2019/2157(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1

— having regard to the Commission communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640), and the Political Guidelines of Ursula von der Leyen of 10 September 2019,deleted

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
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 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C j (new)

Cj. whereas overcutting of forests is responsible for the disappearance of a large number of species; whereas FunDivEUROPE, a European collaborative project involving 29 research teams with data from more than 200 parcels in the forests of six European countries, has shown that biotic homogenisation has a negative impact on the capacity of forests to deliver multiple ecosystem benefits; whereas they recommend preventing the invasion of exotic species and increasing the diversity of trees in plantation forests in order to promote the multifunctionality of forests so as to meet environmental, economic and social requirements;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C j (new)

Cj. whereas types of cutting have different impacts on forests’ carbon dioxyde storage capacities, soil quality and conservation status, clear-cutting of large areas being the most damaging method, since it removes much of the organic matter and roots from the soil, causes the release of soil carbon and significantly damages the complex structure of the forest and its dependent ecosystems;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C k (new)

Ck. whereas data available on forests at EU level is incomplete and of varying quality, hampering the capacity of coordination at EU level concerning forest management;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C l (new)

Cl. whereas illegal logging is ongoing also in the EU4a; _________________ 4aexamples Romania, Sweden, Poland https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/p df/Briefing%20note%20May- June%202019_Final.pdf and https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/p df/Briefing_Note_April_- _May_2018_Public_version.pdf

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

~~The past – revisiting recent implementation successes and challenges~~State of play of the EU's forests and implementation of the EU Forest Strategy

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Notes the publication of the Commission report entitled ‘Progress in the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy – “A new EU Forest Strategy: for forests and the forest sector”’ (COM(2018)0811);

Amendment 106 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Teuvo HAKKARAINEN, Herbert DORFMANN, Peter JAHR, Anne SANDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Welcomes the actions taken by the Member States and the Commission to meet the objectives of the EU Forest Strategy and the involvement of the Standing Forestry Committee, the Civil Dialogue Group on Forestry and Cork, the Expert Group on Forest Fires, the Expert Group on Forest-based Industries and Sectorally-related Issues and relevant stakeholders in the multiannual implementation of Forest MAP;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 108 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

— having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on ‘The European Green Deal’ (COM(2019)0640),

Amendment 110 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Carmen AVRAM, Paolo DE CASTRO, Peter JAHR, Herbert DORFMANN, Anne SANDER, Mazaly AGUILAR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the eight plus one priority areas of the strategy have been implemented with relatively few impediments, with the exception of ongoing challenges in the areas of ‘What forests do we have and how are they changing?’ ~~and ‘Fostering coordination and communication’~~specifically concerning the public perception and information on the forestry sector and ‘Fostering coordination and communication’, specifically concerning forest-related policies;

Amendment 111 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the Forest Strategy has been useful as a coordination tool and that, generally speaking, the eight plus one priority areas of the strategy have been implemented with relatively few impediments, with the exception of ongoing challenges in the areas of ‘What forests do we have and how are they changing?’ and ‘Fostering coordination and communication’;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that the eight plus one priority areas of the strategy have been implemented with relatively few impediments, with the exception of ongoing challenges in the area of biodiversity, where the reports show no improvement so far, and in the areas of ‘What forests do we have and how are they changing?’ and ‘Fostering coordination and communication’;

Amendment 113 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Maria NOICHL, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Paolo DE CASTRO, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Takes note of the fact that forests fulfil several, often-conflicting objectives (including regulating water quality, biodiversity protection and providing raw materials for paper, construction and energy), which is why, as a result, many of these forests fall consequently under distinct domains where the EU is competent, such as energy, agriculture, environment, climate and water, and many European Commission Directorates General are engaged in forest related issues1a although forests per se remain outside the realm of EU competences; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Directorates Generals with forest- related competences to work strategically to ensure coherence in any forestry- related work and enhance the sustainable management of forests; as well as to review its organisational structures relevant to forest, agroforestry and the forest-based sector to ensure effective implementation of the strategy; _________________ 1ahttps://www.mdpi.com/1999- 4907/9/3/125/htm#

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that forests in the European Union are the common heritage of all European citizens and calls for them to be recognised as a common good; calls for state forestry agencies and their forestry enterprises to be maintained and strengthened;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that many challenges are still present concerning the eight areas of the strategy, and that some are growing;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Highlights that in 2017, only 26 % of forest species and 15 % of the forest habitats were found to be in favourable conservation status in the Union, and were not showing any trend towards bettering;

