Activities of Paul BRANNEN related to 2014/2223(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A new EU Forest Strategy (short presentation)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on a new EU forest strategy: for forests and the forest-based sector
Amendments (102)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that it is appropriate to make forest conservaprotection 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;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 b (new)
Citation -1 b (new)
- having regard to Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union has no powers to create a common forestry policy and decisions on relevant policies concerning forestry and forests lie with the Member States, the principle of subsidiarity must be observed and responsibility for relevant policies lies primarily at a national level;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Acknowledges that European forests currently absorb and store around 10% of EU carbon emissions and thus contribute markedly to climate change mitigation efforts;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. 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 this policy has to be coordinated in line with the European Forest Strategy;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to consider introducing EU-wide targets for forest cover with a view to increasing current levels, curbing deforestation and improving the quality of existing forests and woodland; recommends increasing forest cover especially in areas not suitable for food production and in particular in close proximity to urban areas in order to mitigate adverse heat effects, reduce pollution and enhance links between people and forests; stresses the need for careful planning in this regard; believes that forests should not be considered solely as carbon sinks in order to offset the rise of emissions in other sectors of the economy;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas timber is a sustainable limited resource and the intelligent resource-efficient use of this raw material needs to be ensured, including by the development of know-how;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Encourages tree-planting in cities as a way of tackling environmental challenges associated with urban pollution and man- made landscapes, for example by providing shade in the summer and moderating air temperatures during heat waves;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas sustainably managed forests are enormously important in adding value at regional level and in guaranteeing jobs in rural areas, while at the same time making a vital contribution to the environment;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on Member States to consider including environmental services payments as forest management incentives; points out that sustainable forest management has a positive impact on fiorest prevention, biodiversity and conservaotection, and is crucial for economic development, especially in rural areas and remote regions;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas sustainably managed forests are enormously important in adding value at regional level and in guaranteeing jobs in rural areas as well as for the bio-economy and for recreation, while at the same time making a vital contribution to the environment;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas European forests currently absorb and store around 10% of EU carbon emissions and thus contribute markedly to climate change mitigation efforts;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that the substitution of oil- based or heat-intensive raw materials by timber and harvested wood products should be encouraged, in line with progress in research and technology, which can positively contribute to further gains in terms of climate change mitigation as well as job creation;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Encourages prioritising the use of timber and harvested wood products particularly in construction sector and industry as an alternative to oil-based or heat-intensive raw materials; strongly encourages increased use of timber in the housing sector including its application in construction of more affordable houses built from sustainably sourced raw material; notes that current technological developments enable construction of high-capacity housing developments made mostly of wood and thus significantly limiting CO2 emissions in the buildings sector;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, owing to the urbanisation of our society, EU citizens feel less of a connection to the forest, and have little knowledge of forestry and its positive impact on prosperity, jobs and the whole value chaintend to have more limited access to the forest, and have little awareness of roles and challenges facing the forestry and its positive impact on prosperity, jobs and the whole value chain, even though they feel strong connection to forests due their environmental and recreational value;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that according to scientific research managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; recognises therefore the important role of managed forests in climate change mitigation efforts and in generating employment in rural areas; underlines the importance of sustainable forest management in maximizing the carbon sequestration potential of EU forests; (The European Parliament report ‘A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies’ “Stresses that active forestry, which increases growth and hence the absorption of carbon dioxide, is an important and cost-effective way of helping to attain the climate targets; notes that each extra cubic metre of forest produced by means of active cultivation absorbs approximately 1,3 tonnes of carbon dioxide; calls on the Commission and the Member States to devise incentives for owners of woods to contribute actively to increased climate benefits, for example by focusing on regional measures which increase lasting forest production and absorption of carbon dioxide”.)
