Activities of Irène TOLLERET related to 2019/2157(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
The European Forest Strategy - The Way Forward (debate)
Amendments (69)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of the 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
— having regard to the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report of 31 May 2019,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)
Citation 6 c (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 d (new)
Citation 6 d (new)
— having regard to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union makes no reference to a common EU forest policy, and responsibility for forests lies with the Member States, but whereas the EU has a long history of contributing, through its policies, mainly the Rural Development Policy, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests;
Amendment 33 #
Ba. whereas the European Union should introduce a better coordinated strategy to address the increased risks to which forests and their ecosystem services will inevitably be exposed in the coming years, and to improve the resilience of forest to climate change;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas forests and the entire forest-based value chain are fundamental to the further development of the circular bioeconomy as they provide jobs, ensure economic welfare in rural and urban areas, deliver climate change mitigation and adaptation services, offer health-related benefits, and protect the biodiversity and prospects of mountainous, islands and rural areas;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas there are 16 million private forest owners in the EU, who own about 60 % of EU forests; whereas the average size of privately-owned forests is 13 ha, while about two-thirds of private forest owners own less than 3 ha of forest;
Amendment 56 #
Ca. whereas climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in forests are interlinked where aspects must be balanced and synergies between them encouraged especially within Member States Adaptation Strategies and Plans;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas outermost regions contain very rich reservoirs of biodiversity and that it is fundamental to preserve them;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas biodiversity loss in forest have significant environmental, economic and social consequences;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas soil quality plays a crucial role in the provision of ecosystem services such as water filtration and storage and hence flood and drought protection, CO2- sequestration, biodiversity and the growth of biomass; whereas the improvement of soil quality, for instance in some regions by converting coniferous forest to permanent deciduous forest, is an economically challenging process that takes decades;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the fact that a definition of SFM was internationally 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;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes afforestation and reforestation as suitable tools in enhancing forest cover especially in abandoned lands, close to urban and peri- urban areas as well as in mountainous areas; highlights the importance of protective functions of forests as well as active and sustainable forest management in these areas to enhance health and resilience of the ecosystems; stresses the importance of adapting the species composition to regional and climatic conditions;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Concludes that the differences between Member States, including the differences between regions within Member States has been an important factor when considering measures on an EU-level;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Commends the forest-related research and innovation already undertaken, especially under the Horizon 2020 and LIFE+ programmes; applauds those cases where the results contribute to the development of the sustainable bioeconomy, seeking a balance between different aspects of sustainable forest management and underlining multifunctional role of forests;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that the EU’s forests are multifunctional and characterised by great diversity, including differences in ownership patterns, size, structure, biodiversity, resilience and challenges; points out, in addition, that forests offer society a wide variety of ecosystem services including raw materials, improved air quality, clean water, erosion control, and protection from droughts, floods and avalanches and recreational and cultural benefits;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises that according to the EEA’s report on state and outlook 2020 of the European environment, biodiversity targets will not be met without wider and more effective implementation of existing policies and stronger societal responses to biodiversity loss in forests and other areas;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at leastround 43 % of the surface of the EU, reaching at least 182 million has thanks to afforestation and natural regeneration, and that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly in the EU4 ; _________________ 3 Eurostat database on forestry, available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/forestry/d ata/database 4European Parliament fact sheet of May 2019 on the European Union and forests.