Amendment 117 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Notes that the EU Forestry strategy and diverse EU legislative tools, notably the Renewable Energy Directive, did encourage the development in the EU of the use of wood as biomass for energy production, but that this development is not done in a sustainable way; stresses that the scientific consensus on the impacts on climate change of the use of wood as biomass as evolved since 2013;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights the fact that a definition of SFM was 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; welcomes the introduction of the FSC certification in the member states, which have put it in place and urges the remaining member states to speed up the necessary procedures to follow suit;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights the fact that athe definition of SFMustainable Forest Management (SFM) which was agreed as part of the pan- European FOREST EUROPE process is too vague and do not prevent as such problematic forest management in the EU; notes that the definition has been incorporated into national legislation and voluntary systems, such as forest certifications, in place in the Member States;

Amendment 12 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)

— having regard to the EU biodiversity strategy,

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights the fact that a definition of SFM was 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 State~~highlights that as a standalone mechanism the Forest Europe process does not have any specific implementation and enforcement mechanisms;

Amendment 121 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
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 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Stress~~Notes that the promotion of SFM in the EU, as part of the EU Forest Strategy and the rural development measures implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), has had a positive impact on the biodiversity of forests in the EU and has enhanced the climate benefits offered byre is a need to strengthen SFM in a balanced manner in order to ensure theat forest~~- based sector; notes, however, that there is still a need to strengthen SFM in a balanced manner in order to ensure that forests~~s' ecological status improves and that they are better able to adapt to changing climate conditions, and to reduce the risks and impacts of natural disturbances;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the promotion of SFM in the EU, as part of the EU Forest Strategy and the rural development measures implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), ~~has~~might hadve a positive impact on the biodiversity of forests in the EU and ~~has enhanced the~~ climate benefits offered by the forest-based sector~~; notes~~, however, there is no adequate indicator currently applied that could measure the contribution of the CAP, notes that there is ~~still~~ a need to strengthen SFM in a balanced manner in order to ensure that forests are better able to adapt to changing climate conditions and to reduce the risks and impacts of natural disturbances, including by allowing forests to exhibit their natural adaptation mechanisms;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the promotion of SFM in the EU, as part of the EU Forest Strategy and the rural development measures implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), has had a positive impact on the biodiversity of forests in the EU and has enhanced the climate benefits offered by the forest-based sector; notes, however, that there is still a need to strengthen SFM in a balanced manner in order to ensure that forests are better able to adapt to changing climate conditions ~~and~~, to reduce the risks and impacts of natural disturbances and to safeguard opportunities for present and future generations to exploit forests, for example in such a way that forest owners' objectives are realised;

Amendment 125 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that ~~the promotion of SFM in the EU, as part of the EU Forest~~Member Strate~~gy and the rural development measures implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP),~~s' SFM has had a positive impact on the biodiversity of forests in the EU and has enhanced the climate benefits offered by the forest-based sector; notes, however, that there is still a need to strengthen SFM in a balanced manner in order to ensure that forests are better able to adapt to changing climate conditions and to reduce the risks and impacts of natural disturbances;

Amendment 126 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the promotion of SFM in the EU, as part of the EU Forest Strategy and the rural development measures implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), has had a positive impact on forests and forest conditions on livelihood in rural areas, on the biodiversity of forests in the EU and has enhanced the climate benefits offered by the forest-based sector; notes, however, that there is still a need to strengthen SFM in a balanced manner in order to ensure that forests are better able to adapt to changing climate conditions and to reduce the risks and impacts of natural disturbances;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
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 128 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Martin HÄUSLING

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that while the maintenance of biodiversity is mentioned in several policy documents, the actual quantified rate of forest biodiversity loss cannot be evaluated based on the data collected for the Pan-European Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management7a _________________ 7aForest Europe, 2015: Goals for European Forests, available at: https://foresteurope.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/11/MID_TERM_Ev aluatG2020T_2015.pdf

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes that, although improvements were made through the setting up of the Forest Information System of Europe, the available data on EU forests, and in particular on their ecological status is incomplete, difficult to aggregate and not backed by remote sensing;

Amendment 13 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9

~~— having regard to the 2050 Climate Strategy,~~deleted

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
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 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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 132 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Underlines the crucial importance of forest habitats and their favourable status for implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy;

