts [Forest health]. CNPF-IDF, 2010, 608 pages. 1b Lousteau D. et al., 2010: Carbofor, Séquestration de Carbone dans les grands écosystèmes forestiers en France, Quantification, spatialisation, vulnérabilité et impacts de différents scénarios climatiques et sylvicoles [Carbofor, Carbon sequestration in large forest ecosystems in France: quantification, spatialisation, vulnerability and impacts of different climate and forestry scenarios]. Final report, INRA 2010.

Amendment 319 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 i (new)

14i. Underlines that whilst mechanised clear-cuts are simple and cost-effective for the service providers and offer a quick payment to the forest owner, they fragment the forest landscape and damage the forest floor and water cycles, thereby reducing biodiversity and forests' resilience to weather, fire and diseases;1a _________________ 1a Puettmann, Klaus J., K. David Coates, and Christian C. Messier, 'A Critique of Silviculture: Managing for Complexity', Ebook Central (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2009) ; Anne Siira-Pietikäinen and Jari Haimi, ‘Changes in Soil Fauna 10 Years after Forest Harvestings: Comparison between Clear Felling and Green-Tree Retention Methods’, Forest Ecology and Management 258, no. 3 (2009): 332–38

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas on June 2021, fifty experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), published a joint report1a highlighting the close links between climate change and the biodiversity crisis; whereas the experts called for both crisis to be tackled jointly, to focus on nature-based solutions such as the restoration of carbon and species- rich ecosystems, to increase sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, such as diversification of plant and forest species planted, agroforestry and agroecology, to strengthen and better target conservation actions by expanding the area of land and ocean protected; _________________ 1a IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop report on biodiversity and climate change, 10 June 2021

Amendment 320 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 j (new)

14j. Stresses that clear-cuts mobilise soil carbon, which continues to leak into the atmosphere for years following the harvest;1a underlines that this effect is exacerbated by tilling the ground in preparation for the next generation of trees; 1b stresses that extending areas of close-to-nature forestry could mitigate these effects; 1c _________________ 1a Steven P. Hamburg et al., ‘Losses of Mineral Soil Carbon Largely Offset Biomass Accumulation 15 Years after Whole-Tree Harvest in a Northern Hardwood Forest’, Biogeochemistry 144, no. 1 (2019): 1–14 1b H. Simola, ‘Persistent Carbon Loss from the Humus Layer of Tilled Boreal Forest Soil’, European Journal of Soil Science 69, no. 2 (2018): 303–14 1c Jeannette Eggers et al., ‘How Well Do Stakeholder-Defined Forest Management Scenarios Balance Economic and Ecological Forest Values?’, Forests 11, no. 1 (2020)

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 k (new)

14k. Calls for a EU ban on clear cutting of forests in order to protect biodiversity, the climate and the soils, and calls on Member States to refrain from any clear cutting until such a ban is in place;

Amendment 322 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 l (new)

14l. Underlines the urgency to shift from intensive forestry to close-to-nature forestry (based on continuous cover forestry),which preserves the integrity of ecosystems whilst generating profit;

Amendment 323 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes note of the ongoing work on guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should incorporate results-oriented, scientifically and locally proven sustainable forest management practices to give managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices;deleted

Amendment 324 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Takes note of~~Welcomes the ongoing work on guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should incorporate results-oriented, scientifically and locally proven sustainable forest management practices to give managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices;

Amendment 325 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Takes note of~~Welcomes the ongoing work on ~~guidance for~~ ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry guidelines by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; urges that these guidelines set a high standard for ecosystem-based forestry practices that the EU can award with a quality label similar to the organic label whilst ensuring that there is no risk of greenwashing existing practices that undermine the EU's climate and biodiversity objectives; believes that to ensure added value, guid~~ance~~elines on this concept should incorporate results- oriented, scientifically and locally proven ~~sustainable forest management practices to give managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices;~~ tools and instruments to support managers in better integrating biodiversity protection into sustainable forest management and to foster multifunctional and resilient forests;

Amendment 326 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes note of the ongoing work on guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should be in full respect of the subsidiarity principle and should incorporate a menu of results- oriented, scientifically and locally proven sustainable forest management practices to give managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices; calls on the European Commission to provide incentives for forest owners, local managers, the forest industry and the national competent authorities to engage in "closer-to-nature" forestry practices;

Amendment 327 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Asger CHRISTENSEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 328 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes note of the ongoing work on guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should incorporate results-oriented, scientifically ~~and locally~~ proven sustainable forest management practices ~~to give manag~~geared to local-level and regional-level needs, to give forest managers and forest owners the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices in a climate of bureaucratic flexibility;

Amendment 329 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 33 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation; whereas forest ecosystems store the equivalent of around 10 % of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions 1a; whereas this storage potential can be increased; whereas, however, in many cases these sinks are deteriorating, and some forests have even become net emitters; _________________ 1a 2016 EEA report on 'European forest ecosystems -state and trends'

Amendment 330 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes note of the ongoing work on voluntary guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should incorporate results-oriented, scientifically and locally proven sustainable forest management practices to give forest owners and managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices;

Amendment 331 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes note of the ongoing work on guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should incorporate results-oriented, scientifically and locally proven sustainable forest management practices to give owners and managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices;

Amendment 332 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Takes note of the ongoing work on guidance for ‘closer-to-nature’ forestry by the Working Group on Forests and Nature; believes that to ensure added value, guidance on this concept should incorporate results-oriented, scientifically and locally proven sustainable forest management practices to give forest owners and managers the tools to yield connections and cooperation on better integrating biodiversity protection with improved management practices;

Amendment 333 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Urges the Commission to urgently present guidelines on biodiversity-friendly afforestation, reforestation and close-to- nature forestry; considers that such guidelines should prioritise the following: (a) natural regeneration, with increased protection of diverse forests; (b) assisted regeneration where tree seedlings in forested areas are protected; (c) assisted regeneration where naturally- distributed tree seedlings are able to grow without human disturbance, and where trees of all ages are protected and preserved; (d) improved forest management where the impact of logging is reduced by letting trees grow older and avoiding clear cuts; (e) reforestation where single species plantations are transitioned to multiple species plantations adapted to the local geography.

Amendment 334 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Stresses that sustainable and active forest management effectively prevents forest damage and promotes forest vitality and adaptability, while also providing a wide array of ecosystem services of benefit to society as a whole;

Amendment 335 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Points out that unsatisfactory forest management also poses a threat to the health of protected forests, on account of the general absence of strict protection criteria and of financial incentives;

Amendment 336 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to create a definition for what constitutes old-growth forests; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types; highlights the structural complexity in these forests1a, which provides a high variety of microhabitats2a essential for sustaining high biodiversity levels3a 3b, while old to ancient trees are vital to ensuring long-term forest adaptive capacity and resilience, having low mortality rates and bridging across centuries of different environmental conditions4a; points out that proforestation5a in old-growth and primary forests could be the most cost- effective and efficient way to accrue and enhance ecosystem services, including carbon accumulation. _________________ 1a Franklin and Van Pelt, Spatial Aspects of Structural Complexity in Old- GrowthForests, 2004, doi: 10.1093/jof/102.3.22 2a Kozák et al., Profile of tree-related microhabitats in European primarybeech- dominated forests, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.07.021 3a Paillet et al. The indicator side of tree microhabitats: A multi-taxon approach based on bats, birds and saproxylic beetles, 2018, doi:10.1111/1365- 2664.13181 3b Eckelt et al. “Primeval forest relict beetles” of Central Europe: a set of 168 umbrella species for the protection of primeval forest remnants, 2018, doi: 10.1007/s10841-017-0028-6 4a Cannon et al., Old and ancient trees are life history lottery winners and vital evolutionary resources for long-term adaptive capacity, 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41477-021-01088-5 5a Moomaw e al., Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good, 2019, doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2019.00027

Amendment 337 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 338 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. RHighlights the importance of primary and old-growth forests and their richness of biodiversity; reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old- growth forests and stresses the need to create a definition for what constitutes old- growth forests; welcomes the ongoing work on this definition of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types and to duly distinguish between old-growth forests and older forest stands managed for long rotation;

Amendment 339 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to create a definition for what constitutes old-growth forests, in consultation with Member States and forest owners and managers; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types; stresses that the principle of prior and informed consent must duly be respected in the protection process;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas scientific evidence, reports and recommendations on zoonosis and pandemics, including the IPBES workshop report on biodiversity loss and pandemics1a, the United Nations Environment Programme report of 6 July 2020 entitled ‘Preventing the next pandemic– Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission’1b, have demonstrated the importance of halting the loss of biodiversity and of holistically applying the ‘One Health’ principle in policy making, which reflects the fact that human health, animals and the environment are interconnected and that transformative changes are urgently needed across society; _________________ 1a IPBES (2020) Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Daszak, P., das Neves, C., Amuasi, J., Hayman, D., Kuiken, T., Roche, B., Zambrana-Torrelio, C., Buss, P., Dundarova, H., Feferholtz, Y., Foldvari, G., Igbinosa, E., Junglen, S., Liu, Q., Suzan, G., Uhart, M., Wannous, C., Woolaston, K., Mosig Reidl, P., O'Brien, K., Pascual, U., Stoett, P., Li, H., Ngo, H. T., IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4147317 1b UNEP (2020) Preventing the next pandemic - Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission

Amendment 340 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to ~~create a~~set a commonly agreed definition for what constitutes old-growth forests with Members States and forest owners and managers before any designation; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types; stresses the need to duly respect the ”prior and informed consent” principle in the process of designation for protection;

Amendment 341 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to ~~create~~set a definition, build upon existing definitions and based on a comprehensive EU framework, for what constitutes primary and old-growth forests with Member States and forest stakeholders before any designation; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse and comprehensive set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific and diverse conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types; across all Member States;

Amendment 342 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 343 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests; Notes the various definitions of primary and old-growth forests available at international level and stresses the need to create a definition for what constitutes primary and old-growth forests; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types;

Amendment 344 #

Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to create a definition for what constitutes~~Is convinced that universal, clear and reliable definitions, developed in close cooperation with the Member States, are of fundamental importance in ensuring the effective protection of primary and old-growth forests; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types;

Amendment 345 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to create a ~~definition~~common agreed understanding between Member States and all other stakeholders for what constitutes old-growth forests; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types;

Amendment 346 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection and further research of primary and old- growth forests and stresses th~~e need to~~at the Member States should create a definition for what constitutes old-growth forests; ~~welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and~~ underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types;

Amendment 347 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its call for the protection of primary and old-growth forests and stresses the need to ~~create a definition for what constitutes old-growth forest~~finalise the process of defining these two notions; welcomes the ongoing work of the Working Group on Forests and Nature and underlines the need to consider a diverse set of attributes and ensure flexibility to account for specific conditions in bio- geographic regions and forest types;

Amendment 348 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Recognises that almost all primary forests have been lost and expresses concern at illegal logging, including in protected zones such as Natura 2000 areas, in the EU; recognises that not only are forests at threat, but that there has been violence towards forest rangers, local communities in connection with illegal logging; urges the Commission and the Member States to take urgent action on these issues through close monitoring and through the enforcement of existing EU laws and the introduction of new measures to prevent illegal logging, to hold those responsible to account, and to end the oppression of rangers;

Amendment 349 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Notes that forested areas vary a great deal across the Member States; points in this connection to the particularly valuable role of stable mixed forests including native species of trees suited to the local conditions and the essential part that mixed forests play in ecosystems and the contribution they make to biodiversity; calls on the Member States to support forest owners in their efforts to conserve, establish and provide financial incentives for native mixed forests typical of the area;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas in order to help tackle the biodiversity loss and climate crises, it is essential that forests are protected, restored and managed in such a way as to maximise their capacity for carbon storage, mitigation of extreme climate events and biodiversity protection;

Amendment 350 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Welcomes the re- and afforestation roadmap for planting at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030; stresses that definitions of friendly re- and afforestation must consider the diversity of European forests, owners, management traditions and nature types, as well as our shifting climatic zones, and be set in close cooperation with Member States and relevant stakeholders;

Amendment 351 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Highlights that primary and old- growth forests play a key role for biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and storage or fresh water provision. Recalls the pronounced mapping deficit of primary and old- growth forests and calls for strengthened efforts for a comprehensive and harmonised mapping, based on clear operational criteria.

