Annexes to COM(2018)811 - Progress in the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy 'A new EU Forest Strategy: for forests and the forest sector'

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dossier COM(2018)811 - Progress in the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy 'A new EU Forest Strategy: for forests and the forest sector'.
document COM(2018)811 EN
date December  7, 2018
agreement on forests, which would translate the SFM concept into law, initially covering 25% of the world's forests.

The EU FLEGT Action Plan is a relevant, innovative response to the challenge of illegal logging and its implementation has significantly improved forest governance 57 in partner countries. The number of Voluntary Partnership Agreements between the EU and timber-producing countries is steadily increasing 58 . The first FLEGT licensing scheme (Indonesia) became operational in 2016. The EUTR 59 review confirmed its potential to combat illegal logging and associated trade, but also the need for furthering its uniform and effective application; its implementation in 2015-17 showed significant improvement. Furthermore, a study addressing the impacts of EU consumption on deforestation and forest degradation shed light on this complex problem 60 . The Commission The Commission will put forward a new initiative to step-up EU action against deforestation.

EU development policy supports global forest-related activities, as addressed in the International Cooperation and Development Strategic Plan 2016-2020, and promotes inclusive green economy cooperation interventions 61 . Many projects illustrate the value of EU and Member States’ support, directly or through global multi-donors, in promoting SFM globally. The EU is also supporting developing countries in REDD+ national plans, and with initiatives promoting zero-deforestation supply chains. The EU also seeks to include provisions on the promotion of SFM and commitments to combat illegal logging and associated trade in its bilateral trade agreements.

EU funding for forests and the forest-based sector

The Commission has aligned the various EU funding streams to support the objectives and priorities of the Strategy. The CAP is the main source of funding of the forest sector (EUR 8.2 billion public expenditure), in coherence and synergy with other ESI Funds 62 , LIFE, and the EU Research Framework Programme.

The climate priority established for the EU funds provides significant targeted incentives to foster climate action in forests. On the other side, the funding opportunities for protecting forests and enhancing ecosystem services are not fully utilised.

The overall EU funding for R&I in the forest-based sector has increased significantly (249 projects received 615 million € in 2013-17) 63 , supporting innovations and promotion of growth and jobs. 

EU development cooperation has assigned EUR 235 million for the period 2014-2020 to support FLEGT and REDD+ activities mainly under the European Development Fund, which are complemented by country and region specific cooperation programmes, with a focus on improving governance and promoting forest conservation.

Conclusion - Progress towards 2020 objectives

Significant progress towards the 2020 objectives has been made. Since its adoption, the Strategy has effectively framed EU actions into its principles and goals, facilitating the coordination of all EU policy areas relevant to forests and the forest-based sector, promoting a consistent approach in both domestic and international policies, and allowing the EU and Member States to be world-leading advocates for sustainable forest management.

Substantial progress in implementing the activities addressing the eight Strategy’s priority areas and the strategic orientations has been achieved. The Strategy is recognized by Member States as influencing their policies and actions, also at sub-national level 64 .

The Strategy is a valid policy tool that allows the EU and Member States to address the many challenges and roles of forests when new policy objectives and societal priorities are increasingly demanding to serve multiple purposes that sometimes can be perceived as contradictory. The growing societal demands from forests, increased pressures and climatic stressors might require additional efforts and commitment from all relevant actors to intensify coordination, cooperation and expert involvement, including across sectors and between the Commission, Member States and other stakeholders.

New policy developments will deserve due attention in the remaining implementation period, including ensuring the contribution of forests to the climate and energy framework - notably the implementation of the new LULUCF and renewable energy legislation, while facing adaptation of forests to climate change, to meet the EU commitments under the Paris Agreement. The Strategy and its priorities are fit for stressing the importance of forests and related EU policies for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the EU and globally, in particular through the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030.

The continued implementation of the Strategy, supported by the EU budget, will help the EU forests, covering 40% of the territory, to contribute effectively to territorial balance, growth and jobs in rural and urban areas, support the forest-based sector to stay competitive and the bioeconomy to develop, while protecting biodiversity and ensuring the provision of ecosystem services. Communicating the value and importance of well-managed forests to the society, thus ensuring strong societal support for sustainable forest management, is essential to underpin these goals.