Amendment 133 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Highlights the need of effective conservation of especially primary and old-growth forests which as complex systems have more above and belowground carbon stored, more faunal complexity, major carbon sequestration, regulating local and regional weather regime, generation of rain and reduced risks of drought, ensuring hydrological services, consistently higher number of forest-dependent species, sustain important large-scale ecological processes, higher functional diversity, higher intra-specific genetic diversity,- higher chance for dispersal or retreating refugia, provision of key pollination and dispersal processes and human health benefits than simplified systems8a _________________ 8aJames E.M:Watson at el., 2018: The exceptional value of intact forest ecosystems. In Nature Ecology& Evolution

Amendment 134 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Martin HÄUSLING, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Stresses therefore particular importance of the Carpathian region and notes that the EU accession to the Carpathian convention would be of relevance to provide support to the region which holds irreplaceable natural values in continental Europe;

Amendment 135 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Highlights significant unused carbon sequestration potential of European forests;

Amendment 136 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Norbert LINS

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~The present – state of play of the EU’s forests~~deleted

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
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; notes with concern that the ecosystem services no longer seem to be completely safeguarded, as forest owners can no longer reinvest in forests as a result of the difficult economic situation caused by climate change;

Amendment 138 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Peter JAHR, Herbert DORFMANN, Anne SANDER, Mazaly AGUILAR

Motion for a resolution
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; points out that forests are a reservoir of carbon and unique ecosystems, species and genetic resources and nonetheless already absorb around 10% of the European Union´s greenhouse gas emissions;

Amendment 139 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Michal WIEZIK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
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, absorbing and storing around 10% of EU carbon emissions thereby significantly contributing to climate change mitigation efforts, clean water, erosion control, and protection from droughts, floods and avalanches;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

— having regard to the Mid-Term Review of the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020,

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
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 supporting ecosystem services, raw materials, improved air quality, ~~clean water~~drinking water provision and groundwater recharge, erosion control, and protection from droughts, floods and avalanches, cultural ecosystem services and they foster biodiversity;

Amendment 141 #

Mairead McGUINNESS

Motion for a resolution
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,~~notes 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; underlines that forests provide ingredients for medicinal products; highlights that forests are also an important recreational amenity;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 144 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Ulrike MÜLLER, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Mazaly AGUILAR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Emphasises that the EU’s forests, including in its overseas territories, 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;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 146 #

Emmanouil KEFALOGIANNIS, Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS

Motion for a resolution
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, renewable energy1a, improved air quality, clean water, erosion control, and protection from droughts, floods and avalanches; _________________ 1aBioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in Europe (covering alone 10.3% of EU energy demand in 2017). Biomass is sourced mainly locally from forestry residues and low value streams. The key role of forests in providing renewable energy should be taken into account.

Amendment 147 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that forested areas vary a great deal across the Member States; 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 forest owners in their efforts to maintain and establish native mixed forests characteristic of the local area;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
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 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Emphasises, however, that although there are examples of sustainable forest management practices, the major trend is increasing intensity of forestry that leads to biodiversity decline9a _________________ 9aIPBES(2018): Summary for policymakers of the regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. M. Fischer, M. Rounsevell, A. Torre-Marin Rando, A. Mader, A. Church,M. Elbakidze, V. Elias, T. Hahn. P.A. Harrison, J. Hauck, B. Martín- López, I.Ring, C. Sandström, I. Sousa Pinto, P. Visconti, N.E. Zimmermann and M.Christie (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. available at: https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/ipbes_6 _15_add.4_eca_english.pdf

Amendment 15 #

Petri SARVAMAA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10

— having regard to the Council conclusions of ~~the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 17 and 18 December 2018 on the~~ 29 November 2019 on the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy1a; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/knowledge4policy/pu blication/council-conclusions-updated ~~EU B~~-eu- bioeconomy S-strategy, -29-november- 2019_en

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Observes that, in all situations, the forest owner has the power of decision over the use to be made of a forest, within the limits set by domestic law;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Observes that the EU should not adopt overlapping criteria in addition to national legislation and to voluntary certification systems that are more stringent than the law; considers that diversity criteria that go beyond legislation should be left to owners and the wood-buying industry to decide and be guided by the market mechanism; takes the view that the market mechanism can deliver faster, more acceptable and more far-reaching results than regulation;