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Acknowledges the positive impact of sustainable forest management on the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and strongly believes that sustainable forest management not only contributes to biodiversity conservation in the EU, but also helps restore lost biodiversity, in line with the objectives of the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and the 7th EAP;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas European forestry is characterised by sustainable management and long-term planning, and whereas the principle of sustainability should be even more strongly emphasised in a global contextat all levels, from local to global;
Amendment 52 #
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 and active 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 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Pays attention to technological advancements that allow for wider application of wood in industrial processes, particularly in such sectors as automotive and textiles, with high degree of efficiency;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Is of the opinion that promotion of more diverse uses of wood should go hand in hand with investment in education systems for the young, and training for existing employees in the construction industry in order to increase their awareness of the opportunities created by the use of wood as well as to provide them with necessary skills;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas European forestry is characterised by sustainable management and long-term planning, and whereas the principle of sustainability should be even more strongly emphasised in a global context;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recognises the need for improved transportations and logistics for forest management and extraction of timber; calls upon the Member States to develop sustainable logistics and logging systems with reduced negative effect on climate, including the use of trucks and ships powered by sustainable biofuel as well as extended use of railways; encourages the use of EU's structural funds for those purposes;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the Member States are obliged to set an example for sustainable forest management in their publicly- owned forests; this applies in particular in relation to ecological, economic and social aspects;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
General – the importance of forests and forestry for economy and society
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission communication on a new EU forest strategy and the accompanying working documents, and stresses that an EU forest strategy must focus on better coordination, because the increasing number of Europesustainable forest management and better coordination, because many policy initiativesareas, in pareas such asticular economic and employment policy, energy supply, environmental and climate policy, and the demands of society call for a greater contribution from the forestry sector;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that the substitution of oil- based or heat-intensive raw materials by timber and harvested wood products should be encouraged, in line with progress in research and technology, which can positively contribute to further gains in terms of climate change mitigation as well as job creation;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the need to make sure that forestEuropean forest resources and wood materials are also re-used and re-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 EU;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. 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 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 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes that the urbanisation of society has made professional forest management difficult in many areas and that this can be associated with issues such as the risk of forest fires, the lack of thinning or afforestation and inadequate handling of pest problems;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Calls on the Member States to ensure that their legislation provides forests with the best possible protection against pollution and damage; Refers in this connection in particular to the protection against pollution caused for example by pesticides or munitions containing lead, protection against extreme soil compression due to the excessive use of machinery and protection against extreme game bite or damage as a result of a game population that is too large;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Notes that only mountain forests that are healthy and stable are able to perform, to a full extent, their functions of protecting humans and nature by counteracting the flow of avalanches and mudslides and serving as a natural protection against floods; in this connection in particular transnational communication is indispensable;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Believes that the EU should prioritise the use of locally-sourced timber, harvested wood products or forest biomass as opposed to wood imported from outside the EU in order to minimise the carbon footprint caused by overseas transport, and stimulate sustainable local production;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Supports a sustainable increase in the use of wood for energy purposes, in line with the principle of the cascading use of wood; calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently introduce binding sustainability criteria for biomass, particularly in order to avoid the overexploitation of resources; recognises the value of wood for energy purposes as a means of combating energy poverty, contributing to the 2030 climate and energy framework’s renewable energy targets and opening up new business opportunities;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Expresses serious concerns about the pace of world deforestation, particularly in developing countries and often due to illegal logging; calls on the European Commission and Member States to comprehensively revise the EU Timber Directive as well as the FLEGT scheme for timber imports, with a view to curbing the illegal trade in timber which endangers forest ecosystems and negatively influences the competitiveness of European timber traders; suggests deploying or adjusting relevant public procurement rules which could encourage purchases of properly certified timber and harvested wood products;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses in this connection that any attempt to make forestry a matter of EU policy should be resisted and that the sector’s regional basis and the competence of the Member States in this area must be respected;