Amendment 352 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Welcomes the initiative to plant 3 billion additional trees by 2030 and particularly the principle of planting the right tree in the right place for the right purpose; underlines that attention should be given to avoiding to put additional pressure on the availability of agricultural land;

Amendment 353 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Further calls on the European Commission to acknowledge the work done so far in some Member States in identifying, mapping and assessing these forests and to encourage the exchange of best practices and knowledge sharing;

Amendment 354 #

Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Considers that in order to increase the amount of trees planted in the Union, opportunities to plant trees within existing forests and in urban areas should be prioritised over converting productive agricultural land to forest;

Amendment 355 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Welcomes that the Commission guidance on new protected areas acknowledges the need for certain ongoing activities, for example, ungulate management through hunting to protect a wide range of forest habitat types;

Amendment 356 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls for the strict protection of 10 per cent of primary and old-growth forests from industrial logging;

Amendment 357 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Calls on the European Commission to conclude the list of activities allowed in these forests, in full respect with the protection and strict protection status of these forests and to thoroughly evaluate the impact of the protection regime on the local communities affected; calls on the Commission to put forward a just transition fund for these communities, for professional reconversion, since the distribution of these forests is uneven, 90% of them being located in just four Member States6a; _________________ 6a https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repos itory/handle/JRC124671

Amendment 358 #

16b. Stresses that European forests are subject to an altered water balance and increased average temperatures as a result of climate change; calls in this connection on the Commission to develop a climate adaptation strategy for European forests in order to safeguard the future health and stability of European forests;

Amendment 359 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Stresses that for reasons of both habitat diversity and connectivity, forests that are within non-exploitable areas should not be the only ones being preserved; calls for the voluntary establishment of 5 per cent of all exploitable European forests as natural areas;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

A c. whereas on 11 October 2021 the Council authorized the Commission to endorse the Kunming Declaration, on behalf of the Union; whereas the Union has therefore committed itself to ensure the development, adoption and implementation of an effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework, that includes provision of the necessary means of implementation, in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity, and appropriate mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and review, to reverse the current loss of biodiversity and ensure that biodiversity is put on a path to recovery by 2030 at the latest, towards the full realization of the 2050 Vision of “Living in Harmony with Nature”;

Amendment 360 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Highlights the urgency of agreeing on definitions and mapping, particularly for old-growth forests;

Amendment 361 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Welcomes the pledge to plant, in full respect of ecological principles, at least 3 billion additional trees by 2030, set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; takes note of the Commission Staff Working Document “The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge for 2030”, accompanying the Commission’s Communication on the “New EU Forest Strategy for 2030”; calls on the Commission to include in its additionality principles the trees planted under the new CAP’s eco-schemes and the “Environmental, climate-related and other management commitments” as well as those under the National Recovery and Resilience Plans, since both the new CAP and the Recovery and Resilience Facility will have been implemented after the adoption of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030; stresses that since land is a finite resource, the conversion of agricultural land must be avoided, especially under the new geopolitical circumstances, as well as the conversion of pastures and natural grasslands, since it leads to no significant changes identified in soil organic carbon7a; notes the opportunity for urban forest development in this area; _________________ 7a p.41 of the Commission Staff Working Document “The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge for 2030”

Amendment 362 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Highlights that some forests are more at risk than others due to their specific bio-geographic conditions; highlights that forests should not be drained as it is a disaster both for biodiversity and for the Climate; insists furthermore that no wetlands or peatlands should be drained for afforestation; points out additionally the particular care that needs to be taken to avoid erosion in forests situated in mountainous areas;

Amendment 363 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Points out that the increasing demand for wood as a raw material, especially wood for use as an energy source, poses major challenges in a context of political crises, too, such as the war in Ukraine; calls on the Commission in this connection to identify at an early stage, through continuous monitoring of forest resources, both potential uses and limits on use;

Amendment 364 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Stresses the importance to distribute protected forest areas among all territories, with large and small wilderness reserves and corridors linking them;

Amendment 365 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)

16d. Notes that multi-age, multi-species forests with a continuous cover which are managed according to biodiversity protection criteria are more resilient to climate impacts such as fires, droughts, and unseasonal weather events, and as such are an important investment for the future, not only for communities and nature, but also for forest economies further notes that there is evidence that they produce more, higher quality and more economically valuable wood; Insists that mono-cultures, which are less resilient to pests and diseases as well as to drought, wind, storms and fires, should not be supported by EU funds;

Amendment 366 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)

16d. Stresses that maximising sustainable self-sufficiency in wood as a raw material is in the interest of Europe's timber industry; points out that the promotion of short-rotation coppices, for example, can represent a key component in the context of the energy transition in order to reduce the pressure on forests;

Amendment 367 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)

16d. Recalls that the European Court of Justice ruled that Poland breached EU law when it decided to increase logging rates in parts of the protected Białowieża Forest; urges Poland to immediately cease logging in the Białowieża Forest;

Amendment 368 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)

16e. Welcomes that the Commission will review, complement and update the Taxonomy Climate Delegate Act technical screening criteria for forestry and bioenergy to reflect developments under the Forest Strategy; calls for problematic forest management practices, such as large and medium clear-cuts or uprooting of roots or the use of heavy, soil- compacting and -degrading machinery to be listed as harmful in the Taxonomy;

Amendment 369 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)

16e. Expresses its deep worriedness over Poland’s decision to build a wall along the border with Belarus; stresses that the construction of this wall will cause irreparable damage to the Białowieża Forest, crossing animal migration routes, preventing many species from reproducing and obtaining food, and thus will seriously disturb the balance of this precious ecosystem;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

A d. whereas the Union's actions and policies have so far been insufficient to halt the loss of biodiversity and achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets; whereas in “The European environment —state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe”, the European Environment Agency notes that “Europe continues to lose biodiversity at an alarming rate and many agreed policy targets will not be achieved. Assessments of species and habitats protected under the Habitats Directive show predominantly unfavourable conservation status at 60 % for species and 77 % for habitats.”1a _________________ 1a EEA, "The European environment — state and outlook 2020", p. 74

Amendment 370 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 f (new)

16f. Recalls that more than 1,700 scientists1a from all over the world appealed to the Commission, pointing out that the construction of the wall between Poland and Belarus would collide with nature-protected areas, including areas protected by Natura 2000, and that the corridor being cut is one of the most important corridors for the preservation of forest and wetland habitats in Central Europe; _________________ 1a Open letter from the scientific community concerning the construction of a wall along the Polish- Belarusian border

Amendment 371 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 g (new)

16g. Recalls that projected climate changes would increase the length and severity of the fire season in Europe; underlines that ‘megafires’ are increasing in intensity and frequency globally, including in Europe;

Amendment 372 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 h (new)

16h. Underlines that an important step to help prevent fires would be to halt the expansion of monoculture tree plantations; recalls that a diverse landscape with diverse forests provides a greater bulwark or natural barrier against large-scale and uncontrollable forest fires; stresses that the restoration of diverse forests would benefit fire prevention and containment;

Amendment 373 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 i (new)

16i. Emphasises the need to exclude the use of genetic engineering, be it through transgenesis or mutagenesis, as a means to ensure the adaptation of European forests;

Amendment 374 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2 a (new)

Enhancing agroforestry

Amendment 375 #

16j. Stresses that, in addition to carbon sequestration, agroforestry has important co-benefits for wildlife and biodiversity (improved wildlife habitat, more pollinators, insects), improved soil health and protection from erosion, protection from nitrate leaching, and flooding; 1a 1b 1c _________________ 1a Kay, S.; Rega, C.; Moreno, G.; den Herder, M.; Palma, J. H.; Borek, R.; Crous-Duran, J.; Freese, D.; Giannitsopoulos, M.; Graves, A.; Jäger, M.; Lamersdorf, N.; Memedemin, D. et al. (2019): Agroforestry creates carbon sinks whilst enhancing the environment in agricultural landscapes in Europe. In: Land Use Policy 83, pp. 581–593. DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.02.025 1b Burges, P.; Newman, S.; Pagella, T.; Smith, J.; Westaway, S.; Briggs, S.; Knight, I.; Whistance, L.; Raskin, B.; Osborn, S. (2019): The Agroforestry Handbook: Agroforestry for the UK 1st Edition. Bristol, UK. - Agroforestry for the UK. Soil Association, UK., 2019 1c Torralba, M.; Fagerholm, N.; Burgess, P. J.; Moreno, G.; Plieninger, T. (2016): Do European agroforestry systems enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services? A meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 230, 150- 161. DOI: 10.1016/J.AGEE.2016.06.002

Amendment 376 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 k (new)

16k. Underlines that silvo-pastoral systems can improve animal welfare by providing shelter to livestock and reducing heat stress1a; stresses that it also has positive adaptation benefits by improving the microclimate under rising temperatures, protection against erosion, and improved water balance ; underlines furthermore that with diversification of output, farms are less vulnerable to single crop failure; _________________ 1a Burges, P.; Newman, S.; Pagella, T.; Smith, J.; Westaway, S.; Briggs, S.; Knight, I.; Whistance, L.; Raskin, B.; Osborn, S. (2019): The Agroforestry Handbook: Agroforestry for the UK 1st Edition. Bristol, UK. - Agroforestry for the UK. Soil Association, UK., 2019

Amendment 377 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 l (new)

16l. Stresses that agroforestry can have beneficial impacts on farm productivity and economics; recalls that planting tree species with high added value (such as pear, cherry, maple, walnut, other nuts) can increase farm income1a; underlines that combining multiple crops (e.g. fruit trees with arable crops) or silvo-pastoral systems can increase productivity ; highlights that in silvo-pastoral systems combining laying hens and trees, can improve laying rates and improve output1b; _________________ 1a Dupraz, C.; Liagre, F. (2008): Agroforesterie, des arbres et des cultures. (Editions France-Agricole). Paris, 2008 1b Burges, P.; Newman, S.; Pagella, T.; Smith, J.; Westaway, S.; Briggs, S.; Knight, I.; Whistance, L.; Raskin, B.; Osborn, S. (2019): The Agroforestry Handbook: Agroforestry for the UK 1st Edition. Bristol, UK. - Agroforestry for the UK. Soil Association, UK., 2019

Amendment 378 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 m (new)

16m. Underlines that under Mediterranean conditions, severalstudies1a predict that crop production could be reinforced under silvo-arable schemes compared to open fields if the recurrence of warm springs keeps increasing;

Amendment 379 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

~~Enabling forests and forest managers to deliver on multiple goal~~Delivering a just transition to closer-to- nature forestry for forest owners and forest managers

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)

A e. whereas, in addition to carbon sequestration, forests have a beneficial impact on the climate, the atmosphere, the preservation of biodiversity and river and waterway management, protect soil from erosion by water and wind and possess other useful natural properties;

Amendment 380 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 n (new)

16n. Stresses the urgency to achieve a just transition in forestry; stresses that such a just transition should provide incentives for forest owners to transition towards economically viable forestry that preserves the harvest potential for their future generations, put the safety of forest workers and the rights of forest users first, create opportunities for alternative forestry and non-timber entrepreneurship;

Amendment 381 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 o (new)

16o. Stresses that there is growing evidence that close-to-nature forestry is economically similar or superior to intensive practices; recalls that calculations of financial inputs versus timber yields in boreal forests concluded that intensive forestry is either inferior to close-to-nature forestry1a or achieves a slight economic advantage at a high cost to forest resilience and biodiversity;1b stresses that in Southern-European countries, close-to-nature forests achieve a higher yield and value due to the larger tree diameters;1c 1d _________________ 1a Olli Tahvonen et al., ‘Optimal Management of Uneven-Aged Norway Spruce Stands’, Forest Ecology and Management 260, no. 1 (2010): 106–15 1b Timo Pukkala, ‘Effect of Species Composition on Ecosystem Services in European Boreal Forest’, Journal of Forestry Research 29, no. 2 (2018): 261– 72 1c María Larrañeta Oyarzun, Comparative Economic Analysis of Two Forest Management Systems. Application in the Iratí Forest(Análisis Económico Comparativo de Dos Sistemas de Gestión Forestal. Aplicación En La Selva Del Iratí) (Univ Pub. Navarra, Pamplona., 1999) 1d João P. F. Carvalho, José A. Santos, and Joana Santos, ‘Sustainable Management and Valorisation of Oak Forests (Gestão Sustentada e Valorização Das Florestas de Carvalho)’, Agronegocios, 2014, 32–35.

Amendment 382 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 p (new)

16p. Stresses that another advantage of close-to-nature forestry is its economic multifunctionality; recalls that in addition to securing regular earnings from selective logging, continuous tree cover and higher biodiversity preserve forests' non-timber revenues; 1a _________________ 1a Thomas Knoke, Katharina Messerer and Carola Paul, ‘The Role of Economic Diversification in Forest Ecosystem Management’, Current Forestry Reports 3,no. 2 (2017): 93–106

Amendment 383 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 q (new)

16q. Deplores that most profitability calculations do not include non-timber goods; underlines that, due to growing demand for naturalfood,1a the largely untapped revenues from wild produce hold tremendous economic potential for forest owners; _________________ 1a Forest Europe, ‘State of Europe’s Forests 2020’

Amendment 384 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 r (new)

16r. Recalls that he potential financial benefits from Natura 2000 is estimated to be €200-300 billion per year upon an annual investment of €5.8 billion;1a stresses that these numbers illustrate that timber production should not be considered the only or primary forest activity capable of creating profit; underlines that valuing non-timber forest products increases the forest's overall profitability;1b _________________ 1a The Economic Benefits of the Natura 2000 Network: Synthesis Report (Luxembourg: Publications Office, 2013) 1b Mikko Kurttila, Timo Pukkala, and Jari Miina, ‘Synergies and Trade-Offs in the Production of NWFPs Predicted in Boreal Forests’, Forests 9, no. 7 (2018)

Amendment 385 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that the European agricultural fund for rural development is the main source of support for forestry measures; further notes that between 2014 and 2020, Member States only spent 49 % of the available funds, and that the Commission has identified administrative burden, insufficient attractiveness of the premiums and a lack of advisory services as reasons for this low usage; urges the Commission to ensure that Member States provide for Payment for Ecosystem Services schemes related to forest ecosystems (air, carbon removal, climate change adaptation, water, wellbeing of local population, etc.) in their CAP strategic plans and in the operational programmes under the relevant funds(rural development and cohesion); emphasises that such funds should not allow for continued emissions in other sectors;

Amendment 386 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that the European agricultural fund for rural development is the main source of support for forestry measures, accounting for 90% of total EU forestry financing; further notes that between 2014 and 2020, Member States only spent 49 % of the available funds, and that the Commission has identified administrative burden, insufficient attractiveness of the premiums ~~and a lack of advisory services as reasons for this low usage;~~ , no adequate remuneration for the provision of ecological services7a and a lack of advisory services as reasons for this low usage; outlines that the European Commission’s 2017evaluation of forestry measures concluded that the effect of rural development support for forests was generally positive and could contribute significantly to delivering economic, environmental and social benefits8a; _________________ 7a https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/SR21_21/SR_Forestry_EN.pdf 8a https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/SR21_21/SR_Forestry_EN.pdf

Amendment 387 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European agricultural fund for rural development isEAFRD are the main source of financial support for forestry measures; further notes that between 2014 and 2020, Member States only spent 49 % of the available funds1a, and that the Commission has identified administrative burden, insufficient attractiveness of the premiums and a lack of advisory services as reasons for this low usage; 1b; welcomes the Commission’s target to increase the uptake of available funds and underlines the need to ensure that funding and subsidies do not support operations that undermine the balanced provision of the various ecosystem services; _________________ 1a European Court of Auditors Special Report 21/2021: EU funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU forests: positive but limited results. 1b Commission communication of 16 July 2021 on the “New EU Forest Strategy for 2030” (COM(2021) 572).