Amendment 152 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Martin HÄUSLING

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes with concern that at EU level, reported data indicate that energy accounts for 48% of total use of woody biomass1a, reiterates in this respect that significant financial resources are allocated to support schemes for early energy recovery from biomass; _________________ 1aCamia A., Robert N., Jonsson R., Pilli R., García-Condado S., López-Lozano R., van der Velde M., Ronzon T., Gurría P., M’Barek R., Tamosiunas S., Fiore G., Araujo R., Hoepffner N., Marelli L., Giuntoli J., 2018: Biomass production, supply, uses and flows in the European Union. First results from an integrated assessment

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Recalls with concern that increase in harvest is proposed in number of draft national forestry accounting plans, implementing the climate legislation, worries that this is not in line with up-to-date science;

Amendment 154 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Elsi KATAINEN, Ulrike MÜLLER, Peter JAHR, Herbert DORFMANN, Anne SANDER, Mazaly AGUILAR, Teuvo HAKKARAINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that over the past decades EU´s forest resources have been increasing in terms of forest cover and volume, and currently forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU ~~and~~; points out that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly in the EU4 and that maintenance of this workforce and the sector´s long-term competitiveness require constant efforts to attract skilled and trained workforce to the sector; _________________ 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 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU and that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly4 in the EU4; stresses that at present forests and woodlands together absorb and store around 10% of the EU's carbon emissions, thus contributing to the efforts to combat climate change; _________________ 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 156 #

Marlene MORTLER, Norbert LINS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU, that 60 % of EU forests are privately owned with a high proportion of small size forest holdings, 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 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU and that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly in the EU4 ; stresses that this workforce is dependent on a well- preserved and sustainably managed forest ecosystem in the long term; _________________ 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 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU and that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly4 in the EU4; 60% of forests, which are generally small-scale, are in private ownership; _________________ 3 Eurostat dDatabase 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 159 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Elsi KATAINEN, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU, that 60% of European forest is privately owned and ownership is fragmented and largely small-scale, 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 16 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Maria NOICHL, Robert HAJŠEL, Paolo DE CASTRO, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Michal WIEZIK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Anna DEPARNAY-GRUNENBERG

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)

— having regard to the responsibilities of the EU States under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover a~~t least~~round 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 161 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that forests and other wooded areas cover at least 43 % of the surface of the EU and that the sector employs at least 500 000 people directly3 and 2.6 million indirectly in the EU4; notes the growth in the number of hectares of forests in Europe; _________________ 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 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Recognizes the crucial role that forest owners play in ensuring implementation of SFM, also highlighting the importance of fully utilising the knowledge of their land and its characteristics in order to achieve the best and most efficient sustainable managed forests; emphasises that large number of small forest owners and the importance of designing measures that will not create unnecessary red-tape;

Amendment 163 #

Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Observes that the area of forest in the Union is growing, inter alia as a result of afforestation, and that managed commercial forests not only bind carbon better than unmanaged forests but also reduce emissions and problems caused by deterioration of the condition of forests; notes that sustainable management of commercial forests has the very best impact on the climate, and that countries which manage their forests well should be rewarded for this;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that over 60 % of the productive forests in the EU, and over 20 % worldwide are certified according to Sustainable Forest Management voluntary standards; notes also that the share of the round wood stemming from certified forests processed by the wood- based industries globally is higher than 20 % and that this share is reaching 50% in the EU;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that the Member States are obliged to undertake sustainable forestry management in their public forest ownership in exemplary fashion; this applies in particular to environmental, economic and social aspects;

Amendment 166 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Carmen AVRAM, Paolo DE CASTRO, Mazaly AGUILAR, Peter JAHR, Herbert DORFMANN, Anne SANDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that around 60% of the EU´s forests are privately owned; supports all measures improving the exchange of information and best practises as regards the implementation of sustainable forest management;

Amendment 167 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the important role that forests play in the creation of green jobs and in growth in rural areas, including for farming, ecotourism, hunting, recreation and health services;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
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 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that long-term investments ~~in SFM~~and adequate funding and compensation mechanisms can help ensure ~~that~~ forests´ re~~main not only economically viable~~silience and adaptive capacity and help the forest sector to stay economically viable and environmentally sound, but also contribute to achieving the many goals of the EU, including the successful implementation of the European Green Deal and the transition to a circular ~~bio~~economy;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)