Amendment 104 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 123 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recognises the positive effects of trees and forests on human physical and mental health and encourages municipal authorities to maintain or improve public transport links between urban areas and forests in order to facilitate access to forests and woodland;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to consider introducing EU-wide targets for forest cover with a view to increasing current levels, curbing deforestation and improving the quality of existing forests and woodland; recommends increasing forest cover especially in areas not suitable for food production and in particular in close proximity to urban areas in order to mitigate adverse heat effects, curb pollution and enhance links between people and forests; stresses the need for careful planning in this regard; believes that forests should not be considered solely as carbon sinks, whose carbon sequestration potential offset the rise of emissions in other sectors of the economy;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Gives its full support to the Commission’s efforts to promote forest- related employment and the generation of prosperity in Europe, and stresses in this connection the important role of the sustainable production of timber and other materials, such as corknon- wood forest products (such as cork, livestock, mushrooms, medicinal plants, crop plants, forest fruits and honey) through forestry and agroforestry systems, for the development of sustainable economic models and the creation of green jobs;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Underlines the high recreational value of forests, proven in public opinion surveys; this is one of the primary advantages of forests and woodlands for European citizens;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Gives its full support to the Commission’s efforts to promote forest-related employment and the generation of prosperity in Europe in a sustainable manner, and stresses in this connection the important role of the sustainable production of timber and other materials, such as cork, for the development of sustainable economic models and the creation of green jobs;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Supports a sustainable increase in the use of wood for energy purposes, in line with the principle of the cascading use of wood; calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently introduce binding sustainability criteria for biomass, in order to avoid the overexploitation of resources; recognises the value of wood for energy purposes as a means of combating energy poverty, contributing to the 2030 climate and energy framework's renewable energy targets and opening up new business opportunities;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Considers that the substitution of oil- based or heat-intensive raw materials by timber and harvested wood products should be encouraged, in line with progress in research and technology, which can positively contribute to further gains in terms of climate change mitigation as well as job creation;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Encourages the use of timber and harvested wood products particularly in construction sector and industry as an alternative to oil-based or heat-intensive raw materials; strongly promotes increased use of timber in the housing sector including its application in construction of more affordable houses built from sustainably sourced raw material; notes that current technological developments enable construction of high-capacity housing developments made mostly of wood and thus significantly limiting CO2 emissions in the buildings sector;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that rural areas have very close links to forestry, and welcomes in this connection the recognition of the role of forestry and agroforestry in the Rural Development Programmes of the 2014- 2020 CAP; encourages Member States to make use of available funding under their respective rural development programmes in order to incentivise farmers to plant trees and manage woodlands;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that in particular rural areas have very close links to forestry, and welcomes in this connection the recognition of the role of forestry in the Rural Development Programme of the 2014-2020 CAP;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recognises significant capacity of forests to produce underground biomass which proves to have positive effects on the level of soil nutrients; underlines that mixed ecosystems produce more biomass and absorb more atmospheric carbon and therefore encourages promotion of agro-forestry systems in order to maximise the combined potential of agriculture and forestry;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Stresses importance of sufficient soil cover for water management and flood protection by recognising the capacity of trees to bind the soil and contributing to more stable water balance and retention potential on a given area in order to prevent flooding;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Underlines the high recreational value of forests, proven in public opinion surveys; this is one of the primary advantages of forests and woodlands for European citizens;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Recognises the positive effects of trees and forests on human physical and mental health and encourages municipal authorities to maintain or improve public transport links between urban areas and forests in order to facilitate access to forests and woodland;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that timber and other harvested wood products as raw material, ands derived from sustainable forest management, have an important role to play in achievement of the EU’s socio-political goals such as the energy transition and the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy targets and biodiversity targets, and notes that lack of management is inimical to these goals;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that timber as a raw material and sustainable forest management have an important role to play in achievement of the EU’s socio-political goals such as climate protection, the energy transition and the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy targets and biodiversity targets, and notes that large-scale lack of management is inimical to these goals;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes that forest areas in the European Member States are extremely diverse; refers 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 the efforts of forest owners to preserve and also to create native mixed forests typical of the area;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Acknowledges the positive impact of sustainable forest management on the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and strongly believes that sustainable forest management not only contributes to biodiversity conservation in the EU, but also helps restore lost biodiversity, in line with the objectives of the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and the 7th EAP;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Stresses that according to scientific research managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; recognises therefore the important role of managed forests in climate change mitigation efforts and in generating employment in rural areas; underlines the importance of sustainable forest management in maximizing the carbon sequestration potential of EU forests;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Expressly supports the resource-efficient use of timber as a raw material and opposes legally binding rules for prioritisestablishing ing the uses of wood, as this not only restricts the energy market but is also impossible to enforce in many rural areas, if only for infrastructure reasonsfuture of any legally binding rules for prioritising the end uses of wood; in this connection, supports an open, market-oriented approach and freedom for all market participants;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Expressly supports the resource-efficient use of timber, as a raw material with limited availability, and opposes legally binding rules for prioritising the uses of wood, as this not only restricts the energy market but is also impossible to enforce in many rural areas, if only for infrastructure reasons; in this connection, supports an open, market-oriented approach and freedom for market participants;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Takes the view that the cascade model is a forward-looking resource-saving principle for the forest-based sector; In this connection calls on the Commission not to restrict the cascade model in European funding initiatives;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Believes that the EU should prioritise the use of locally-sourced timber, harvested wood products or forest biomass as opposed to wood imported from outside the EU in order to minimise the carbon footprint created by overseas transport, and stimulate sustainable local production;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes the view that sustainable forest management must be based on generally acknowledged and accepted principles and tools, such as criteria and indicators for SFM which must always apply to the sector as a whole; strongly supports in this connection the sustainability criteria devised in the framework of Forest Europe (Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe)1, which form a pan-European basis for uniform reporting on sustainable forest management and a basis for sustainability certification; __________________ 1 Forest Europe - Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe: http://www.foresteurope.org/
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes in this connection that the negotiations within Forest Europe towards a ‘European Forest Convention’2 as a binding framework for sustainable forest management and for improving the balance of interests in forestry policy have made significant progress, and calls on the Member States and the Commission to make all necessary efforts to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion; __________________ 2 See http://www.forestnegotiations.org/
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Welcomes the development of European criteria for sustainable forest management by the Commission; stresses that these criteria should be aligned with the requirements of Forest Europe and should be adapted where appropriate to European legislation;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Takes the view that forest management plans can be anare important strategic instruments for the implementation of concrete measures at the level of individual businesses, while supporting the principle that such measures should be voluntary, in accordance with entrepreneurial freedom; calls at the same time for a clear separation between forest management plans and the management plans under Natura 2000, in view of the need to curb excessive bureaucracy, particularly for small and medium-sized forestry undertakinglong-term planning and implementation of sustainable forest management in European forests, whereas the implementation of concrete measures therein at the forest holding level remains subject to national regulations;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member StatesWelcomes specific measures introduced in the Rural Development Regulation in order to create incentives and support new business models, such as production cooperatives, that seek to encourage small private forest owners to manage their forest actively and sustainably;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recognises the need for improved transportations and logistics for forest management and extraction of timber; calls upon the Member States to develop sustainable logistics and logging systems with reduced negative effect on climate, including the use of trucks and ships powered by sustainable biofuel as well as extended use of railways; encourages the use of EU's structural funds and Rural Development Programmes for those purposes;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Stresses that the greatest possible degree of sustainable self-sufficiency in terms of timber as a raw material is in the vested interest of the European timber industry; notes 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 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12 c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to create incentives to encourage the increasingly large group of female forest owners to find special advice and support in relation to the active and sustainable management of their forests;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that forest-based industries have great potential for growth, and that further investments in innovation in the sector may bring new production niches and efficient industrial processes that minimiswould ensure smarter use of available resources and could minimise negative impacts on forestry resources, and therefore calls on the Commission to examine the European R&D programmes (Horizon 2020) and the programme for the competitiveness of small and medium- sized enterprises (COSME) for forestry priorities and, where appropriate, to develop new instruments for the forest- based sector and to promote targeted research on cost-effective solutions for new, innovative timber products, wood-based products and non- timber products together with services from forest and agroforestry;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Pays attention to technological advancements that allow for wider application of wood in industrial processes, particularly in such sectors as automotive and textiles, with high degree of efficiency;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Commission to take action, in the implementation of the Rural Development Funds, to ensure that support is provided in particular to initiatives for reducing loss of biodiversity in forests, for promoting native species of trees and for improving forest management and that the funds are used in line with the policy goals;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on the Member States to offer forest owners professional advice in order to prevent overuse of forests as a result of excessive timber harvesting or deterioration of the balance of nutrients, for example due to the harvesting of whole trees;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Stresses that the use of sustainably produced timber products as a result not only of the production of bioenergy and biomaterials such as textile fibres, for instance, but also as a result of the expansion of the traditional use of timber as a raw material could be instrumental in reducing the current dependence on fossil fuels;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13 d. Notes that wood is the only material that is able to store carbon dioxide, and calls on the European Commission to promote the use of timber in durable products and as a substitute for energy- and resource-intensive materials such as plastic, aluminium or concrete, especially in the building industry;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Paragraph 13 e (new)