Amendment 388 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that the European agricultural fund for rural development is the main source of support for forestry measures; further notes that between 2014 and 2020, Member States only spent 49 % of the available funds, and that the Commission has identified administrative burden, insufficient attractiveness of the premiums and a lack of advisory services as reasons for this low usage; underlines that support to voluntary nature conservation measurement by forest owners achieves several objectives, such as biodiversity preservation, preservation of the carbon stock and habitat conservation, while being in line with the ownerships right and subsidiarity principle;

Amendment 389 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that the European agricultural fund for rural development is the main source of support for forestry measures; further notes that between 2014 and 2020, Member States only spent 49 % of the available funds, and that the Commission has identified administrative burden, insufficient attractiveness of the premiums and a lack of advisory services as reasons for this low usage and that this should be taken into account when adopting the new CAP strategic plans; highlights the need to include concrete and attractive interventions and measures to enhance sustainable forest management and the multifunctional role of forests in EU in the CAP strategic plans;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)

A f. whereas primary forests are unique reservoirs of biodiversity and have a greater carbon sequestration capacity than secondary forests; whereas the Białowieża Forest is an irreplaceable region for biodiversity conservation, particularly owing to its size, protection status and its essentially undisturbed nature; whereas the Białowieża Forest is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, and is recognised by Unesco as a biosphere reserve;

Amendment 390 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that the European agricultural fund for rural development is the main source of support for forestry measures characterised by a high flexibility of the spending allocation for Member States and a lack of a harmonised minimum benchmark for funding towards forestry measures; further notes that between 2014 and 2020, Member States only spent 49 % of the available funds, and that the Commission has identified administrative burden, insufficient attractiveness of the premiums and a ~~lack~~dearth of advisory services as reasons for this low usage; calls on the Commission to establish a new dedicated forestry fund;

Amendment 391 #

Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Daniel BUDA, Álvaro AMARO, Asim ADEMOV, Dan-Ştefan MOTREANU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 392 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls on the Commission to assess the consistency of different funding instruments under the Union budget and the European Union Recovery Instrument, including the national CAP Strategic Plans, with the commitments and targets set out in the EU Forest Strategy and EU Biodiversity Strategy, and to identify ways of increasing financial support to forest and farm owners who engage in the restoration of forest carbon stocks and expansion of agroforestry coverage as a way to enhance current levels of biodiversity and ecosystem resilience;

Amendment 393 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation to use the European Social Fund Plus to equip forestry professionals with the skills they need for the transition to more sustainable management practices so as to boost entrepreneurship and employment through the creation of new enterprises in the field of the sustainable use of forestry services and products;

Amendment 394 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls on the Commission to take action, when deploying the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, to ensure that support is provided in particular for initiatives to reduce biodiversity loss in forests, promote native species of trees and improve forest management and that monies are used in line with policy goals;

Amendment 395 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Although rural development spending has been available to support mainly two forestry measures, several other rural development measures could have had an impact on forests; regrets though the fact that the European Commission does not track forestry expenditure under other rural development measures;

Amendment 396 #

Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Daniel BUDA, Álvaro AMARO, Dan-Ştefan MOTREANU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Stresses that the effects of regulation must also be assessed from the perspective of maintaining European competitiveness, and any additional regulation must demand similar requirements for raw materials and products imported from third countries;

Amendment 397 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls on the Commission to set up a new financial program Common Forestry Policy by 2027 in order to consolidate European financial support and to achieve the multifunctional purposes of forests, their protection and management;

Amendment 398 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to better promote the other EU financing sources, like the LIFE programme, Horizon Europe, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the EIB Natural Capital Financing Facility;

Amendment 399 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)

17c. Takes note of the European Commission’s conclusion that forestry aid measures have not created any significant distortion of competition in the internal market and in the light of this experience, it should be therefore possibly to exempt those aid measures from the notification obligation irrespective of whether they are co-financed by EAFRD; calls on the European Commission to consider eligible under the aid for forest- environmental and climate services and forest conservation also the commitments regarding the protection and strict of protection of forests stemming from the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030; calls on the European Commission to prolong the undertaking of these commitments for periods longer than seven years, especially in the case of strictly protected forest areas;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 d (new)

— having regard to the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate of 25 September 2019,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)

A g. whereas the scale of climate change will bring about a significant migration of European tree species, increased tree mortality –thereby endangering the totality of biotic interactions – and changes in the composition of the microbial flora of soil, thereby lowering the soil fertility and generating a proliferation of tree pests;

Amendment 400 #

Emma WIESNER, Elsi KATAINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 401 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Points out that the forestry sector operates primarily as a market-based sector; stresses that putting a stronger emphasis on other ecosystem services should not lead to an increased dependency on subsidies and encourages the Commission and Member States to further pursue the development of market-based payment for ecosystem services schemes, such as carbon farming; highlight in the light of the initiative on carbon farming that active sustainable forest management is the guarantee for both the carbon stock and the forest growth; stresses that carbon forest removals should focus on incentives for forest owners and managers to invest in active forest management, promoting regeneration and increased growth; emphasises that initiatives should be carefully designed in order to not lead to passive forestry as the capacity to remove carbon declines with the ageing of trees and the closing of forest canopies; stresses that carbon removals are not the only way to incentivise forests´ contribution to climate change;

Amendment 402 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Points out that the forestry sector operates primarily as a market-based sector; stresses that putting a stronger emphasis on other ecosystem services should not lead to an increased dependency on subsidies and encourages the Commission and Member States to further pursue the development of market-based payment for ecosystem services schemes, such as carbon farming; and carbon removal certificates, which should incentivise active and sustainable forest management, new innovations and versatile use of wood in products to sequestrate and storage carbon taking into account the potential of side streams; stresses that carbon removal certificates should be based on solid financial framework, accounting rules, market- based design and funding from public and private resources, while CAP-funding must mainly remain targeted for food production and ensuring food security in the Union;

Amendment 403 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 404 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 405 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Points out that the forestry sector unlike the agricultural sector operates primarily as a market-based sector and without a distinct dependency on subsidies; stresses that putting a stronger emphasis on other ecosystem services should not lead to an increased dependency on subsidies and encourages the Commission and Member States to further pursue the development of market-based payment for ecosystem services schemes, such as carbon farming;

Amendment 406 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Points out that the forestry sector operates primarily as a market-based sector; stresses that ~~putting~~ a stronger emphasis on other ecosystem services should not lead to an increased dependency on subsidies and encourages the Commission and Member States to further pursue the development of market- based payment for ecosystem services schemes, such as carbon farmbe managed both through appropriate subsidies and the development of payment schemes for work that supports biodiversity objectives, such as data collection and monitoring;

Amendment 407 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 408 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Welcomes the work undertaken by the Horizon 2020 funded SINCERE project in developing new business models for the provision of enhanced ecosystem services and believes lessons learned from this and similar projects will give valuable guidance on the development of payment for ecosystem services schemes; underlines the importance of applying the principle of additionality and of designing programmes in a way that rewards front- runners; further underlines that specific requirements of programmes need to take into account the wide variety of forests and their diverse challenges and opportunities; notes that the availability of reliable data on ecosystem services is a prerequisite for any payment scheme;

Amendment 409 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Points out that the Union should increase its energy self-sufficiency and therefore regards any excessive restrictions on the use of wood for energy and the use of woody biomass as problematic;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)

A h. whereas several studies1aestimated that the carbon storage potential of Europe’s forests could be reduced by 180 Mt CO2 annually in 2021 to 2030 due to disturbances caused by climate change and thus reduce the expected net forest sink by more than 50 %; _________________ 1a Seidl, R.; Schelhaas, M.-J.; Rammer, W.; Verkerk, P. J. (2014): Increasing forest disturbances in Europe and their impact on carbon storage. In: nature climate change 4 (9), pp. 806–810. DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2318

Amendment 410 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;deleted

Amendment 411 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; ~~takes note of~~welcomes the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with and learn from existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must ~~offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;~~ reward higher ambitions for biodiversity protection and ensuring multifunctionality and resilience of forests; underlines however that current private certification systems do not necessarily provide a guarantee that forests are managed sustainably, as shown by the recent decision by the Finnish regional control authorities (ELY) to leave the working group on private certification due to the inability of the certification scheme to ensure sustainable forestry; notes that voluntary certification can only be a step towards the development of a more sustainable forest management in the EU and that the most harmful management practices should be excluded from all EU schemes and policies;

Amendment 412 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management and as an essential tool to meet EUTR requirements8a; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a voluntary ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must be based on a mandatory framework with clear requirements and must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services; calls on the European Commission, after concluding the work on the "closer-to-nature" definition, to assess both the added value and the costs for forest owners of such a certification scheme; _________________ 8a https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/afa5e0df-fb19-11eb- b520-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

Amendment 413 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of~~Welcomes the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to- nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 414 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; highlights the shortcomings of many certification schemes and their lack of transparency for consumers; highlights the fact that the key existing certification schemes are unable to reflect the requirements of the legislation in force;3a takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services; _________________ 3a See also: European Commission, Directorate- General for Environment, Study on certification and verification schemes in the forest sector and for wood- based products : report, 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/126030

Amendment 415 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important role and contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing and proven certification schemes to explore how this additional voluntary certification could enhance their portfolio and believes that to create added value, the certification must offer forest owners a sufficient price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 416 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; stresses that efforts should be made to improve existing certification schemes; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 417 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ voluntary certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the voluntary certification must offer foresters and forest owners and managers a sufficient price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 418 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a voluntary ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the voluntary certification must offer forest owners a sufficient price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 419 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing market-driven certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; ~~takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification schem~~relies on consumer demand and preferences to shape the development on these schemes also in the future; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A i (new)

A i. whereas methane uptake in forest soils has decreased by an average of 77% from 1988 to 2015 in the northern hemisphere; whereas this educed uptake of methane by soils is likely being driven by increases in soil moisture as a result of enhanced rainfall; whereas such enhanced rainfall is caused by climate change;1a _________________ 1a https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1807377115

Amendment 420 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and believes that to create added value, the voluntary certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services;

Amendment 421 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the important contribution of existing certification schemes to the further uptake of sustainable forest management; takes note of the Commission’s announcement on developing a ‘closer-to-nature’ voluntary certification scheme; encourages the Commission to cooperate with existing certification schemes and ~~believes that to create added value, the certification must offer foresters a price premium for the provision of ecosystem services~~forest sector actors; points out that the certification must remain credible, impactful and feasible for the forest sector;

Amendment 422 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Regrets the inclusion of a carbon farming action plan in the EU Forest Strategy; stresses that while there is a need to incentivise farmers and foresters to improve practices, such an approach is unlikely to work due to the lack of a strong regulatory framework to prevent land degradation at the expense of carbon capture; stresses furthermore that focus on carbon credit generation has been shown to be a cumbersome approach prone to serious loopholes including negative biodiversity impacts;

Amendment 423 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

Amendment 424 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Highlights that to unlock the full potential of forests to contribute to climate and circular economy targets of the EU, further research and development ~~in the field of bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products are required and should be incentivised;~~and innovation in the fields management practices and of bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products and other products with a large carbon footprint are required and should be incentivised; notes that development cycles in the sector may last 10 years or longer and underlines that a predictable and stable regulatory environment is a precondition to attracting investments; highlights that many innovations in the sector have high added value and provide high quality employment in rural areas as well as in the wood-processing industries and underlines the role of SME in the field;

Amendment 425 #

Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Highlights that to unlock the full potential of forests to contribute to climate and circular economy targets, further research and development in the field of bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products are required and should be incentivised; underlines that a predictable regulatory environment is a precondition to attracting investments; stresses that such bio-based alternatives must offer consumers products at affordable prices; stresses that the regulatory environment must not lead to centralised decision- making by the EU

Amendment 426 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Highlights that to unlock the full potential of forests to contribute to climate and circular economy targets, further research and development in the field of bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products are required and should be incentivised; underlines that a predictable regulatory environment is a precondition to attracting investments; encourages to continue supporting innovations related to wood, such as wood-based textiles that have high potential to substitute synthetic textile fibres and cotton.

