14 Amendments of Marco AFFRONTE related to 2014/2223(INI)
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that it is appropriate to make forest conservation and management incentives part of the strategy, and welcomes the Commission communication on a new European forest strategy, bearing in mind that – with due regard to the subsidiarity principle – there is a need for a comprehensive and consistent joint strategy to prevent and manage forest disasters, while maximising opportunities for boosting resilience, bio-economy, biodiversity and climate change mitigation;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on Member States to consider including environmental services paymentpayment for ecosystem services as forest management incentives; points out that sustainable forest management has a positive impact on fire prevention, climate, biodiversity and conservation, and is crucial for economic development, especially in rural areas and remote regions;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, particularly in the Mediterranean region, forest fires occur on a regular basis, and are both a cause and a consequence of climate change; points out that storms, and forest fires and pests, are natural disasters that can be mitigated using forestry techniques and that, alongside improved forest management, there is a need to promote specific action such as the introduction of grazing or the establishment of agro-forestry areas – policies that ought to be recognised in both the first and second pillars (grazing areas and rural development respectively) of the common agricultural policy;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of biodiversity and as carbon sinks and therefore should benefit from a high level of protection and an improvement in the conservation status of forest species and habitats, as required under the forest target of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020; highlights the opportunities provided by the Natura 2000 network on this respect, which includes a significant share of Europe’s forests;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Is concerned about the growing trend to consider forests from a predominantly economic perspective and to limit their value to the wood which they produce, disregarding the very significant environmental and social benefits which they also provide; underlines the need to determine the value of forest ecosystem services more systematically and to take it into consideration in public and private sector decision-making;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Highlights that the predicted growth in wood demand is both an opportunity and a challenge to the forests and all forest- based sectors, especially as droughts, fires, storms, and pests are expected to damage forests more frequently and more severely as a result of climate change; recalls in this context the need to protect forests from these growing threats and to reconcile their productive and protective functions;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Stresses the need to urgently clarify the greenhouse impacts of the various uses of forest biomass for energy and identify the uses that can achieve the biggest mitigation benefits within policy- relevant timeframes.
Amendment 95 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the need to make sure that forest materials are also re-used and used efficiently, as a way of cutting the EU’s trade deficit, helping to reduce unsustainable management, protecting the environment and reducing deforestation in countries outside the EUnd calls the Commission to build upon relevant EU information systems on forests, trade, harvested wood products and soils, to develop objective, ambitious and demonstrable EU criteria for verifying sustainability in EU forests and forest products;
Amendment 112 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that is important that fRecalls that, by 2020, Forest mManagement pPlans do not become an additional bureaucratic burden which impedes the sustainable use of Europe’s forests; with that in mind, calls on Member States to review the implementation of the forest management plans, taking into accor equivalent instruments, in line with Sustainable Forest Management, should be in place for all forests that are publicly owned and for forest holdings above a certain size that receive funding under the EU Rural Development Policy; Takes the view that forest management plans can be an important instrument for sustainable forest management and to bring abount the proportionality and ‘think small first’ principles and providing for the use by managers of the responsibility declaration form. needed improvement in the conservation status of species and habitats of EU interest; recommends that Natura 2000 protection objectives and measures are taken into account when developing forest management plans;
Amendment 127 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission, once the study on the impact of European consumption on deforestation has been completed, to follow up its findings with new policy initiatives addressing the types of impact identified
Amendment 132 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the adoption of a holistic approach and the recognition of the economic, environmental and social role played by European forests and stresses the key role of forest-based industries in sustainable resource management, for example in combating climate change and achieving a circular economy;
Amendment 138 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recognises that short rotation forestry could provide sustainable wooden biomass while providing the necessary territory maintenance thus reducing the risk of soil erosion and landslides of set aside or abandoned land
Amendment 141 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recognises that sustainable management for the entire life cycle of forest products can make a significant contribution towards achieving green economy objectives, in particular those linked to climate change mitigation policies and efficient use of resources; notes that, to this end, Member States should promote the sustainable use of forest products in the construction sector;
Amendment 142 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Encourages the Commission to consider how to limit environmental impacts of EU consumption contributing to deforestation and forest degradation outside the EU, with a view to limit the EU footprint, to promote global climate and biodiversity objectives, and the sustainable production and consumption of food, energy and materials in EU.