13 e. Stresses that European forests are subject to an altered water balance and increased average temperatures as a result of climate change; in this connection calls 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 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes the view that supporting research in forestry could further extending the forest-related knowledge basis is of crucial importance to research and that reliable information is essential for the implementation of the forest strategy; notes in this connection that national forest inventories represent a comprehensive monitoring tool for assessing forestry stocks and take into account regional considerations while responding to demands for less red tape and lower costs; welcomes in particular the Commission’s efforts to establish a European forest information system and initiatives to improve the comparability of existing dataand that reliable information on forest resources in the EU, their climate change mitigation potential as well as substitution effect of harvested wood products is essential for the implementation of the forest strategy;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Notes that national forest inventories represent a comprehensive monitoring tool for assessing forestry stocks and take into account regional considerations; welcomes in particular the Commission's efforts to establish a European forest information system and initiatives to improve the comparability of existing data;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CTakes the view that skilled and well trained workforce is essential for successful implementation of SFM and calls on the Commission and the Member States to devise measures and, where possible, use existing European instruments such as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European training programmes (ET2020), to compensate for the skilled workforce shortage in the forests; further takes the view that training programmes should be developed, particularly for new entrants and young foresters as well as for existing employees in the construction industry in order to increase their awareness of the opportunities created by the use of wood, so that the transfer of knowledge in forest management and its downstream industries is ensured;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to support the exchange of knowledge and best practice between industry, science and producers and to promote targeted research on cost- effective solutions for new, innovative timber products and wood-based products;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to support the exchange of knowledge and best practice between industry, science and producers and to promote targeted research on cost-effective solutions for new, innovative timber products and wood- based products;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to promote initiatives focusing more closely on timber and non- timber forest and agroforestry products as one of the EU’s crucial raw materials and on the forest as a significant economic factor and supplierupplier of raw material, environmental services and jobs for a bio- based society, and expressly supports awareness-raising campaigns to this end, particularly in schools and educational establishments;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to promote initiatives focusing more closely on timber as one of the EU’s crucial raw materials and on the forest as a significant economic factor and, supplier for a bio-based society and numerous ecosystem services and as a space used for living and recreation, and expressly supports awareness-raising campaigns to this end in schools and educational establishments;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that forests across the world are subject to disasters such as drought, storms, fires and insect infestation in connection with climate change; stresses that sustainable forest management can reduce the impact of climate change and that the biodiversity thus achieved can diminish risks of forest fires, pest damage and disease;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that sustainable forest management, including agroforestry practices, can reduce the impact of climate change and that the biodiversity thus achieved can diminish risks of forest fires, pest damage and disease;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that bio-economicsy as a core element of smart, green growth in Europe is necessary to realise the objectives of the flagship initiatives ‘Innovation Union’ and ’Resource efficient Europe’ under the Europe 2020 Strategy, and that timber as a raw material has a significant role to play in thimaking progress towards bio-based economy;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Expresses its disappointment with the fact that working conditions of forest workers are not taken as point of reference in the proposed strategy and requests the Commission to take intelligent work-organisation, high standards in technology and quality jobs into account;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. SExpresses serious concerns about the pace of world deforestation, particularly in developing countries, often from illegal logging; supports mechanisms that promote the global development of forestry towards more sustainable use, and in this connection refers in particular tocalls on the European Commission and Member States to comprehensively revise the EU Timber Directive3 and to the authorisation system for timber imports to the EU (FLEGT)4 with a view to curbing the illegal trade in timber which endangers forest ecosystems and negatively influences the competitiveness of European timber traders; suggests deploying or adjusting relevant public procurement rules which can encourage purchases of properly certified timber and harvested wood products; __________________ 3Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market. 4Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community (FLEGT = Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade).