Amendment 427 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Highlights that to unlock the full potential of forests to contribute to climate and circular economy targets, further research, innovation and development in the field of forest management, in particular adaptation to climate change and bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products are required and should be incentivised; underlines that a predictable and stable regulatory environment is a precondition to attracting investments;

Amendment 428 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Highlights that to unlock the full potential of forests to contribute to climate and circular economy targets, and align with biodiversity objectives, further research and development in the field of ~~bio-based alternatives to fossil-based~~non-fuel, long-living and carbon-storing products are required and should be incentivised; underlines that a predictable regulatory environment is a precondition to attracting investments;

Amendment 429 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

~~21. Believes that to improve the coordinated provision of environmental and economic forest services, relevant EU framework programmes must be better align~~deleted;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A j (new)

A j. whereas between 1979 and 2013 the length of the fire season increased for more than a quarter of the Earth’s surface covered by vegetation;1a whereas according to the European Environment Agency climate change will lead to a significant increase in forest fires in south-eastern and south-western Europe;1b _________________ 1a Jolly, W., Cochrane, M., Freeborn, P. et al. Climate-induced variations in global wildfire danger from 1979 to 2013. Nat Commun 6, 7537 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8537 1b EEA (2015) Forest Fires http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and- maps/indicators/forest-fire-danger- 1/assessmen

Amendment 430 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

~~21. Believes that to improve the coordinated provision of environmental and economic forest services, relevant EU framework programmes must be better align~~deleted;

Amendment 431 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Believes that to improve the coordinated provision of environmental and economic forest services, relevant EU ~~framework programmes must be better aligned;~~ programmes, including Horizon Europe, LIFE, EIP-AGRI, LEADER and EIT, must be better aligned; welcomes the Commission proposal to enhance EU cooperation by proposing a Research and Innovation partnership on forestry and calls on the Commission to develop comprehensive forest-focussed programmes including different functions and parts of the forest-sector value chain and including living-labs to test and demonstrate solutions for key challenges, building on existing and proven platforms such as the INTEGRATE network, the Forest-Technology Platform and including pan-European and international partners;

Amendment 432 #

Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Believes that to improve the coordinated provision of environmental and economic forest services, relevant EU framework programmes must be better aligned; stresses that such coordination must not overlook the fact that there are significant differences in forest capacities and policies between Member States; stresses that the new strategy should be in line with the principle of subsidiarity and with the Council conclusions of 10 and 11 November 2020, and that it should respect the competences of the Member States in creating a realistic forest policy;

Amendment 433 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Believes that to improve the coordinated provision of environmental, social, societal and economic forest services, relevant EU framework programmes must be better aligned;

Amendment 434 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Points out that strict monitoring of harvesting blocks the creation of an income base that makes the presence of people and their business ventures in such areas worthwhile, resulting in them abandoning said activities and forest management;

Amendment 435 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses that the implementation of the strategy must focus on enabling small- holders to deliver on the multiple forest functions and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that support programmes, payment for ecosystem services schemes and research funding are attractive and easily accessible;deleted

Amendment 436 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Stresses that~~Recalls that 60 % of EU forests are privately owned and a significant share of forest owners are small-holders; stresses that in order to achieve the Strategy’s goals, the implementation of the strategy must focus on enabling small- holders to deliver on the multiple forest functions and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that support programmes, payment for ecosystem services schemes and research funding are attractive and easily accessible to small-holders;

Amendment 437 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 438 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses that the implementation of the strategy must focus on enabling small- holders to continue delivering on the multiple forest functions and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that support programmes, voluntary payment for ecosystem services schemes and research funding are attractive and easily accessible;

Amendment 439 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses that the implementation of the strategy must focus on enabling small~~- hold~~ forest owners and managers to deliver on the multiple forest functions and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that support programmes, payment for ecosystem services schemes and research funding are attractive and easily accessible;

Amendment 44 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A k (new)

A k. whereas the 2021 fire season in the EU was unprecedented; whereas some 0.5 million ha have gone up in flames, 61% being forests that will take years to recover; 25% of the zones burnt in Europe were inside the Natura2000 sites; whereas fires no longer affect southern states only, but are a growing threat also for central and northern Europe;1a _________________ 1a San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., Durrant, T., Boca, R., Maianti, P., Liberta`, G., Artes Vivancos, T., Jacome Felix Oom, D., Branco, A., De Rigo, D., Ferrari, D., Pfeiffer, H., Grecchi, R. and Nuijten, D., Advance report on wildfires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 2021, EUR 31028 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, ISBN 978-92-76-49633-5 (online), doi:10.2760/039729 (online), JRC128678.

Amendment 440 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 441 #

Alin MITUȚA, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Highlights that cooperation between all relevant stakeholders, including citizens and civil society will be crucial in fulfilling the objectives of the EU Forest Strategy; Encourages Member States and the European Commission to ensure an inclusive representation of all stakeholders in the consultation process and to urge the environmental and forestry stakeholders to reach out to broader segments of population through various educational tools and programmes.

Amendment 442 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Underlines that the availability of advisory services are an important driver for the dissemination of sustainable forest management practices; encourages Member States to ensure the availability of advisory services, with particular attention to small-holders;

Amendment 443 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the importance of the forestry sector and the wood-based industries as a provider of jobs in rural communities as well as in urban areas through downstream uses and notes with concern the steady decline in employment and the high number of accidents in the sector1a; calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor the effects of measures taken under the strategy on employment and work safety ~~and highlights the importance of making this type of employment attractive, taking measures to increase the safety of work and adequately training workers;~~ in the light of changing management practices, considering that discussed options often go hand in hand with higher (physical) labour intensity which also bears more risks for workers, which requires high quality vocational training as well as upskilling and reskilling opportunities; highlights the importance of making this type of employment attractive, taking measures to increase the safety of work and adequately training workers; calls on Member States to assess their advisory services in this respect and re-enforce where necessary; _________________ 1a FOREST EUROPE report on the “State of Europe’s Forests 2020” of 2020.

Amendment 444 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the importance of the forestry sector as a provider of jobs in rural communities and notes with high concern the steady decline of 7% in employment in the forestry and logging sector between 2000 and 2019, according to EUROSTAT9a and the high number of accidents in the sector; calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor the effects of measures taken under the strategy on employment and work safety and highlights the importance of making this type of employment attractive, taking measures to increase the safety of work and adequately training workers; _________________ 9a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics- explained/index.php?title=Forests,_forest ry_and_logging#Employment_and_appar ent_labour_productivity_in_forestry_and_ logging

Amendment 445 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the importance of the forestry sector as a provider of jobs in rural communities and notes with concern the steady decline in employment and the high number of accidents in the sector; calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor the effects of measures taken under the strategy on employment and work safety and highlights the importance of making this type of employment attractive, taking measures to increase the safety of work and adequately training workers, and to support the modernisation of forestry equipment and tools;

Amendment 446 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the importance of the forestry sector as a provider of jobs in rural communities and notes with concern the steady decline in employment and the high number of accidents in the sector; calls on the Commission and the Member States to monitor the effects of measures taken under the strategy on employment and work safety and highlights the importance of making this type of employment attractive and the opportunities of a more sustainable forest management toward this aim, taking measures to increase the safety of work and adequately training workers;

Amendment 447 #

Emma WIESNER, Elsi KATAINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the importance of the forestry sector ~~as a provider of~~in maintaining and creating jobs in rural communities ~~and~~; notes with concern the ~~steady decline in employment and the high number of~~ accidents in the sector; calls on the ~~Commission and the~~ Member States to monitor the effects of measures taken under the strategy on employment and work safety and highlights the importance of making this type of employment attractive, taking measures to increase the safety of work and adequately training workers;

Amendment 448 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Emphasises that forest ecosystems provide a multitude of services to society. They are not only an important recreational area, but also offer protection against natural hazards, filter air and water, and supply renewable raw materials; calls therefore on the Commission to acknowledges that forest owners and managers need a large extend of freedom in their forest management practise, which should be based on best practices, scientific evidence and national, regional and local experience and knowledge, in order for forest owners and managers to provide all the demanded ecosystem services, for which an active sustainable management is necessary;

Amendment 449 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Stresses the importance of attracting young people and female entrepreneurs in the sector, especially in the context of digital and green transitions of the forest-based activities; welcomes the Commission proposals to promote the establishment of a skills partnership under the Pact for Skills and make use of the European Social Fund Plus to work together to increase the number of upskilling and reskilling opportunities in forestry, creating quality jobs and providing workers with opportunities and adequate working conditions in the wood-based bioeconomy;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A l (new)

A l. whereas there is a clearly observable increasing trend which shows higher levels of fire danger, longer fire seasons and intense fast-spreading ‘mega fires', on which traditional firefighting means have little power; whereas future summer burned area in Mediterranean Europe could range from 40% to 100% under 1.5, 2, and 3 °C global warming scenarios;1a _________________ 1a Turco, M., Rosa-Cánovas, J.J., Bedia, J. et al. Exacerbated fires in Mediterranean Europe due to anthropogenic warming projected with non-stationary climate-fire models. Nat Commun 9, 3821 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018- 06358-z

Amendment 450 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Stresses the importance of attracting young people and women in the sector and welcomes the Commission proposals to promote the establishment of a skills partnership under the Pact for Skills and make use of the European Social Fund Plus to work together to develop quality jobs and improve working conditions, as well as to increase the number of upskilling and reskilling opportunities in forestry;

Amendment 451 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Underlines that the poor working conditions in the forestry sector1a do not make it an attractive career choice— particularly amongst women and the younger generation;1b stresses that the gap in the workforce in the sector is filled with informal and migrant labourers,1c often trapped under precarious contracts;1d _________________ 1a Forest Europe, ‘State of Europe’s Forests 2020’ 1b UNECE/FAO,‘Forest Sector Workforce in the UNECE Region: Overview of the Social and Economic Trends with Impact on the Forest Sector’, 2021 1c Ibid. 1d EFBWW and BWI, ‘Joint Paper on Migration from Third Country Nationals to Europe’, 9June 2021

Amendment 452 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Calls on the Commission to consider establishing a dedicated instrument for the financing of sustainable and efficient forest management; highlights in this regard the need to establish support funds, for example in the field of retraining, and especially for local communities that depend on forests as a resource;

Amendment 453 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Points out that forest diversity and the various purposes for which forests are used mean that, at Union level, it does not make sense to create new certification systems for forests;

Amendment 454 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Underlines the need for strong trade unions and strengthened collective bargaining to ensure better working conditions in the forestry sector and therefore making it a more attractive career choice; recalls, in that regard, that collective bargaining and collective action are fundamental rights that are recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and that equal treatment is a fundamental principle of the European Union;

Amendment 455 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Welcomes the recognition of the climate benefits of timber construction and the intention to develop a method for calculating the climate benefits of timber construction products, which is a step in the right direction in the creation of carbon sinks at market conditions;

Amendment 456 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Stresses that to attract young people as well as investments to the sector and throughout the value chain, a favourable environment in rural areas including digital, transport and community infrastructure is required and calls on Member States to use available funds to support the rural development in this regard;

Amendment 457 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)

23c. Urges the Member States to recognise the arduous nature of jobs in forestry, construction and carpentry and to establish or maintain early retirement or redundancy schemes for workers in these sectors; stresses that workers in these sectors should benefit from social and medical assistance tailored to their needs upon retirement;

Amendment 458 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)

23d. Urges the Commission, in coordination with the Member States’ labour inspection services, to verify that the machinery placed on the market and used by the timber industry complies with Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery and that it is equipped with a sawdust extraction and collection system;

Amendment 459 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 e (new)

23e. Calls on the Commission to take initiatives, in concert with manufacturers of forestry machinery, to improve the environmental design of forestry machinery in order to reconcile a high level of protection for workers and a minimum impact on the soil and water in forests;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the TFEU makes no reference to a common EU forest policy; whereas Article 4 TFEU provides for a shared competence on environmental policy; whereas due to the specific diversity of the EU’s forests with regard to bio-geography, structure, size, biodiversity and ownership patterns, where environmental policy touches upon forests, it is necessary to duly apply the principle of subsidiarity and proportionality in the development and implementation of the new EU forest strategy (the strategy) and relevant EU legislation; stresses the need for further European-level coordination of national forest policies in order to take into account the important role of forests in achieving European climate objectives and to be able to calculate potential emission reductions and forest use limits more precisely at European level;

Amendment 460 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 f (new)

23f. Urges the Member States to prioritise continuing high-quality vocational training in eco-construction and timber-related trades, and to provide the necessary public expenditure and investment in the field;

Amendment 461 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the importance of accurate, integrated and up-to-date data on Europe’s forests and takes note of the initiative for a legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; underlines that the broad availability, high quality and transparency of data are preconditions to meeting the goals of the strategy and believes that to deliver added value the framework must build on existing mechanisms and processes ~~through a bottom-up approach to best use the expertise and experience present in the Member States~~such as the national forest inventories, the Forest Information System for Europe (FISE), the ENFIN network, FOREST EUROPE and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through a bottom-up approach to best use the expertise and experience present in the Member States and while avoiding the duplication of work and administrative burden and costs; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure adequate funding and human resources for operative support for the framework;

Amendment 462 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the importance of accurate, integrated and up-to-date data on Europe’s forests and ~~takes note of~~welcomes the initiative for a legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; welcomes also, as part of the Forest Information System for Europe (FISE), on the basis of improved Copernicus products, other remote- sensing data and ground-based monitoring, that existing monitoring of climate effects and other natural or human-induced disturbances on forests will be strengthened; underlines that the broad availability, high quality and transparency of data are preconditions to meeting the goals of the strategy and believes that to deliver added value the framework must build on existing mechanisms and processes ~~through a bottom-up approach to~~and to make the best use of the expertise and experience present in the Member States;