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the important environmental and economic role played by forest in outermost regions and the need to preserve the rich and singular biodiversity present in those areas;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to maintain and where possible increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil- based materials and energy or substitution of materials with high energy input;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the suitability and viability of the two-step approach to verify sustainability of forest biomass, as agreed in the recast of Renewable Energy Directive; notes that this should be achieved by continuing the halted development of non-end use specific sustainability criteria by the Standing Forestry Committee and the Commission;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Expresses deep concerns that in parts of the union lacking implementation of existing EU-legislation and suspicion of corruption has resulted in illegal logging and unsustainable forestry activities; calls on the Commission and Member States to combat corruption and to fully implement existing legislation;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
The future – the crucial role played by the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy and the European Green Deal in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the recent publication of the Commission’s European Green Deal and looks forward to the upcoming post- 2020 EU Forest Strategy, which should be aligned with the European Green Deal and an ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the crucial role of forests, the forest-based sector and the bioeconomy in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal; stresses that achieving the EU’s environmental and climate goals will never be possible without multifunctional, healthy and sustainably managed forests applying a long-term perspective and viable industries; encourages, in addition, actions to increase forest cover; encourages the Commission to explore different options both within current measures or new ones in order to encourage incentivising forest owners to apply, within the concept of SFM, management methods ensuring long term climate benefits;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the crucial role of forests, the forest-based sector and the bioeconomy in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal; stresses that achieving the EU’s environmental and climate goals will never be possible without multifunctional, healthy and sustainably managed forests and viable industries; encourages, in addition, actions to increase forest cover and better integrate biodiversity into forestry;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that under some circumstances there are trade-offs between protecting the climate and protecting biodiversity in the bio-economy sector and particularly in forestry, which plays a central role in the transition towards a climate-neutral economy; expresses its concern that this trade-off has not been sufficiently addressed in recent policy discussions; calls on all stakeholders to develop a coherent approach to bring together biodiversity protection and climate protection in a thriving forest-based sector and bio- economy;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises that forest policies must be consistent, must combat biodiversity loss and climate-change impacts equally, and must increase the EU’s natural sinks while protecting, conserving and enhancing biodiversity; Stresses the need to create synergies and coherence between EU policy agendas;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Recalls that about 60% of EU forests are privately owned and that about two-thirds of private forest owners own less than 3 ha of forest; stresses that all measures must duly take this into account and hence must be designed in a way that are accessible to and can be practically implemented by small-scale forest owners; recalls that the Commission has identified administrative burden and forest ownership structure as limiting factors for the uptake of certain measures1a; _________________ 1a COM(2018) 811 final, p.3
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Expresses its deep concern over the additional stresses on forest and their biodiversity caused by climate change as laid out in the IPCC special report on land of 8 August 2019; considers that additional measures should be in place to drastically minimise the risks of increased heat waves, forest fires, droughts, and floods in particular in southern Europe;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Reminds that the risk of fires is expected to increase due to climate change and considers crucial to strengthening prevention and preparedness efforts like disaster risk assessments where a joint European approach is more effective; reminds the important role of awareness raising campaigns, which should promote the development as from the school age of a common understanding of aspects related to nature conservation, fire prevention and extinction, while promoting a deeper understanding of local communities on the specificities of regional and national forests in different Member states;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Reiterates the importance of providing adequate financing to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate pan-European assistance with the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in case of cross border forest fires;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12e. Believes that European disaster resilience and early warning tools should be reinforced. Welcomes the monitoring work delivered by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and calls for greater collaboration with National and regional authorities of EU Member States for forest fire prevention, preparedness and response activities;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that an ambitious, independent and self-standing EU Forest Strategy is needed for the post-2020 period which is not subordinate to any other sectoral strategy; calls for a new EU Forest Strategy that builds on the holistic approach to SFM, taking into account all of the economic, social and environmental aspects of the forest-based value chain; stresses that a coordinated and coherent approach to forests, the forest-based sector, including the people directly or indirectly work and live in the forest and the forestry sector, and the multiple services they provide needs to be developed, given the growing number of national and EU policies directly or indirectly affecting forests and their management in the EU;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes the view that the EU Forest Strategy should act as a bridge between national forest policies and EU