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that all 28 Member States safeguard enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) by means of national laws and to instigate infringement proceedings against States in default; Calls for the product framework to be amended accordingly in the upcoming review of the EUTR;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Supports a trade policy and support mechanisms which reward those countries that restrict the loss of forests caused by the cultivation of agricultural commodities and refrain from perpetrating human rights violations in the forest-based sector;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20 c. Calls on the Member States to promote political measures which only consider the use of legally felled sustainable timber in the public procurement of timber, timber products and biomass for energy, in line with the long-term goals of the European Union, and which consequently safeguard supply chains that are free from deforestation, with the aim of minimising the loss of tropical forests;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. WObserves that demand for timber and harvested wood products in Europe drives deforestation in developing countries; encourages substitution of wood imports with increased domestic production; welcomes the efforts of the Commission and Member States to support developing countries in their measures to improve forestry policy and forestry legislation, particularly by way of REDD+5 (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation); __________________ 5Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation: http://unfccc.int/methods/redd/items/7377. php
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Is of the opinion that Member States should consider revising their land ownership regimes in order to avoid competency conflicts particularly between agricultural and forest use of land; strongly believes that clearer legal framework is necessary in order to incentivise landowners into making investments in woodland;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure and promote the expanded involvement of experts from the Council, the European Parliament, interest groups and other stakeholders from the forest-based sector at an early stage in the implementation of a coherent forest strategy;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Calls on the Commission to draw up a fully-funded action plan containing specific measures for the successful implementation of the forest strategy;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view, therefore, that the mandate of the Standing Forestry Committee should be strengthened to enable the Commission to fully use the expertise from the Member States to be exploited to that end and to play an active role in the implementation processwhilst implementing the new EU Forest Strategy at EU level;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view, therefore, that the Standing Forestry Committee should be strengthened by the inclusion of relevant interest groups to enable expertise from the Member States and the interest groups to be exploited to that end and to play an active role in the implementation process;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Encourages the Commission to review its organisational structures relevant to forests and forest-based sector in order to ensure effective implementation of the strategy through enhanced co-ordination and communication;
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that, in view of the Commission’s list of priorities, priority should also be given into implementing the new EU forest strategy to promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of forestry, supporting rural and urban areas, and expanding the knowledge basis and promoting coordination and communication;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that, in view of the Commission’s list of priorities, priority should also be given in implementing the new EU forest strategy to promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of forestry, supporting rural and urban areas, expanding the knowledge basis, protecting forests and preserving their ecosystems and promoting coordination and communication;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Calls on the Commission to work towards the primary goal of locally supporting and promoting communication between forest owners and users, in particular from the areas of environmental protection, recreation, tourism and hunting, in the Member States; Stresses in this connection the role of local partnership schemes, for example in the context of regional forest forums;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to supplement the strategy with a robust action plan and to report to Parliament annually on the progress made in the Standing Forestry Committee andimplementation onf specific implementation measures, andactions of the strategy; advocates the convening of an expanded AGRI-ENVI-ITRE committee to permit a balanced discussion on progress in the implementation of the new EU forest strategy;