Amendment 463 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the importance of accurate, integrated and up-to-date data on Europe’s forests and takes note of the initiative for a legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection, in full respect of the subsidiarity principle; underlines that the broad availability, high quality and transparency of data are preconditions to meeting the goals of the strategy and believes that to deliver added value the framework must build on existing mechanisms and processes through a bottom-up approach to best use the expertise and experience present in the Member States, developed according to internationally agreed commitments and their related Member States' competencies;

Amendment 464 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the importance of accurate, integrated and up-to-date data on Europe’s forests and takes note of the initiative for a legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; reminds that the data must be collected from local actors; underlines that the broad availability, high quality and transparency of data are preconditions to meeting the goals of the strategy and believes that to deliver added value the framework must build on existing mechanisms and processes through a bottom-up approach to best use the expertise and experience present in the Member States;

Amendment 465 #

Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

Amendment 466 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the importance of accurate, qualitative, integrated and up-to-date data on Europe’s forests and takes note of the initiative for a legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; underlines that the broad availability, high quality and transparency of data are preconditions to meeting the goals of the strategy and believes that to deliver real added value the framework must build on existing mechanisms and processes through a bottom-up approach to best use the expertise and experience present in the Member States;

Amendment 467 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the importance of accurate, integrated and up-to-date data on Europe’s forests and ~~takes note of~~welcomes the initiative for a legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; underlines that the broad availability, high quality and transparency of data are preconditions to meeting the goals of the strategy and believes that to deliver added value the framework must build on existing mechanisms and processes through a bottom-up approach to best use the expertise and experience present in the Member States;

Amendment 468 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Highlights that forest information should be easily available, and cooperation on harmonisation of reporting should be continued, data collection and analysing should be based on national forest inventories, remote sensing techniques and provide complementary information to field measurements, however many characteristics of forests can be only verified on the ground, and science based- policies need to be based on reality, therefore national capacities on forest monitoring are needed relying the best practices already available at Member State level;

Amendment 469 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Believes that in order to ensure the availability of high-quality data, remote sensing technologies must be combined with data acquired by ground-based monitoring and must be interpreted in close cooperation with local experts; Believes that the synergy and complementarity between satellite imagery and positioning and location data can become key enablers for forestry managers and governmental bodies. Stresses the importance of Copernicus allowing for the remote monitoring and health assessment of forest inventories as well as the detection of issues such as illegal logging and deforestation.

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the TFEU makes no reference to a common EU forest policy; whereas Article 4 TFEU provides for a shared competence on environmental policy; whereas due to the specific diversity of the EU’s forests with regard to bio-geography, structure, size, biodiversity and ownership patterns, where environmental policy touches upon forests, it is necessary to duly applythe formulation of forest policies is the competence of the Member States within a clearly defined framework of established ownership rights; whereas Article 4 TFEU provides for a shared competence on environmental policy; whereas the Union has a variety of competences shared with Member States that address forests, including climate, environment and agriculture, which the Union has exercised respecting the principle of subsidiarity ~~and proportiona~~; whereas a strong EU politcy ~~in the development and implementation of the new EU forest strategy (the strategy) and relevant EU legislation~~framework that coordinates and ensures coherence of forest-related policies is necessary to better achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal;

Amendment 470 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

~~25.~~ Believes that in order to ensure the ~~25.~~ availability of ~~high-quality data,~~reliable, transparent and high-quality data, new innovative approaches such as remote sensing technologies must be combined and verified with data acquired by ground- based monitoring and must be interpreted in close cooperation with local experts, including competent authorities and forest managers; believes that these approaches can also play a role in assisting to balance the multifunctionality of forests and to develop and share new approaches and practices;

Amendment 471 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Believes that in order to ensure the availability of high-quality data, remote sensing technologies must be combined and proof checked with data acquired by ground-based monitoring and must be interpreted in close cooperation with local experts and that EU legislation should be based in situ on national and regional forest inventories and should encompass appropriate financial means to get access to data and to contribute to their acquisition;

Amendment 472 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

Amendment 473 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

Amendment 474 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Considers that Copernicus data should be used as evidence for law enforcement and policymaking through the certification of the data and its derived information products and calls for the certification of Copernicus data to be realised, in the context of an upcoming legislative proposal for a framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection. Stresses that such certified data could play a key role in monitoring diverse phenomena (forest land coverage, illegal logging, forest health, trees characterisation, growth patterns, impact of forest fires and others) as well as in compliance.

Amendment 475 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Notes that there needs to be more precision in the definition of the different types of forests. Forests can have very diverse levels of biodiversity and carbon storage/sinking capacity depending on the intensity of management, machinery used, the state of the soil, the level of parasite and illness intensity, etc.; points out that some forests are now releasing more carbon than they are absorbing; calls on the Commission to use the newly available data in order to establish a more precise taxonomy of forests depending on their state and the ecosystem services they render;

Amendment 476 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)

25b. Stresses the importance of Galileo/EGNOS and Copernicus data in precision forestry operations, effective for the planting and cultivation of young trees, especially in the framework of Green Deal initiatives and European Commission’s pledge to plant 3 billion trees by 2030. Calls on the Member States to make use of such data.

Amendment 477 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)

25b. Re-iterates its call for the Commission and the Member States to harmonise existing data, to fill in the gaps regarding the location of primary and old- growth forests and to create a database of all potential sites fulfilling the criteria for old-growth and primary forests retroactively in the year 2020;

Amendment 478 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Takes note of the idea to introduce strategic plans for forests under the framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; further notes that several Member States already have national strategies for forests in place; , and that this proposal could further increase the red tape and costs for actors in the sector; stresses that the aim and necessity of these plans must first be clarified and be subject to an impact assessment; recalls that the EU has no powers under its own treaties to act alone in this area and that the plans must therefore remain under the full responsibility of the Member States or the competent national or regional authority.

Amendment 479 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Takes note of the idea to introduce strategic plans for forests under the framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; further notes that several Member States already have national strategies for forests in place; calls on the Commission to ensure that the legislative proposal duly acknowledges work already done at Member State level, and where relevant on local level and to assess how this tool could be used to support particularly those Member States that do not yet have national strategies in place;

Amendment 48 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 480 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Takes note of the idea to introduce strategic plans for forests under the framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; further notes that several Member States already have national strategies for forests in place and that this proposal could increase administrative burden and costs; highlights that the ultimate goal and need of preparing such plans should be clarified; stresses that such plans must remain under the entire decision making of Members States or competent regional authorities;

Amendment 481 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Takes note of the idea to introduce strategic plans for forests under the framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; further notes that several Member States already have national strategies for forests in place; calls on the Commission to give priority to the existing national strategies over strategic plans on EU level.

Amendment 482 #

Amendment 483 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Takes note of~~Welcomes the idea to introduce strategic plans for forests under the framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; further notes that several Member States already have national strategies for forests in place; stresses the need for EU-wide Forest Management Plans with common indicators and reporting standards;

Amendment 484 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

Amendment 485 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

Amendment 486 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Takes note of~~Welcomes the idea to introduce strategic plans for forests under the framework on forest observation, reporting and data collection; further notes that several Member States already have national strategies for forests in place; and these should be further updated to better align with EU objectives;

Amendment 487 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Points out that EU forest surveys must be reliable, consistent and comparable, based on national forest inventories and aim to minimise any additional administrative burden;

Amendment 488 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Believes that due to the multi- functional contribution of forests to high- level EU goals and the different administrative levels and stakeholder groups involved, the cornerstones of the strategy’s implementation must be close cooperation and the exchange of best practices with national and regional experts, stakeholders, forest owners and managers, scientists, certification schemes and civil society; underlines that governance must take EU and Member State engagement in international processes ~~into account;~~ such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and FOREST EUROPE into account and that the implementation of the Strategy should seek to create synergies with the contribution to international commitments and cooperation, including on the continuous development of terminology and definitions;

Amendment 489 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. BStresses that the governance of forests and the forestry regulation are responsibilities of the Member States; believes that due to the multi- functional contribution of forests to high- level EU goals and the different administrative levels and stakeholder groups involved, the cornerstones of the strategy’s implementation must be close cooperation and the exchange of best practices with national and regional experts, stakeholders, forest managers, scientists and civil society, and fully and actually comply with the principle of subsidiarity; underlines that governance must take EU and Member State engagement in international processes into account;

Amendment 49 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the TFEU makes no reference to a common EU forest policy and therefore forest policy remains at Member States' competence; whereas Article 4 TFEU provides for a shared competence on environmental policy; whereas due to the ~~specific~~extremely high diversity of the EU’s forests with regard to bio-geography, structure, size, biodiversity and ownership patterns, where environmental policy touches upon forests, it is necessary to duly apply the principle of subsidiarity and proportionality in the development and implementation of the new EU forest strategy (the strategy) and relevant EU legislation;

Amendment 490 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Believes that due to the multi- functional contribution of forests to high- level EU goals and the different administrative levels and stakeholder groups involved, the cornerstones of the strategy’s implementation must be close cooperation and the exchange of best practices with national and regional experts, stakeholders, forest managers, scientists and civil society; underlines that governance must take EU and Member State engagement in international processes into account; reminds that forests should not only be considered as CO2 sinks and thereby reducing other sectors' contribution in minimising their emissions.

Amendment 491 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

Amendment 492 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

Amendment 493 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

Amendment 494 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Believes that due to the multi- functional contribution of forests to ~~high- level~~ EU goals and the different administrative levels and stakeholder groups involved, the cornerstones of the strategy’s implementation must be close cooperation and the exchange of best practices with national and regional experts, stakeholders, forest managers, scientists and civil society; underlines that governance must take EU and Member State engagement in international processes into account;

Amendment 495 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Stresses that realistic and flexible timeframes must be provided for when implementing the New EU Forest Strategy, so as to enable the Member States to adapt accordingly at the level of central government, local authorities and the private sector; calls for adequate transitional and training periods to be provided, particularly with regard to the development and application of sustainable forest management indicators.

Amendment 496 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Calls on the Member States to increase the human and financial resources of state forestry agencies; stresses the importance of maintaining public expertise; underlines that state forestry agencies can provide private forest owners with much needed expertise regarding close-to-nature forestry and adaptation to the effects of climate change, as exemplified by the Giono Project conducted by the French ONF;

Amendment 497 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27b. Calls on the Member States to develop special forest-management programmes regions with an increasing risk for wild fires;

Amendment 498 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

27c. Stresses that adaptation to climate risks and disaster reduction, such as ‘mega fires’, requires an enhanced regulatory capacity for Member States and the strengthening of public service; urges Member States to recruit new staff and equip public sector workers – in particular those on the frontline, such as first responders, nurses, firefighters, emergency responders, medical assistants and doctors – with the skills required to ensure risk preparedness in order to reduce and prevent climate risks and disaster reduction and to address the needs of the most vulnerable;

Amendment 499 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Highlights the importance of the Standing Forestry Committee as a forum ~~for discussing~~providing comprehensive forestry expertise for discussing activities under the Strategy and other EU policies that impact the forestry sector; believes that to achieve policy alignment, the Commission should increase dialogue between the Standing Forestry Committee and other expert groups such as the Working Group on Forests and Nature, the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork and the Expert Group on Forest-based Industries;

Amendment 5 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

— having regard to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis of August 2021,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 500 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Highlights the importance of the Standing Forestry Committee as a forum for discussing EU policies that impact the forestry sector; believes that to achieve policy alignment, the Commission should increase dialogue between the Standing Forestry Committee and other expert groups, notably the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork and the CGBN sub- working group on Nature and Forest;

Amendment 501 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Highlights the importance of the Standing Forestry Committee as athe main forum for discussing EU policies that impact the forestry sector; believes that to achieve policy ~~alignment~~coherence, the Commission should increase dialogue between the Standing Forestry Committee and other expert groups;

Amendment 502 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Highlights the importance of the Standing Forestry Committee as a forum for discussing EU policies that impact the forestry sector; believes that to achieve policy ~~alignment~~coherence, the Commission should increase dialogue between the Standing Forestry Committee and other expert groups;

Amendment 503 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Underlines that the achievement of the Strategy’s goals depends on measures that are adapted to local conditions and challenges; therefore, calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate the exchange of best practices at all levels and to strengthen stakeholder dialogue, particularly including forest managers, science and civil society groups;

Amendment 504 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

28a. 28a. Emphasises that the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork plays an important role in properly involving stakeholders in the development and implementation of EU forest policies;

Amendment 505 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Highlights the importance of the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork to properly involve stakeholders in the development and implementation of EU forest related policies;

Amendment 506 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Highlights the importance of the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork to properly involve stakeholders in the development and implementation of EU forest-related policies;

Amendment 507 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. ~~Notes~~Acknowledges that the implementation of the Strategy may lead to significant systemic changes for the forestry sector, through a shift from primarily timber-based revenue streams towards more complex revenue streams increasingly building on the provision of other ecosystem services, and highlights the need to monitor and understand its consequences; notes that the extensive overlap among policies and legislation ~~that~~and in some cases conflicting objectives impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of aligning them; calls on the Commission and Member States to continuously assess the cumulative effects of the different initiatives under the Strategy, combined with other relevant EU legislation and policies; calls on the Commission to report on this as part of its implementation report;

Amendment 508 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the extensive and sometimes contradictory overlap among policies and legislation that impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of aligning them; calls on the Commission and the Directorates Generals with forest related competences to work strategically to ensure coherence in any forestry related work and enhance the sustainable management of forests, in full respect of the subsidiarity principle;

Amendment 509 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the extensive overlap among policies and legislation that impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of aligning them in so far as that is possible; points in this connection to friction between the expectations of the timber industry, and its demand for wood, and expectations that forests will act as carbon sinks and be habitats for flora and fauna;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 510 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the extensive overlap among policies and legislation that cause legislative fragmentation and impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of aligning them;

Amendment 511 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the extensive overlap and sometimes contradicting objectives among policies and legislation that impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of ~~aligning them~~coherence;

Amendment 512 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the extensive overlap and contradictions among policies and legislation that impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of ~~align~~reducing them;

Amendment 513 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Notes the extensive overlap among policies and legislation that impact forests and the forestry sector and stresses the importance of ~~align~~ensuring themir coherence;

Amendment 514 #

Alin MITUȚA, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Expresses its concern about reports of illegal logging, including in state forests, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to effectively implement relevant national and EU legislation in particular increase spending on enforcement; stresses that logging in violation of nature protection also constitutes “illegal logging”; deplores the length of time taken by the Commission in pursuing infringement cases with a great risk that illegal logging continues and that it will be too late to reverse and repair the huge damage of logging to primary and other forests of ecological importance;

Amendment 515 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Expresses its concern about reports of illegal logging and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to effectively implement relevant national and EU legislation; Stresses that illegal logging has major economic, social and environmental negative impact and generate revenue losses for local communities; Calls on the European Commission and Member States to expand the European Public Prosecutor Office mandate to environmental crimes, including illegal logging.

