Commission’s forest monitoring proposals met with little enthusiasm, but states see potential

Forest monitoring proposals by the European Commission have been received as having ‘potential but requiring significant improvements. Concerns are mounting about administrative burdens, confidentiality and costs.

This “let’s see” point of view was shared by Austria, Finland, France, Slovenia and Sweden at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 23 September and garnered the support of seven other Member States.

The European Union Regulation on Forest Monitoring, proposed in November 2023, has been under discussion in the ad hoc Council Working Party during the Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies.

These five countries, under the informal strategic partnership For Forest+, advocating for the interests of forest-rich Member States within the EU, aim to assist the Presidency in their next steps.

Harmonising data, avoiding extra costs

While many Member States have developed their own forest data collection systems over decades, harmonising this data is crucial for global synergies and cost-effectiveness.

The proposal argues the group of five should leverage existing efforts, ensuring data quality, security and confidentiality.

Concerns have been articulated about the large number of delegated and implementing acts, which increase uncertainty and must be aligned with other European legislation.

During the meeting, Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah, emphasised the importance of evidence-based policymaking, with a focus on harmonising forest data to track national trends.

The For Forest+ Group, chaired this year by Finland, aims to foster cooperation on forest-related issues and sustainable forest management.

Ministers from the group will meet with European Parliament members in October to discuss forest monitoring and related topics.

Benefits of the law

A joint paper published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in July sets out some of the core benefits of the Forest Monitoring Law.

The legislation addresses the need for harmonised and EU-focused data collection, improving upon the fragmented National Forest Inventories (NFIs) ensuring more reliable and comparable data on forest biodiversity.

It streamlines forest data reporting across various EU laws, creating a centralised “data-sharing framework” that simplifies reporting requirements while allowing Member States to maintain flexibility.

The law helps Member States meet EU and international obligations by plugging significant gaps in forest-related data, such as identifying primary forests for bioenergy restrictions and ensuring data for threatened species.

Mapping forest vulnerabilities

It also supports mapping forest vulnerabilities using geographical information systems (GIS) to track and mitigate climate threats like droughts, fires, and pests, encouraging disaster preparedness planning to protect forests and communities.

The paper argues that the Forest Monitoring Law promotes integrated forest planning, balancing biodiversity, bioeconomy, and climate goals. This, in turn, helps minimise negative trade-offs (e.g., over-harvesting), benefiting forestry, biodiversity, and the public.

A harmonised monitoring framework using remote sensing and ground surveys is cost-efficient. It saves money for Member States and enhances forest ecosystem services, contributing to significant economic and environmental gains.

Lastly, it promotes transparency by ensuring public access to detailed forest data via GIS. The law fosters collaboration between stakeholders, promoting evidence-based decision-making and reducing conflicts over forest management.

According to this paper, Member States, forest owners and managers, potential victims of natural disasters, researchers, the digital sector, and the financial sector and the wider economy are direct beneficiaries of the law.

Going beyond the data

Despite obvious benefits, the proposed framework has currently split Europe. A Euractiv event on the theme highlighted the need for innovation and data repurposing.

Panellists agreed on the need to harmonise and standardise data, but they argued this could be just the first step, as forests are facing multiple threats beneath their lush green foliage.

Even though forests in Europe are getting healthier in some ways, many of them remain at risk due to issues like air and water pollution, loss of habitats and diverse wildlife, and the growth of cities into forested areas.

Around 40 per cent of Europe’s land area is covered by forests, and the EU has pledged to plant three billion additional trees throughout its territories and become the first climate-neutral continent in its biodiversity strategy for 2030.

The plan, deemed ambitious, has rightfully proven so. According to the MapMyTree website, an online tool of the European Environment Agency, only 22.6 million trees have been planted so far, with Belgium, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Spain and France leading the effort.

[By Xhoi Zajmi I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]