— having regard to the Court Judgement C-164/97 and C-165/97 1a _________________ 1acourt judgement- Joined Cases C- 164/97 and C-165/97; available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:6199 7CJ0164&rid=1

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that long-term investments in ~~SFM~~a reinforced SFM which places equal focus on the social, environmental and economic benefits of the forest, could ensure that forests remain not only economically viable, but also contribute to achieving the many goals of the EU, including the successful implementation of the European Green Deal and the transition to a circular bioeconomy;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that long-term investments in SFM ensure that forests remain not only economically viable, but also contribute to achieving the many goals of the EU, including the successful implementation of the European Green Deal and the transition to a circular bioeconomy; however notes the different level of national policies in the context of circular bioeconomy.

Amendment 172 #

Ivan DAVID, Gilles LEBRETON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that long-term investments in SFM ensure that forests remain not only economically viable, but also contribute to achieving the many goals of the EU, including the ~~successful implementation of the European Green Deal and the~~ transition to a circular bioeconomy;

Amendment 173 #

Mairead McGUINNESS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that long-term investments in SFM ensure that forests remain not only economically viable, but also contribute to achieving the many goals of the EU, including the successful implementation of the European Green Deal ~~and~~, the transition to a circular bioeconomy and promoting biodiversity;

Amendment 174 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that long-term public and private investments in SFM ensure that forests remain not only economically viable, but can also contribute to achieving ~~the many~~some of the goals of the EU, including the ~~successful~~ implementation of the European Green Deal and the transition to a circular bioeconomy;

Amendment 175 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Teuvo HAKKARAINEN, Peter JAHR, Herbert DORFMANN, Anne SANDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Reiterates that forests and the forest-based sector significantly contribute to the development of local, circular bioeconomies in the EU; stresses that in 2010 the bioeconomy represented a market estimated to be worth over EUR 2 trillion, providing 20 million jobs and accounting for 9 % of total employment in the EU; notes that every euro invested in bioeconomy research and innovation under Horizon 2020 will generate about EUR 10 in added value;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses the need to reconsider ambitious goals of the European Green Deal for 2030 (especially to increase the EU’s GHG emission reduction target to 50-55 %) and thoroughly assess its economic impacts on the competitiveness of forestry sector and foresters in the EU, in the context of current global pandemic of COVID-19;

Amendment 177 #

Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses the need to reconsider ambitious goals of the European Green Deal for 2030, especially to increase the EU’s GHG emission reduction target, and thoroughly assess its economic impacts on the competitiveness of forestry sector and foresters in the EU, in the context of current global pandemic of COVID-19;

Amendment 178 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Peter JAHR, Lena DÜPONT, Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Herbert DORFMANN, Christine SCHNEIDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Notes that over 10% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions are stored by sustainably, actively-managed forests; larger areas of healthy forest mean increased CO2 sequestration, thus making them an effective instrument in the fight against climate change;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy; draws attention to the fact that a foreseeable increase in demand for wood and biomass must be accompanied by sustainable forest management; emphasises, in this respect, the need to increase funding for research into the substitution of fossil fuels and fossil-fuel materials;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 b (new)

— having regard to the proposed Climate Law 2a _________________ 2a Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU)2018/1999 (European Climate Law)

Amendment 180 #

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests ~~and the forest-based sector~~; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials ~~and energy~~; notes that leftovers at the end of the wood value chain can be favourably used as biomass in order to substitute it to fossil- based heat, but that timber should be kept for uses with a longer life cycle in order to increase the global carbon dioxide storage;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy; calls for the circular use of harvested timber products to be stimulated in order to promote resource efficiency, reduce waste and extend the carbon life cycle for the deployment of a sustainable and local bioeconomy;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests ~~and the forest-based sector;~~, highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in ~~wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy~~situ, including in deadwood and forest soil, and in long- lived harvested wood products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy provided that payback period of these sources is relevant for the challenges we face, and generates lower emissions per unit of energy than fossil sources;

Amendment 183 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 184 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Herbert DORFMANN, Peter JAHR, Anne SANDER, Mazaly AGUILAR, Teuvo HAKKARAINEN, Elsi KATAINEN

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy; notes however the importance of avoiding unnecessary market distortions for wood- based raw-materials as it comes to support schemes for bioenergy;

Amendment 185 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, and carbon storage in wood-based products and t~~he substitution of~~o make optimum use of the substitution effect by substituting CO2-intensive and fossil- based materials and energy without delay;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
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 187 #

