Activities of François ALFONSI related to 2019/2157(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the European Forest Strategy - The Way Forward
Amendments (15)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a commonWelcomes the decision of the Commission, building on the 2030 biodiversity strategy, to prepare a new EU forest policstrategy; points out, however, that many EU policies have an impact that several current EU policies touch on forests and the forest-based sector and, therefore requireing stronger cross-sectoral coordinationpolicy integration between climate, biodiversity, forest, agriculture and industry policies;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Supports the European Green Deal when it comes to key objectives of the new EU forest strategy, in particular forest restoration, preservation and protection of forests to allow for proforestation which prioritises diverse tree species throughout Europe in locations appropriate for those species, to help to increase the storage of CO2 in trees and soils, and to reduce the incidence and extent of forest fires;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that European forest-based industries may help decarbonise Europe byto replacinge CO2- intensive raw materials and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goa; recognises however the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand of wood for materials, energy and the bio-economy, which is in tension with the levels of harvesting deemed sustainable given the availability of forest biomass, and calls ofn the Paris Agreement and the European Green DealCommission to address these challenges adequately when preparing the new forest strategy;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that no substitution effect of forest-based products can compensate for the loss of old-growth and primary forests, which are recognised as irreplaceable and should be protected through legal and incentivising instruments;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Expresses concern regarding illegal logging in the EU; recognises that almost all primary old growth forest has been lost; recognises that not only are forests at threat, but that there has been violence towards forest rangers in connection with illegal logging; urges the Commission and the Member States to take urgent action on these issues through close monitoring and through the enforcement of existing EU laws and introduction of new measures to prevent illegal logging, to hold those responsible to account, and to end the oppression of rangers;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behie important role of biodiverse forests, the sustainably- managed forest-based sector and the circular bio-economy in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal; encourages the Member States to support recyclable and sustainably-sourced bio- based products produced within the limits of availability of natural resources and with respect to protecting the forest carbon sink, through public procurement and investment support;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that where managed forests are in question, forests which are managed with biodiversity protection and species diversity in mind are more resilient to climate impacts such as fires, droughts, and unseasonal weather events, and as such are an important investment for the future, not only for communities and nature, but also for forest economies;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the use of wood as an environmentally friendly raw material; underlines that wood-based products and wood construction provide an effective way of increasing carbon storageStresses the need to prioritise the most efficient use of wood following the ‘cascading principle’ starting from using it for most value adding applications, i.e. construction and furniture purposes, which also allows the locking-in of carbon over the long-term; discourages increasing the production of short lived forest products;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes with interest that less intensive harvesting methods and stronger forest protection could improve the health and resilience of forests without reducing current harvest levels and forest economies, while at the same time increasing the carbon stored in forests1a; _________________ 1aSee the new report 'FRANCE’S FOREST STRATEGY: FIGHTING TO END THE CLIMATE CRISIS OR TO INCREASE LOGGING?' which shows that, in the case of France, it would be possible to improve the health and resilience of forests without reducing current harvest levels. This could be achieved through less intensive harvesting methods and stronger forest protection. It would increase the carbon stored in French forests from around 55 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2017 to almost 80 million tonnes in 2050. https://www.fern.org/news- resources/frances-forest-strategy-fighting- to-end-the-climate-crisis-or-to-increase- logging-2082/
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1 ; insists however that harvesting forest for energy cannot be done at the expense of the forests, climate change or other environmental issues and must not compete with other uses of wood for the local economic development, in particular in rural areas; calls on the Member States to refrain from importing wood and wood- based products for energy purposes; asks the Commission to modify the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), so that burning forest wood would not be eligible for meeting EU Member States renewable energy targets, and so that burning forest wood is no longer eligible for subsidies; _________________ 1Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82.
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening of links between research, industry, agroforestry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships; these programs should integrate mechanisms to respect objectives and the legislation on environmental protection and biodiversity preservation, while ensuring climate change mitigation;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Regrets that the majority of products stemming from the forest sector are short lived, and not achieving long lasting product function or carbon storage, making any substitution effect negligible; calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve the accuracy of forest data, including the reporting of how the harvested wood is used, calls for the harmonisation of this data, making information comparable between Member States;
Amendment 86 #
7b. Calls for the creation and implementation of a satellite monitoring system to enable the detailed monitoring of forests across the European Union, towards improved weather alerts and impact reports, and to feed into more accurate National Forest Inventories;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 99 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. In this framework, particular attention should be paid to ensuring climate change adaption in harmony with nature in all regions, with particular attention to those areas which are the most endangered by climate change, for example those facing extreme heat and drier seasons in the south of Europe, and shifting forest species and pests further north; considers that the Commission should propose a differentiated strategy depending on the climate areas, including the Mediterranean climate region.