Amendment 516 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Expresses its concern about reports of illegal logging and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to effectively implement relevant national and EU legislation; stresses that, as a rule, illegal logging is practised by EU citizens with very low incomes; underscores the fact that there would be less illegal logging if living conditions in the EU were as evenly matched as possible;

Amendment 517 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Expresses its concern about reports of illegal logging, firmly condemns that illegal logging and deforestation have resulted in cases of murder and violence against forestry personnel, journalists and activists and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to effectively implement relevant national and EU legislation and define illegal logging;

Amendment 518 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Expresses its concern about reports of illegal logging1a and ongoing infringement procedures1b and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to effectively implement relevant national and EU legislation; _________________ 1a European Court of Auditors Special Report 21/2021: EU funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU forests: positive but limited results. 1b Five ongoing infringement procedures against four Member States (cases 2016/2072, 2018/2208, 2018/4076, 2020/2033, 2021/4029).

Amendment 519 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Expresses its concern about ~~report~~the global problems of illegal logging and land use change and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts to effectively implement relevant national and EU legislation;

Amendment 52 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas as part of the Fit-for-55 package and the target to align climate policy with the Paris Agreement, the Renewable Energies Directive and the Regulation on the Inclusion of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry are under revision; whereas the Commission has proposed a Regulation on Deforestation-free Products; whereas in the light of the European concept of multifunctional forests, these initiatives must be coherent with the high-level political targets of the Green Deal, the Bioeconomy Action Plan, the Circular Economy Strategy, the Forest Strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy and the Long- Term Vision for Rural Areas;

Amendment 520 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Calls on the Member States to encourage the commercialisation of felled wood and trimmed wood/roundwood, instead of living trees from publicly- owned forests, as a method to prevent illegal logging and overexploitation, which would give state authorities more control over the volume of cut and commercialised wood, thereby discouraging illegal practices by privately contracted firms;

Amendment 521 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Underlines that the achievement of the Strategy’s goals depends on measures that are adapted to local conditions and challenges; therefore, calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate the exchange of best practices at all levels and to strengthen stakeholder dialogue, particularly including forest owners and managers, science and civil society groups;

Amendment 522 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Underlines that illegal logging contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change, deprives forest communities of livelihoods, and the natural resources they rely on, and leads to human rights violations, unrest and violence;

Amendment 523 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)

30b. Calls on the European Commission to promote mirror clauses in international bioeconomy markets and to make use of pan-European and international partnerships and foreign trade agreements to promote the EU’s climate ambition and the sustainability of forest use outside the EU;

Amendment 524 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)

30b. Stresses that the root causes of illegal logging are corruption, power imbalances, a lack of clarity over land rights and the excessive influence of the timber industry and other groups with vested interests;

Amendment 525 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)

30c. Considers that, besides effective implementation of relevant national and EU legislation, fighting against illegal logging must centre on improving forest and land governance, respecting Peoples’ land rights and developing processes in which government policies to halt deforestation are developed with a strong buy-in from local stakeholders (such as local communities, NGOs and the private sector);

Amendment 526 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31a. Invites the Commission to report to the Parliament on the implementation of the Strategy on a yearly basis.

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the European Court of Justice stated, in its Ruling in joined cases C-164/97 and C-165/97, that measures to defend the forest environment against the risks of destruction and degradation associated with fires and atmospheric pollution form part of the environmental action for which Union competence is founded on Article 191 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (former Article 130s EEC Treaty);

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the principle of the European Green Deal as a cross-cutting approach to tackle the climate and environmental challenges in a way that creates sustainable growth and jobs in a resource-efficient, circular and competitive economy should guide the implementation of the strategy in managing trade-offs, creating synergies and finding the right balance between the multiple functions of forests including the socioeconomic, environmental and climate functions; whereas wood-based bioenergy accounts for 60% of the EU’s renewable energy use and its use can be expected to increase with the Union’s new, more ambitious renewable energy targets;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the principle of the European Green Deal as a cross-cutting approach to tackle the climate and environmental challenges, ensuring nature and biodiversity can be protected, in a way that creates sustainable growth and jobs in a resource-efficient, emission-free, circular and competitive economy should guide the implementation of the strategy in managing trade-offs, creating synergies and finding the right balance between the multiple functions of forests including the socioeconomic, environmental and climate functions;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the principle of the European Green Deal as a cross-cutting approach to tackle the climate and environmental challenges in a way that creates sustainable growth and jobs in a resource-efficient, circular and competitive economy should ~~guide the implementation~~be preceded by a comprehensive analysis of the cumulative impact of the strategy ion ~~managing trade-offs,~~the forestry sector, properly balancing environmental and economic aspects, so that it can contribute to creating synergies and finding the right balance between the multiple functions of forests including the socioeconomic, environmental and climate functions;

Amendment 57 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the principle of the European Green Deal as a ~~cross-cutting approach to tackle the climate~~first step in the transformation of the Union into and environmental challenges in a way that creates sustainable growth and jobs in a resource-efficient, circular and competitive economy should guide the implementation of the strategy in managing trade-offs, creating synergies and finding the right balance between the multiple funcly sustainable, carbon- neutral, toxic-free and fully circular economy within the limits of the planet by 2050 at the latest should guide the implementation of the strategy in contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Conventions o~~f forests including the socioeconomic, environmental and climate function~~n Biological Diversity, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas forests provide a wide array of ecosystem services, such as the provision of wood, non-wood products and food, carbon sequestration, shelter for biodiversity, clean air and water, benefits for local climate, protection against natural hazards like avalanches, flooding or rockfall, as well as recreational, cultural and historic value; whereas sustainable forest management seeks a balanced provision of the various ecosystem services and to support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas energy, climate and environment policy and policy relating to other areas that have an impact on European forestry and forests are a matter lying within the competence of the EU; stresses that those policies have to be coordinated in line with the European Forest Strategy;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 f (new)

— having regard to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability of 27 February 2022,

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the process of sustainable forest management in Europe should ensure the right balance is achieved between the three pillars of sustainability - namely environmental protection, social development and economic development;

Amendment 61 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas the INTEGRATE network is a platform of representatives of different European countries, accompanied by scientific advice, initiated by several Member State governments and supported by the Commission’s Standing Forestry Committee and has served to- date as an important driver of identifying means to integrate nature conservation in sustainable forest management; whereas the platform’s work has played an important role in the exchange of experiences and best practices;

Amendment 62 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas sustainable forest management should go hand in hand with promoting the multifunctional role of forests so as to ensure it is completely in tune with the diversity of forests and specific characteristics of each EU Member State;

Amendment 63 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

C c. whereas the Horizon 2020 funded ALTERFOR project considered the potential to optimise forest management methods currently in use and presented alternative forest management models with opportunities and challenges listed for each alternative;

Amendment 64 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

C d. whereas the Horizon 2020 funded SINCERE project develops novel policies and new business models by connecting knowledge and expertise from practice, science and policy, across Europe and beyond, aiming to explore new means to enhance forest ecosystem services in ways that benefit forest owners as well as serving broad societal needs;

Amendment 65 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

C e. whereas wood-based products contribute to climate change mitigation by storing carbon and substituting products with a large carbon footprint, including building- and packaging materials, textiles, chemicals and fuels; whereas wood-based products are renewable and to a large extend recyclable and as such have a huge potential to support a circular bioeconomy; whereas this makes the forestry sector and the forest-based industries key actors in a green economy;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

C f. whereas the provision of the various forest ecosystem services through the forestry sector and the forest-based industries is an important pillar of income and employment particularly in rural areas, but also in urban areas through downstream uses; whereas the implementation of the strategy should pay due attention to the development of income and employment, but also to attractiveness of employment in the sector, safety of work and the continuous development of adequate training opportunities for managers and workers;

Amendment 67 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)

C g. whereas forest ownership across Europe is diverse in terms of size and ownership structure, including various forms of private and public ownership, leading to a great diversity of management models; whereas it is important that measures under the strategy take due account of the specific conditions and needs, as well as the protection of property rights and free enterprise in order to be effective;

Amendment 68 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s D. forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders, while the other share of approximately 40% of EU's forests is publicly owned; whereas involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on the recognition of their property rights, experience as managers and specific challenges, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other ecosystem services; whereas member States are obliged to set an example for sustainable forest management in their publicly owned forests for the public good;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders; whereas involving ~~and motivat~~, supporting and encouraging, not penalising, these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on the recognition of their property rights, experience as managers and specific challenges, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other ecosystem services; whereas it is important, in this regard, to ensure that this framework is clear, transparent and does not introduce excessive red tape;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 g (new)

— having regard to Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of 4 May 4 2019,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders; whereas few forest owners concentrate a significant share of forest surfaces, some of them owning the main EU wood processing plants; whereas involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on the recognition of their property rights, experience as managers and specific challenges, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other ecosystem services;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders; whereas involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework characterised by legal certainty, based on the recognition and protection of their property rights, their experience as managers and specific challenges, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including exploiting the social and economic role of forests and the provision of climate and other ecosystem services;

Amendment 72 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders; whereas involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on the recognition of their property rights, experience as managers and specific challenges, and of the importance of the revenue generated through their activity as forest managers, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other ecosystem services;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders; whereas involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on the recognition of their property rights, experience as managers and specific challenges, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other ecosystem services; emphasizes the need to avoid administrational burden on all actors.

Amendment 74 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners1a, of whom a significant share are small-holders1b; whereas involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on the recognition of their property rights, experience as managers and specific challenges, will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other ecosystem services; _________________ 1a Commission communication of 16 July 2021 on the “New EU Forest Strategy for 2030” (COM(2021) 572). 1b Europe: a majority of private holdings are up to 10 ha, FOREST EUROPE report on the “State of Europe’s Forests 2020” of 2020; DE: 50% of privately owned forest smaller than 20 ha, https://www.bmel.de/SharedDocs/Downlo ads/DE/Broschueren/bundeswaldinventur 3.pdf;jsessionid=972A5297B9463D98948 E787D1AA78F19.live921?__blob=public ationFile&v=3; FR: about 2/3 of private owners have less than 1 ha, https://franceboisforet.fr/wp- content/uploads/2021/04/Brochure_chiffr esClesForetPrivee_2021_PageApage_BD. pdf; FI: about 45% of owners have less than 10 ha, https://www.luke.fi/en/natural- resources/forest/forest-resources-and- forest-planning/forest-ownership/; LV: 50 % of owners have less than 5 ha, https://www.zm.gov.lv/public/ck/files/MA F_parskats_Silava_privat_meza_apsaimn _monitorings.pdf

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas about 60 % of the EU’s forests are owned by 16 million private forest owners, of whom a significant share are small-holders; whereas ~~involving and motivating these owners through a comprehensive policy and legislative framework, based on~~these owners should be allowed to benefit from incentives to engage in close-to-nature forestry, the re~~cogni~~storation of ~~their property rights, experience as managers and specific challen~~forest carbon stocks and the expansion of agroforestry coverages, ~~will be key to achieving the strategy’s targets, including the provision of climate and other~~as a way to enhance current levels of biodiversity and ecosystem ~~servi~~resiliences;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. whereas about 40% of the EU’s forests are publicly owned by municipalities, regional or national governments; whereas in some Member States the amount of public forests is much higher, reaching an average 90% in South East Europe; whereas public forests play a key role in preserving forest ecosystems, ensuring biodiversity pr otection, mitigating climate change, enha ncing rural development and supplying timber and non-wood goods and services; whereas state forest agencies have a valuable expertise in preserving the global balance of forest ecosystems;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas 40 % of Europe’s forests are publicly owned; whereas public authorities have an obligation to sustainably manage publicly owned forests in an exemplary fashion, in particular with regard to environmental, economic and social aspects;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

D b. whereas logging and the wood industry are among the most dangerous industrial sectors and have high levels of accidents at work,occupational disease and early retirement; whereas exposure to wood dust is a major health risk for the millions of workers in the wood industry, as it causes respiratory and skin diseases and is the second biggest cause of work- related cancer;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

D c. whereas working conditions in the logging sector have improved with mechanisation, but whereas at the same time forestry machinery damages the surrounding vegetation and contributes to soil degradation;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 h (new)

— having regard to the Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of 31 July 2020,

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

D d. whereas increasing use is being made of posted workers on forest worksites; whereas the conditions in which posted workers operate on forest sites are harsh and dangerous, particularly in the case of felling; where significant social fraud is being made possible by the use of posted workers in the forestry industry;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

D e. whereas employment in European forestry dropped by a third between 2000 and 2015–primarily due to increased mechanisation in the wood and paper industry;1a _________________ 1a Forest Europe, ‘State of Europe’s Forests 2020’.