(1)

COM(2013)659.

(2)

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/142685.pdf

(3)

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+TA+P8-TA-2015-0109+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN

(4)

OJ C 451, 16.12.2014, p. 127–133.

(5)

OJ C 126, 26.4.2014, p. 3–7.

(6)

SWD(2015)164.

(7)

Study on progress implementing the EU Forest Strategy.

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E.g. In Germany, most Länder provide aid to forestry through RD, and three Länder through State aid.

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Afforestation target: > 300.000 ha; Agroforestry target: >80.000 ha.

(10)

  Evaluation of the forestry measures under Rural Development.

(11)

COM(2018) 392 final.

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E.g. for: construction, furnishing, printing, packaging, hygienic products, food additives, and increasingly also bio-based textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, 3D printing composites and biofuels.

(13)

SWD (2013) 343.

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  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/basics/green-economy/index_en.htm

(15)

https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/10017/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/pdf

(16)

  https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/study-assessment-cumulative-cost-impact-specified-eu-legislation-and-policies-eu-forest-0_en

(17)

  http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/7572/attachments/1/translations

(18)

  https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/study-optimised-cascading-use-wood-0_en

(19)

  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52015DC0614

(20)

To be published before the end of 2018.

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  http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1415&langId=en

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In the framework of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

(23)

  https://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm  

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  https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en  

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  https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/policy-strategy_en

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http://www.forestplatform.org/#!/  

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Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under Horizon 2020 ( https://www.bbi-europe.eu/ )

(28)

See provisional agreement reached in June 2018: http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10308-2018-INIT/en/pdf

(29)

  https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/forest/publications/pdf/sfcci-report_en.pdf

(30)

The Commission will establish operational guidance by January 2021.

(31)

  https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/focus-groups/sustainable-mobilisation-forest-biomass

(32)

COM/2018/673.

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Regulation (EU) 2018/841.

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COM (2013) 216.

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  https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/countries-regions/countries

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‘RescEU: a new European system to tackle natural disasters’, expected to be adopted in 2018.

(37)

  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/knowledge/ecosystem_assessment/index_en.htm

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  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/capital_accounting/index_en.htm

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  http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/ca/CA15206

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Regulation 2016/2031.

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Regulation 1143/2014.

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https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/forest/publications  

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  https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/

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  https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/about  

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Standing Committee on Agricultural Research ( https://scar-europe.org/ ).

(46)

EU CORDIS & ERA-NET databases contain (10/2018) 273 FP7 funded projects (ca. EUR 514 million) and 214 Horizon 2020 projects (ca. EUR 388 million).

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  https://scar-europe.org/images/FOREST/Documents/SWG_forestry_study-v2.pdf

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  https://forestvalue.org/

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The SCAR SWG Forest promotes transnational research and cooperation on climate change adaptation and mitigation, the sector competitiveness, and ecosystem services provision.

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https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/forest/standing-committee/opinions_en

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The EG-FBI draws together sectoral industry representatives, MS and other sectoral stakeholders.

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Including e.g. DIABOLO, two COST actions, and an ongoing contract with the European Forest Data Centre.

(53)

  http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/ResultDoc/download/DocumentKy/69759

(54)

  https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/fore/publi/communication-strategy_en.pdf

(55)

  https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N17/184/62/PDF/N1718462.pdf?OpenElement

(56)

The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe ( https://foresteurope.org/ )

(57)

SWD(2016) 275.

(58)

Six concluded VPAs and nine being negotiated. ( http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/flegt.htm )

(59)

COM(2016) 74 final.

(60)

  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/studies_EUaction_deforestation_palm_oil.htm

(61)

  https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/file/80634/download?token=-ZXMS3Cz

(62)

E.g. Member States have allocated almost EUR 8 billion to Thematic Objective 5 'climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management' to address several risks including forest fires.

(63)

According to the Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform.

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‘Sustainable forest management in regions’. Report by the Committee of the Regions, 2018.