Franc BOGOVIČ, Milan BRGLEZ, Tanja FAJON, Klemen GROŠELJ, Irena JOVEVA, Ljudmila NOVAK, Romana TOMC, Milan ZVER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests to a level which enables sustainable management of all forest functions, carbon storage in wood- based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy;

Amendment 188 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Peter JAHR, Lena DÜPONT, Herbert DORFMANN, Christine SCHNEIDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to further promote and increase CO2 sequestration in forests, and carbon storage in wood-based products ~~and the~~by means of active, subst~~itution of~~ainable forest management and to substitute fossil-based materials and energy;

Amendment 189 #

Ivan DAVID

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; ~~highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy~~recalls that efforts should be made to absorb CO2 in forests, but stresses at the same time that such efforts must not come into conflict with measures to promote the adaptation of forests to climate change, such as changing the species composition of forests;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU’s internal and international commitments to, for example, the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the creation of a zero-emission society, will be impossible to achieve without ~~the climate benefits and other ecosystem services provided by forests and the forest- based sector~~more ambitious binding climate and environmental goals, including on the preservation and restoration of forest ecosystems;

Amendment 190 #

Carmen AVRAM, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Maria NOICHL, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Michal WIEZIK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests and agroforests, and their soils, carbon storage in wood- based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and the forest-based sector; highlights the need to increase CO2 sequestration in forests through SFM, carbon storage in wood-based products and the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Notes that wood is the only material capable of sequestering CO2 and calls on the Commission to promote its use in long-life products and as a substitute for energy- and resource- intensive materials such as plastic, aluminium and concrete, particularly in the construction sector; calls for this benefit to be taken into account and rewarded in the EU's revised climate and energy framework;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Highlights the beneficial effects of forest shelterbelts both for protecting farmland and for increasing agricultural output; strongly advocates methods to encourage farmers to develop forest shelterbelts;

Amendment 194 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Peter JAHR, Lena DÜPONT, Herbert DORFMANN, Christine SCHNEIDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Therefore calls for the promotion of the circular use of wood products in order to foster resource-efficiency, waste reduction and an extension of the carbon life cycle with the aim of creating a sustainable bioeconomy;

Amendment 195 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Teuvo HAKKARAINEN, Herbert DORFMANN, Peter JAHR, Anne SANDER, Mazaly AGUILAR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Highlights the need to encourage the circular use of wood-based products to promote resource efficiency, waste reduction and the extension of the carbon life cycle in order to further deploy circular bioeconomy;

Amendment 196 #

Ivan DAVID

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Stresses the need to promote carbon sequestration in wood-based products and, in particular, the substitution of fossil-based materials and energy;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Stresses the key role that flowering trees and bushes in natural ecosystems play for the apiculture sector, and in assisting the natural process of pollination and in enhancing the consolidation and protection of deteriorated and/or rough land; urges the inclusion of such trees and bushes in EU support programmes, taking regional characteristics into account;

Amendment 198 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Carmen AVRAM, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Regrets the fact that although forests in the EU are managed according to the commonly agreed principle of SFM and forest cover in the EU has been increasing over the past decades, a~~Highlights the different approach to SFM ~~has been~~ developed in the context of the recently agreed regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment and amending Regulation 2019/2088 on sustainability- related disclosures in the financial services sector;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Regrets the fact that although forests in the EU are managed according to the commonly agreed principle of SFM and forest cover in the EU has been increasing over the past decades, the quality of forests is worsening in many areas; welcomes therefore that a different approach to SFM has been developed in the context of the recently agreed regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment and amending Regulation 2019/2088 on sustainability- related disclosures in the financial services sector;

Amendment 2 #

Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

— having regard to the IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems of 7 August 2019,

Amendment 20 #

Mairead McGUINNESS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU’s internal and international commitments to, for example, the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and ~~the creation of a zero-emission society~~climate neutrality by 2050, will be impossible to achieve without ~~the climate benefi~~carbon sequestration benefits, wildlife habitats and other ecosystem services provided by forests and the forest-based sector;

Amendment 200 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Regrets the fac~~Points out that although forests in the EU are managed according to the commonly agreed principle of SFM and forest cover in the EU has been increasing over the past decades, a different approach to SFM has been developed in the context of the recently agreed regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment and amending Regulation 2019/2088 on sustainability- related disclosures in the financial services sector;