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive indicates that only 49 % of forests habitats have a good conservation status; whereas focusing solely on aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific indicators on trends in condition and pressures; whereas these indicators do not support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests, but show both positive and negative trends that require nuanced responses;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive indicates that only 49 % of forests habitats ~~have a~~are in good con~~servation status; whereas focusing solely on~~dition, the status of 29.6 % of habitats is unknown and 21.1 % are in poor condition; whereas focusing solely on what is in many instances inadequate aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific indicators on trends in condition and pressures and help ensure that missing data is available in future; whereas these indicators do not support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests, but show both positive and negative trends that require nuanced responses;

Amendment 84 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive indicates that only 4915 % of forests habitats have a good conservation status1a; whereas focusing solely on aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific indicators on trends in condition and pressures; whereas these indicators do ~~not~~ support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests~~, but show both positive and negative tr~~; whereas forestry and agriculture activities represendts th~~at require nuanced~~e main causes of degradation of forests habitat; _________________ 1a EEA, 2020, State of nature in the EU - Results from respo~~nses;~~ rting under the nature directives 2013-2018,

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive indicates that only 49 % of forests habitats have a good conservation status; whereas focusing solely on aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific indicators especially created by FOREST EUROPE, on trends in condition and pressures; whereas these indicators do not support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests, but show both positive and negative trends that require nuanced responses;

Amendment 86 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Elsi KATAINEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive1a indicates that only 49 % of forests habitats ~~have~~are in a good con~~servation status~~dition1b; whereas focusing solely on aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific indicators on trends in condition and pressures; whereas these indicators do not support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests, but show both positive and negative trends1c that require nuanced responses; _________________ 1a Council Directive 92/43/EEC. 1b Commission communication of 16 July 2021 on the “New EU Forest Strategy for 2030” (COM(2021) 572). 1c Joint Research Centre report “Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment” (the MAES report) of 2020, for trends in condition see also FOREST EUROPE report on the “State of Europe’s Forests 2020” of 2020.

Amendment 87 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive indicates that only 49 % of forests habitats have a good conservation status; whereas focusing solely on aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific local indicators on trends in condition and pressures; whereas these indicators do not support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests, but show both positive and negative trends that require nuanced case- by-case responses;

Amendment 88 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Marlene MORTLER, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA, Peter JAHR, Asim ADEMOV, Álvaro AMARO, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Anne SANDER, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas most recent data gathered under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive indicates that ~~only 49~~20 % of forests habitats ~~have a good conservation status~~are not in good conditions and need to be improved; whereas focusing solely on aggregated data might be insufficient to identify and address key information on the most urgent issues and it is therefore necessary to consult more specific indicators on trends in condition and pressures; whereas these indicators do not support an overall negative assessment of the state of the EU’s forests, but show both positive and negative trends that require nuanced responses;

Amendment 89 #

E a. whereas a 2021 Joint Research Centre report shows that only 4.9 million hectares of Europe’s primary and ancient forests - essential for preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change -remain, representing only 3% of the Union’s total forest area and 1.2% of the Union’s land mass;1a _________________ 1a Barredo, J., Brailescu, C., Teller, A., Sabatini, F.M., Mauri, A. and Janouskova, K., Mapping and assessment of primary and old-growth forests in Europe, EUR 30661 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 i (new)

— having regard to the IPBES-IPCC Co-Sponsored Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Climate Change of 10 June 2021,

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas less than a third of Europe’s forests have trees of significantly different ages; whereas 30 % of European forests have only one tree species, 51 % only two to three tree species and only 5 % six or more tree species1a: _________________ 1a See also: FUTURE BRIEF: European Forests for biodiversity, climate change mitigation and adaptation, November 2021, Issue 25

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas there is a need to assess the sets of indicators and thresholds that already exist, for example under Forest Europe, and to work in close cooperation with the Member States to decide whether new proposals are needed in this respect;

Amendment 92 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas almost 23% of European forests are to be found in Natura 2000 sites, with the share in some Member States exceeding 50%, and almost half of the natural habitats in Natura 2000 areas are forests;

Amendment 93 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Charles GOERENS, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas the use of heavy, fuel- intensive, soil-compacting machinery has increased, bringing long-lasting disturbances to forest soils, ecosystem functions, and productivity1a; _________________ 1a Nazari M, Eteghadipour M, Zarebanadkouki M, Ghorbani M, Dippold MA, Bilyera N and Zamanian K (2021) Impacts of Logging-Associated Compaction on Forest Soils: A Meta- Analysis. Front. For. Glob. Change 4:780074. doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2021.780074

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to "define, map, monitor and strictly protect all the EU’s remaining primary and old-growth forests";

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas Europe is the only continent where forest cover is increasing;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

E b. whereas tree cover is increasing, the Union’s forests’ capacity to remove carbon has been significantly declining since 2015 and this trend is set to continue; whereas until 2015, the Union land sector was able to remove around 7% of total EU emissions (about 300 million Mt- CO2eq)1a; whereas according to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), by 2030 the same land area will be removing 40 per cent less CO2e (dropping to -185 Mt in 2030)1b;whereas that recent decreases in carbon storage is partly due to an increase in harvesting; _________________ 1a EEA Report No 6/2019 1b EEA, Total greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe (https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and- maps/indicators/greenhouse-gas- emission-trends-6/assessment-3)

Amendment 97 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Emma WIESNER, Charles GOERENS, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

E b. whereas in order to deliver on the multiple forest functions including various benefits provided by products of the forest-based industries in an increasingly complex environment, the collection and maintenance of transparent and reliable high-quality data, the exchange of knowledge and best practices, as well as adequately funded and well-coordinated research are of central importance to meet the challenges and yield opportunities;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas, before the main strands of forest management are established, forest owners and managers should be consulted on their long-term forest management plans, and particularly as regards the appropriateness of these in relation to the characteristics of the forests and environmental objectives;

Amendment 99 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Paolo DE CASTRO, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

E b. whereas agroforestry, defined as land use systems in which trees are grown in combination with agriculture on the same land unit, is a suite of land management systems, which boost overall productivity, generate more biomass, maintain and restore soils, combat desertification and provide a number of valuable ecosystem services;

source: 719.798

2022/04/12 DEVE 73 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy for 2030 as one of the flagship initiatives of the European Green Deal to achieving the EU’s biodiversity objectives as well as greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s~~The Member States may consider to cooperate in endeavours to support national undertakings to protect and restore forests, wthi~~ch should prioritise proforestation in forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequ~~s could include to prioritise reforestration ~~and biodiversity benefits~~;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that forests and wooded land cover over 182 million hectares in the EU which is about 42% of the EU's total land area (Eurostat) and this area is continuously growing due to the effort of the Member States and forest make up almost half of the area of Natura 2000 protection sites (ie. 37.5 million Ha) and 23% of all forest in Europe are within Natura 2000 sites; recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise proforestation in forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits; because forests play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as they have high CO2 absorption capacity

Amendment 12 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise proforestation in forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits; in that sense underlines in particular the importance of increasing tree cover, restoring damaged ecosystems and regenerating soils through reforestation and afforestation programmes based on clear ecological principles while pursuing the achievement of Agenda 2030.

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise proforestation in forest management as an external dimension strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits; insists that forests’ carbon dioxide storage capacities will allow to move towards carbon neutrality; stresses that forests provide a wide range of ecosystemic services beyond carbon sequestration, such as the natural filtration of water;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise ~~proforestation in~~restoration, afforestation and resilience- building in sustainable forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits; notes that sustainable forest management can play a key role in climate protection through a variety of measures and best practices;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the EU’s and the Member States’ responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise proforestation in forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits, but stresses, however, that a balance should be struck between the needs of the timber industry and the protection of the forest ecosystem;

Amendment 16 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; stresses that the multifunctional role of forests encompasses many environmental, climate-relevant and socioeconomic activities, such as biodiversity conservation and the provision of renewable raw materials, which creates jobs and spurs economic growth in rural areas;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Highlights that forests are an important part of terrestrial and marine biodiversity, and contribute to mitigation and adaptation to the negative impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather disturbances, including flooding, droughts, storms, soil erosion, heat waves and fires; recalls that sustainable forest management can also ensure the protection of coastal areas and communities;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Deplores that despite international commitments from governments and pledges from industry, forest destruction has continued on a large scale; welcomes, as a first step, the Commission proposal of Regulation on deforestation free- products; highlights its potential to trigger a paradigm shift that will minimise the EU’s contribution to forest and ecosystem destruction within and outside the borders, as well as the human rights abuses often associated with it, through the enactment of sustainability requirements and the application of due diligence obligation to all operators; takes the view that similar obligations for investors and banks should be taken to prevent and deter investments targeting activities linked to deforestation;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Recalls that human rights, in particular rights of Indigenous People and local communities and land tenure rights are highly impacted by deforestation and ecosystem conversion; accordingly, believes that the EU regulation on deforestation-free products should i.e. i) explicitly require operators to ensure the respect and the observance of customary law and tenure rights, notably the Convention 169 of the International Labour Organisation, the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous people and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas; ii) guarantee effective participation of all affected right holders and ensure that Free, Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples, and other collective customary rights-holders, is obtained; more broadly, calls for the respect of international human rights law as a requirement to place products on the EU market;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Whereas forests have been cleared and degraded at an accelerating rate in recent decades mainly due to agricultural expansion, illegal or unsustainable logging and other activities like mining;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Recalls that stabilising global warming implies to put an end to deforestation and conversion of natural ecosystems; stresses the need to ensure that all commodities and products whose production has a detrimental impact on forests and other natural carbon-rich ecosystems threatened by EU consumption are included in the scope of the EU regulation on deforestation-free products; in addition, calls for the extension of its scope to include rubber, maize and livestock; recalls that the Regulation must provide a strong enforcement framework, with effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties; ensure civil liability and access to justice;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Recalls the commitment taken by the EU and China in September 2021 to “engage collaboratively in support of reducing global deforestation through enhancing cooperation in conservation and sustainable management of forests, making supply chain more sustainable, and combating illegal logging and associated trade[1]”;urges the EU and its Member States to take concrete actions to encourage China and third countries to adopt similar regulation on deforestation- free products; [1] https://ec.europa.eu/clima/news-your- voice/news/joint-press-communique- following-second-eu-china-high-level- environment-and-climate-dialogue-2021- 10-10_fr

Amendment 22 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests; stresses that policies that enhance biodiversity will help tackle climate change; calls on the EU to address the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand for wood for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests; stresses that policies that enhance the protection and restoration of biodiversity will help tackle climate change; calls on the EU to strengthen forest resilience by addressing the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand for wood for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights; recalls the negative impacts of global warming on ecosystems and the migration of species due to climate change, which requires specific monitoring and surveillance;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests; calls for sustainable forest management (SFM) which has not only economic benefit but the forest growth also help to implement climate goals, which is key in decreasing deforestation and forest degradation; stresses that policies that enhance biodiversity will help tackle climate change; calls on the EU to address the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand for wood for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests; stresses that policies that enhance biodiversity will help tackle climate change; notes that the EU Forest Strategy aims to boost the entire sustainable forest bioeconomy that works in synergy with the EU’s increased climate and biodiversity ambition; calls on the EU to address the challenges and trade- offs resulting from the increasing demand for wood for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests; stresses that policies that enhance biodiversity will help tackle climate change; calls on the EU to address the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing global demand for wood, notably from China, for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that the demand from certain countries, such as China and the United States, for European wood, and in particular French wood, is putting European economic operators in difficulty; stresses, in this regard, the importance of limiting the export of logs, or making it conditional on prior processing;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1 a. Whereas this deforestation has caused a massive loss of biodiversity due to the destruction of habitats, exacerbated climate change, with the release of vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, and increased risk of outbreaks of new viral diseases;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses that the New EU Forest Strategy should not be a hostage of the overall goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, but it should be shaped from the bottom up, in response to regional and local demands and expectations, appropriately balancing the environmental, economic and social aspects;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recognises that, in accordance with sustainable forest management, the improvement, conservation and protection of multifunctional, healthy and resilient forests is a key priority for all actors in the EU's forest-based value chain;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Points out that a reliable supply of wood, wood-based products and forest- based biomass is important for the achievement of overall sustainability goals; notes that global demand is expected to rise further and that the sustainable use of locally produced wood should be promoted to meet this demand, particularly in rural areas;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Insists on developing universal, clear and reliable definitions in order to have a basis for ensuring effective protection of forests;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that EU bioenergy policy, and notably the Renewable Energy Directive, must meet strict environmental and social criteria, reflecting the need to ensure effective recognition of and respect for customary land tenure rights of forest- dependent communities and of indigenous peoplebe re-drafted to be realistic and to ensure that no undue influence was exercised by Russia or other third countries, via NGOs, in order to further their interests on the expense of one or more Member States;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that EU bioenergy policy, notably the Renewable Energy Directive, must meet strict environmental and social criteria, excluding primary woody biomass as an eligible fuel to public incentives and reflecting the need to ensure effective recognition of and respect for customary land tenure rights of forest- dependent communities and of indigenous people, in line with international tenure rights standards (notably ILO Convention No 169 and FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenures and Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems);