objectives relating to forests, recognising both the need to respect national competence and, the need to contribute to wider EU objectives and to ensure long term stability and predictability for sustainable forest management, the forestry sector and the whole bioeconomy;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the European Commission to analyse how to improve the coordination of Member States and their exchange of information with the view to enhance the contribution of forests in reaching the carbon neutrality objective, while taking also into consideration their economic and social dimension;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the importance of evidence-based decision-making with regard to EU policies relating to forests, the forest-based sector and its value-chain; calls for all forest-related aspects of European Green Deal measures, including the Biodiversity Strategy, to be consistent with the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy, particularly with a view to ensuring that SFM has a positive impact on society; and contributes to the achievement of the UN SDGs;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the importance of evidence-based decision-making with regard to EU policies relating to forests, the forest-based sector and its value-chain; calls for all forest-related aspects of European Green Deal measures to be consistent with the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy, particularly with a view to ensuring that SFM has a positive impact on society, including ensuring long term and stable benefit for the climate and the environment;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors as well as the importance of digitalisation and investing in research and innovation; stresses the crucial role of wood-based materials in substituting fossil-based alternatives in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry; encourages European Commission to explore different market- based mechanisms to incentivise a substitution from fossil to renewable raw materials such as wood in constructions, which offer climate benefits;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors as well as the importance of digitalisation and investing in research and innovation; stresses the crucial role of wood-based materials in substituting fossil-based alternatives in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry and the need to fully take into account the climate and environmental benefits of this material substitution;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors as well as the importance of digitalisation and investing in research and innovation; stresses the crucial role of wood-based materials in substituting fossil-based alternatives and alternatives with a higher environmental footprint in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Reiterates the need of fostering environmental, economic and social aspects of forests and forest management in a balanced manner while strengthening the overall climate benefits stemming from forests and the forest-based value chain, namely fostered CO2- sequestration, carbon storage and substitution of fossil-based raw materials and energy; highlights the urgent need to strengthen research efforts as regards especially substitution effects;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses the importance of developing and ensure a market based bioeconomy in the EU incentivising innovations and development of new bio based products with an effective supply chain making effective use of the biomass materials;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that due to climate change, natural disturbances such as droughts, floods, storms, pest infestations, erosion and fires will occur more frequently and intensely, causing damage to forests in the EU; emphasises, in this context, the need to better prevent such events by making forests more resilient, for example, by strengthening the implementation of sustainable and active forest management, through research and innovation and by offering better support mechanisms for affected areas and properties so they can be restored; highlighting the need for concrete and effective actions in climate adaptation strategies and plans, incorporating the synergies between mitigation and adaptation;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that due to climate change, natural disturbances such as droughts, floods, storms, pest infestations, erosion and fires will occur more frequently, causing damage to forests in the EU; emphasises, in this context, the need to better prevent such events by making forests more resilient, for example through research and innovation and by offering better support mechanisms for forest owners to apply prevention measures as well as restoration of affected areas and properties so they can be restored;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that due to climate change, natural disturbances such as droughts, floods, storms, pest infestations, erosion and fires will occur more frequently, causing damage to forests in the EU; emphasises, in this context, the need to betterdevelop risk management tools to prepare for and prevent such events by making forests more resilient, for example through research and innovation and by offering better support mechanisms for affected areas and properties so they can be restored;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises the role of biodiversity in ensuring that forest ecosystems remain healthy and resilient; highlights the importance of the Natura 2000 sites; notes, however, that sufficient financial resources are needed to manage such areas; stresses that economic losses caused by protection measures should be fairly compensated;
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Encourages the completion of the ongoing process to develop a non-end-use- driven sustainability approach with the close involvement of the Standing Forestry Committee and the Member States, building on the two-step approach of the recast Renewable Energy Directive; believes that the two-step approach could be used in other policies aiming to improve theat ensuring sustainability of forestry biomass material; highlights the importance and encourages the use of market developed tools, such as forest certification systems in place, as suitable means of proof to verify sustainability of forestry resources;
Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the crucial importance of forest and agro-forestry measures under the CAP and other forestry measures in implementing the EU Forest Strategy; encourages the continuity of forestry measures under the 2021-2027 CAP; highlights the need for other easily accessible, well-coordinated and relevant EU funding mechanisms;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Takes note of the progress made on valuing ecosystem services under the MAES initiative; stresses, however, that there currently is no adequate remuneration for the provision of ecosystem services such as the sequestration of CO2, fostering biodiversity or soil improvement and that foresters who focus on converting their forests accordingly currently might be managing their forests at a loss-making despite the provision of substantial ecosystem services; calls on the Commission and Member States to explore options to incentivize and remunerate climate-, biodiversity- and other ecosystem services appropriately in order to allow for an economically viable forest conversion;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Considers that sustainable management of forests should have a visible place in the new CAP strategic plans, given their contribution in the fight against climate change, their role in preserving biodiversity, in CO2 storage, in the protection of water and soil, and also their contribution to rural development, growth and employment;
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Highlights the importance of strengthened cooperation between Member States in order to enhance the benefits of the new forest strategy;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Regrets that the CAP is almost the only source of EU support to forest ecosystems and that further cuts in the CAP budget would have a very negative effect for investments in sustainable forest management;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Considers that support to agro- forestry systems should be enhanced through the new CAP eco-schemes in order to recognise and improve their contribution in the prevention of forest fires and erosion, CO2 storage, protection of groundwater and in a more environmentally friendly animal production;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)
Paragraph 21 e (new)
21e. Supports enhancing relevant governance bodies, in particular the Standing Forestry Committee and the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork, to facilitate the exchange of information between Member States, the European Commission and stakeholders;
Amendment 417 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses the need for improved communication regarding the importance of the sustainable management of forest areas, together with the possibility of extending, implementing and coordinating information campaigns on the multifunctional nature of forests and the many economic, social and environmental benefits provided by forest management at all relevant levels of the EU;
Amendment 424 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Takes note of the Commission’s recommendation that a strong capitalisation of innovation along the value chain would help to support the forest-based sector’s competitiveness1a; welcomes in this regard the EIB’s commitment to allocate 50 % of its funding to climate related projects and underlines the opportunities for the forest-based sector, which plays an important role in the substitution of fossil- based materials and energies; _________________ 1a COM(2018) 811 final, p.7
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the fact that global deforestation and forest degradation are serious problems; points out that policy initiatives should be developed to tackle issues outside the EU, with a focus on the tropics, while taking into account the different degree of ambition as regards to environmental policy in different tropical countries, and the drivers of unsustainable practices in forests from outside the sector; encourages the Commission and Member States of the European Union to foster cooperation with third countries through technical assistance, exchange of information and good practices to consolidate higher standards of sustainability in in preservation, conservation and sustainable use of forest as well as in sectors linked to forests and their value chains, promoting circular bioeconomy; stresses the need to foster the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and the FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) action plan in order to prevent the entry of illegally sourced wood into the EU market;
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the fact that global deforestation and forest degradation are serious problems; points out that policy initiatives should be developed to tackle issues outside the EU, with a focus on the tropics and the drivers of unsustainable practices in forests from outside the sector; stresses the need to foster the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and the FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) action plan in order to prevent the entry of illegally sourced wood into the EU market; highlights the need for the EUFS to comprehensively include EU’s external objectives and action on promoting SFM worldwide, both bilaterally and through multilateral forest-related processes;
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses the need to promote deforestation-free supply chains which could be done through the introduction of a certification system, the reinforcement of the cooperation with third countries and the inclusion of specific provisions on sustainable forest management in the trade agreements between the EU and its world partners;
Amendment 457 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the need to continue the development an EU- wide Forest Information System for Europe under the shared responsibility of all of the relevant Commission Directorates-General and under the framework of the EU Forest Strategy; stresses the importance of science-based, balanced information with socio-economic indicators for the development of any forest-related EU policy;
Amendment 460 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses the results of the Evaluation study of the impact of the CAP on habitats, landscapes, biodiversity, where CAP instruments and measures are described as significant contributors to biodiversity goals, and encourages to explore ways to improve the already existing tools to fill the information gaps on such valuable contribution;
Amendment 472 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission’s Standing Forestry Committee to give the Member States a central role in the preparation and implementation of the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy; stresses the importance of the parallel involvement of relevant stakeholders in the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork; urges the Commission to involve Parliament in the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy and at least on an annual basis;
Amendment 475 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses the key role played by forest owners and managers in the implementation of the strategy and therefore calls for their inclusion and consultation;