Amendment 201 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Reminds that there are several tree species in the List of invasive alien species of Union concern; notes that other invasive alien plants can also be met in forests; calls on all state, regional or local authorities as well as to any other stakeholder from the public, private or non-governmental sector, to include only local varieties of trees suitable for the given regions, while implementing various forest (re)planting projects and activities; calls also to the national responsible authorities to exchange information and best practicing with their partners from other member states on how to overcome the spread of invasive alien species in the forests and if possible how to reduce their presence with the aim of replacing them fully with local varieties;

Amendment 202 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Carmen AVRAM, Paolo DE CASTRO, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Herbert DORFMANN, Peter JAHR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Underlines the importance of resilient and healthy forest ecosystems including fauna and flora, in order to maintain and enhance delivery of multiple ecosystem services forests provide such as biodiversity, clean air, water, healthy soils, wood and non-wood raw-materials; highlights that voluntary tools and legislations in place, such as the EU Birds and Habitats directives, affect land management decisions and must be respected and implemented appropriately;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Notes that farmers and forest owners are key actors in rural areas; welcomes the recognition of the role of forestry, agro-forestry and forest-based industries in the Rural Development Programme of the 2014-2020 CAP, and the improvements introduced through the Omnibus Regulation; encourages to safeguard this recognition in the CAP 2021-2027 and in the implementation of the European Green Deal;

Amendment 204 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that the yield of wood energy is very poor and that using it as a substitute for fossil fuels increases CO2 emissions; considers, therefore, that it is not an appropriate answer for combating global warming effectively; calls for an end to incentives and subsidies for wood energy production, which is manifestly not a sustainable practice;

Amendment 205 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Ulrike MÜLLER, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Mazaly AGUILAR, Peter JAHR

Motion for a resolution
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)

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 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Deplores the fact that it has not been possible to do anything to prevent forest damage or about extensive damage by insects; considers that comprehensive pest management should be promoted and facilitated as we enter a warmer phase of the climate cycle;

Amendment 208 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that the participation of farmers and hunters in the good management of wooded areas, in particular as regards maintaining the balance of animal and plant biodiversity, is critical;

Amendment 209 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Teuvo HAKKARAINEN, Herbert DORFMANN, Peter JAHR, Anne SANDER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Recognises the role of forests as regards provision of recreational values and forest-related activities such as harvesting of non-wood forest products e.g. mushrooms and soft fruits; takes note on the opportunities in enhancing biomass removals as forest fire prevention via grazing but also notes that wildlife grazing have a negative impact on seedlings and therefore notes on the needs for sustainable management of grazing fauna;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU’s internal and international commitments to, for example, ~~the European Green Deal,~~ the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the creation of a zero- emission society, will be impossible to achieve without the climate benefits and other ecosystem services provided by forests and the forest- based sector;

Amendment 210 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls on the Member States to give the necessary provisions for breeders of autochthonous breeds of animals, which are dependent on access to forests, to get such smoothly so that jobs can be preserved in rural areas, which also preserves traditional knowledge and biodiversity, while at the same time providing quality products to the EU consumer;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Observes that nearly 25% of the total area of forest in the EU belongs to the Natura 2000 network;

Amendment 212 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Pina PICIERNO, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)

9c. Encourages the Member States to intensify their respective forestry stakeholders to reach to a broader segment of the population through educational tools and programmes both for pupils, but also for people of the other age groups, stressing the importance of forests both for human-led activities, but also for preserving biodiversity and various ecosystems;

Amendment 213 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

The future – ~~the crucial role played by~~guidelines for the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy ~~and the European Green Deal in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement~~

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
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 215 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Carmen AVRAM, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
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 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

The future – the crucial role played by the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy and the European Green Deal in meeting the biodiversity-related and goals of the Paris Agreement

Amendment 217 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

~~10. Welcomes the recent publication of the Commission’s European Green Deal and looks forward to the upcoming post-2020 EU Forest Strategy;~~deleted

Amendment 218 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Norbert LINS

Motion for a resolution
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; also expects the Green Deal to highlight stepping up the bioeconomy as an essential approach to achieving a low-carbon society;

Amendment 219 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Jérémy DECERLE, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
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 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU’s internal and international commitments to, for example, the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the creation of a zero-emission society, will be impossible to achieve without the climate benefits and other ecosystem services provided by forests ~~and the forest- based sector~~;