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that EU bioenergy policy, notably the Renewable Energy Directive, must meet ~~strict~~ environmental and social criteria, reflecting the need to ensure effective recognition of and respect for customary land tenure rights of forest- dependent communities and of indigenous people;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Emphasises the strong need for the continuous development of research and innovation in the field of sustainable forest management, particularly to improve the adaptability and resilience of forests; stresses that, in this way, the full potential of forests can be harnessed for the achievement of climate and circular economy targets;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1 b. Whereas large-scale deforestation for agriculture, mining and infrastructure development is causing severe human rights violations with devastating impacts on forest peoples, such as land grab, forced evictions, police harassment, arbitrary arrest, and criminalisation of community leaders, human rights defenders and activists;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Is concerned, in this connection, about wind farm installations in forest areas and the associated deforestation risks, whether in developing countries or in Europe, and calls for an objective assessment of the environmental impact of such projects;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Is concerned, too, about the impact of wind energy on deforestation, particularly in the Amazon forest, owing to the need for balsa wood used in wind turbines, and in particular about the illegal deforestation potentially linked to demand for such wood;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy target~~Recalls that wood based bioenergy is currently the main source of renewable energy, supplying 60% of EU’s renewable energy use; recalls that the compliance with the REDII criteria for sustainable forest management relies on the existence of national forest legislation or on management systems at the level of the sourcing area; against this background, is worried about the environmental impact of increasing imports of biomass triggering deforestation abroad; insists that wood-based bioeconomy should remain within the boundaries of sustainability and be compatible with the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets and biodiversity objectives; Calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets; more broadly, stresses the need to apply the cascading principle for wood biomass and to respect the circular economy principles;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets~~4. Welcomes the additional strengthened sustainability criteria for bioenergy proposed by the Commission for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive; calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets when this bioenergy does not complies with the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria of the revisited Renewable Energy Directive ;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets; calls on the EU to consider providing support to third countries with the potential to switch to non-wood based renewable energy sources, thereby reducing the pressure on deforestation caused by the use of wood as fuel, and encourages actions to increase forest cover and other wooded land where relevant, especially in abandoned lands, close to urban and peri- urban areas as well as in mountainous areas considering regional siteand changing climatic condition

Amendment 45 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets and, for those Member States that rely heavily on it, to ensure a gradual transition to other energy sources;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Union and its Member States to ~~exclude burning~~use forest biomass ~~from any~~in a sustainable way in order to contribute to reach renewable energy targets;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Is alarmed that according to INTERPOL, forestry crimes, which are often perpetrated in connection with other crimes such as tax evasion, corruption, document fraud and money laundering, is the most lucrative of environmental crimes;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Recalls that illegal logging is responsible for deforestation, habitat loss, species extinction, and contributes to global warming;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4 c. Calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen the share of ODA to governance and judicial sector reform to combat and prevent environmental crime, notably forestry crimes, especially in LDCs;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)

-1 c. Whereas the Renewable Energy Directive incentives the uses of biomass for energy purposes, including wood biomass;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4 d. Urges the EU to make the fight against environmental crime an overriding strategic political priority in international judicial cooperation and at COP meetings, including through the promotion of the enlargement of the scope of the International Criminal Court to cover criminal acts that amount to ecocide;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4 e. While poor forest governance lead to illegal logging, reiterates its support to FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs), as an important tool to address the root causes of illegality, which include corruption, a lack of clarity over land rights, and the excessive influence of the timber industry over forest policies and legislation; calls on the EU to step up forest diplomacy, through FLEGT and Forest partnerships for forest protection and restoration, which uphold international human rights law, notably the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities with customary tenure systems;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4 f. Reiterates that the EU trade policy should be consistent with, and contributes to, its international environmental commitments; calls on the Commission to ensure that the impact of trade on the state of forests, natural ecosystems and human rights is systematically evaluated in the framework of sustainability impact assessments; urges the Commission to use FTA anti-corruption chapters to address deforestation and illegal logging;

Amendment 53 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Stéphane BIJOUX, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Union to comply with the principle of policy coherence for development and to ensure consistency between its development, trade, agriculture, energy and climate policies; recognises the positive economic, societal and environmental contribution of the forest industry and ask for further investment in research, innovation and technological advancement;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Emphasises the scientifically proven links between health, environmental and climate crises; and considering that, without immediate action, biodiversity loss and climate change will increase at a global level, calls on the EU, as part of the Green Deal’s external dimension, to step up its technical assistance, as well as its sharing of information and best practices with third countries; stresses that the EU should learn from inspirational projects on sustainable forest management from indigenous and other communities that have ancestral knowledge on forests;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Recalls that indigenous people, local communities, small holder farmers and women possess and heavily rely on indispensable knowledge regarding forests; stresses the fact that preserving natural resources is not just a matter of protecting biodiversity, but also a question of social justice in the vision of an ecological restoration.

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Union to harmonise its wide-ranging objectives set in legislation and policies pertaining to forests and the forestry sector;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Expresses its concern over the generalised lack of protection of human rights and environmental defenders as they suffer ill treatment and even killings in third countries including developing countries; calls on the EU to make the fight against impunity one of its key priorities by creating instruments which allow for the full, effective and sustained implementation of human rights and environmental laws and their enforcement;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Recalls its previous position on the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and natural disasters as a driver of migration and climate-induced displacement and regrets the lack of human rights protection at international level for individuals who are suffering as a result; calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the role and capacity of regional human rights bodies and other mechanisms in addressing the nexus of climate change and human rights, promoting environmental rights and protecting environmental rights defenders in third countries;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must not contain ~~binding and enforceable forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provision~~provisions that can harm the ability for companies of the Member States to conduct business;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)

-1 d. Whereas a recent Commission Report[1] on “The use of woody biomass for energy production in the EU” shows an increasing overall use of woody biomass in the EU in the past two decades (around 20% increase since 2000), which may be additionally impacted by the increased renewable energy target; [1] JRC Report “The use of woody biomass for energy production in the EU”, 2021.

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain ~~binding and enforceable~~ forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions; insists on the strategic importance of robust, coherent and enforceable sustainability chapters in trade agreements, along with an effective implementation of multilateral environmental and climate agreements; invites the Commission to carefully assess the impacts of trade agreements on deforestation in the Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs) and other relevant assessments, based on solid data and evaluation methodologies.

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable forest-specific, human rights, anti-corruption and responsible business conduct provisions, including provisions to guarantee Free, Prior and Informed consent of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and the recognition of land tenure rights of forest-dependent communities and of indigenous people;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions, and recalls, furthermore, that free trade treaties should not be concluded with states that are not aligned with the environmental standards of the EU and the Member States;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain ~~binding and enforceable~~ forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions; calls for strengthening standards and certification schemes that already exist instead of new ones and that those standards and certification need to comply with WTO rules

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable ~~forest-specific~~environment- related, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Welcomes the commitment by the Commission to increase supply chain sustainability and transparency; calls to this regard for the adoption of mandatory due diligence obligations to be applied to all operators involved in forest-risk commodity supply chains and invites the Commission to promote such a binding regulatory framework at international level, with the aim of promoting transparency and enforcing proportionate but dissuasive sanctioning mechanisms, also in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 67 #

6a. Takes the view that, owing to the multifunctional contribution of forests to the EU's ambitious targets, close cooperation and the exchange of best practices are essential among the different levels of governance and stakeholder groups involved, as well as with international, European, national and regional experts, forest owners and managers, scientists and civil society;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 e (new)

-1 e. Whereas harvesting trees to burn wood for bioenergy leads to a reduction in the carbon sinks of forests;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 71 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 73 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Calls on the EU to learn from innovative projects implemented by certain third countries, such as the African-led "Great Green Wall" initiative, which aims to restore 100 million hectares of currently degraded land by 2030 throughout the Sahel region and to enable the development of agro- ecology and regeneration projects.

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 f (new)

-1 f. Whereas various scientific studies from the IPCC and the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) conclude that the burning of most forest biomass produces more greenhouse gas emissions than coal, oil and gas[1]; [1] file:///C:/Users/itrepant/Downloads/jrc- forest-bioenergy-study-2021- final_online%20(2).pdf

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 g (new)

-1 g. Whereas according to INTERPOL, the illegal timber industry accounts for up to 90% of tropical deforestation in some countries and attracts the world’s biggest organized crime groups;

source: 731.513

2022/06/14 DEVE 7 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise ~~proforestation in forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits~~, including as part of its external dimension, proforestation in forest management to increase carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits; notes that sustainable forest management can play a key role in climate protection through a variety of measures and best practices; recalls that forests’ carbon dioxide storage capacities will make it possible to move towards carbon neutrality; underlines the importance, in this connection, of increasing tree cover, restoring damaged ecosystems and regenerating soils, including through reforestation, afforestation and resilience- building programmes based on clear ecological principles, while pursuing the achievement of the 2030 Agenda;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Recognises the key role of forests in protecting the climate and biodiversity; highlights that forests contribute to efforts to mitigate and adapt to the negative impacts of climate change such as extreme weather phenomena, including flooding, droughts, storms, soil erosion, heat waves and fires; recalls, in this regard, recalls that sustainable forest management can also ensure the protection of coastal areas and communities; stresses that forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services beyond carbon sequestration, such as the natural filtration of water; recalls the negative impacts of global warming on ecosystems and the migration of species due to climate change, which require specific monitoring and surveillance;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests, which encompasses a wide range of environmental, climate-related and socioeconomic activities, such as the conservation of biodiversity and the provision of renewable raw materials, helping to create jobs and boost economic growth in rural areas; stresses that policies that enhance the protection and restoration of biodiversity will help tackle climate change; calls ~~on the EU to~~for sustainable forest management in the implementation of climate goals, as it is key to reducing deforestation and forest degradation; notes that the EU forest strategy aims to boost the entire sustainable forest bioeconomy working in synergy with the EU’s increased climate and biodiversity ambitions; calls for the EU to help make forest more resilient by addressing the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand for wood for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights; is alarmed at Interpol's finding that forestry crimes, which are often perpetrated in conjunction with other crimes such as tax evasion, corruption, document fraud and money laundering, are the most lucrative of all environmental crimes; asks the Commission and the Member States to maintain their commitment to fighting illegal logging and the trade in illegal timber and forest-risk commodities;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that EU bioenergy policy, notably the Renewable Energy Directive, must meet strict environmental and social criteria, reflecting the need to ensure effective recognition of and respect for customary land tenure rights of forest- dependent communities and of indigenous people, in accordance with international standards such as the International Labour Organisation Convention (No 169) on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Land Tenure and Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems; calls on the Commission to specifically address the human rights of indigenous peoples and local communities through voluntary partnership agreements in the area of forest law enforcement, governance and trade; recalls that indigenous peoples, local communities, small holder farmers and women are heavily reliant on their own indispensable knowledge of forests; stresses that preserving natural resources is not just a matter of protecting biodiversity, but also a question of social justice as part of a broader vision for an ecological restoration; stresses, furthermore, that priority should be given to developing knowledge on forestry and forest protection, including knowledge transfer;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Calls on the Union and its Member States~~Notes the Commission's proposals for additional, more stringent sustainability criteria for bioenergy as part of the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive; recalls, however, that wood-based bioenergy is currently the main source of renewable energy for the EU, accounting for 60 % of it's renewable energy use, while compliance with the sustainable forest management criteria under the recast Renewable Energy Directive relies on the existence of national forest legislation or on management systems in the actual sourcing area; expresses concern, in this connection, about the environmental impact of increasing biomass imports, as they may increase deforestation abroad; insists that the wood-based bioeconomy should remain within the limits of sustainability and be compatible with the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets and biodiversity objectives; calls for the EU and its Member States to use forest biomass in a sustainable manner and to exclude the burning ~~forest biomass from any renewable energy targets;~~ of primary woody biomass from any renewable energy targets or eligibility for public incentives; calls for the EU, moreover, to consider providing support to third countries which have the potential to switch to renewable energy sources other than wood, thereby reducing the pressure on deforestation caused by the use of wood as a fuel, and urges that action be taken to increase forest cover and other wooded land where relevant; stresses the need to apply the cascading principle to woody biomass and to respect the circular economy principles;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Re~~calls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions;~~ iterates that the EU's trade policy should be consistent with,and contribute to its international environmental commitments; highlights the strategic importance of robust, coherent and enforceable sustainability chapters in trade agreements, together with the effective implementation of multilateral environmental and climate agreements; calls for standards and certification schemes to be reinforced in line with World Trade Organisation rules; reiterates its call for binding and enforceable mechanisms for the implementation of trade and sustainable development chapters on social and environmental standards, with specific provisions on forests, human rights and responsible business conduct, including provisions to guarantee the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples and local communities and the recognition of the land tenure rights of forest-dependent communities and indigenous peoples; calls on the Commission to conduct impact assessments on sustainability, with a particular focus on forests, natural ecosystems and human rights, on the basis of reliable data and evaluation methodologies; urges the Commission, moreover, to use anti-corruption chapters in free trade agreements to address deforestation and illegal logging;

Amendment 7 #