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Welcomes the recent publication of the Commission’s European Green Deal and l~~Looks forward to the upcoming post-2020 EU Forest Strategy;

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
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, under the umbrella of the Biodiversity Strategy;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Welcom~~Notes the recent publication of the Commission’s European Green Deal and looks forward to the upcoming post- 2020 EU Forest Strategy;

Amendment 223 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Considers that the Union's forest strategy should concentrate on supporting and promoting the competitiveness of forestry - the EU's forest industry, bioeconomy and bioenergy; considers that the forest strategy should particularly aim to achieve self-sufficiency in wood for the EU, as a result of which forest cover and the associated problems such as illegal felling, land grabbing and damage to environmental benefits and biodiversity in third countries would also be reduced;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to create economic and political instruments that will allow more forest to grow to their ecological potential and absorb carbon dioxide;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Considers that forests' role in climate policy should be viewed primarily through the bioeconomy, as increasing the use of renewable fuels and materials, rather than setting targets for the size of forest sinks or protected forest areas; considers that, until the full potential of the bioeconomy has been exploited, there will be no need for additional legislation on forests;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)

10c. Observes that the development of the EU's bioeconomy depends, inter alia, on the development of technology and markets, on the European and international political framework and on the sustainability of the use made of the EU's forests; notes that some of these factors are easier to influence than others; expresses itself therefore in favour of eliminating unnecessary legislative obstacles, promoting intersectoral cooperation and promoting investment in research and development in order to facilitate change in this industry;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered as the only type of CO2 sink as that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions; stresses the need to promote the use of wood as a sustainable construction material or as an energy resource if it enables us to move towards a more sustainable economy; highlights, in addition, the importance of transitioning from a fossil-based society;

Amendment 228 #

Martin HLAVÁČEK, Elsi KATAINEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered as the only type of CO2 sink as that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions; highlights, in addition, the importance of transitioning from a fossil-based society; Highlights that the new EU Forest Strategy should also contribute to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered as the only type of CO2 sink as that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions; highlights, in addition, the need to promote adaptation of forest to climate change and the importance of transitioning from a fossil-based society;

Amendment 23 #

Ivan DAVID, Gilles LEBRETON

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU’s internal and international commitments to, for example, the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the creation of a zero-emission society, will be impossible to achieve without the climate benefits and other ecosystem services provided by forests ~~and the forest- based sector~~;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered as the only type of CO2 sink as that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions; highlights, in addition, the need to promote adaptation of forest to climate change and the importance of transitioning from a fossil-based society;

Amendment 231 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered as the only type of natural CO2 sink as that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions; highlights, in addition, the importance of transitioning ~~from a fossil-based society~~to a society based on 100% renewables and the phasing out of fossil fuels;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered as the only type of CO2 sink a~~s that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions~~nd restoration action should therefore target also e.g. grasslands, wetlands and peatlands in particular; highlights, in addition, the importance of transitioning from a fossil-based to a truly low-carbon society;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme and especially the acknowledgment of the new EU Forest Strategy’s contribution to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; stresses, in this regard, that in future, forests should not be considered solely as CO2 sinks or as the only type of CO2 sink as that would give other sectors less of an incentive to minimise their emissions; highlights, in addition, the importance of transitioning from a fossil-based society;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Observes in addition that the ambitious targets set in the EU's energy policy for increasing the share of renewable energy should be taken into account in supporting the use of biomass produced by forests;

Amendment 235 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Reiterates the call of the European Parliament10a for an EU-wide legally binding target to restore degraded habitats by 2030, including natural forests; _________________ 10aEuropean Parliament resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019/2824(RSP))

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Reiterates the call of the European Parliament11a for consistent forest-related policies, which combat biodiversity loss and climate-change impacts, and which lead to an increase of the EU’s natural sinks while protecting, conserving and enhancing biodiversity; _________________ 11aEuropean Parliament resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019/2824(RSP))

Amendment 237 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the crucial role of forests, agroforests, 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~~calls on the Commission, in addition, to consider creating a special budget, outside the Common Agricultural Policy budget, to incentivise Member States to comply with EU-wide targets for increaseing forest cover, especially in areas not suitable for food production and those in proximity to urban areas, in order to mitigate adverse heat effects and pollution, while curbing deforestation;

Amendment 238 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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 239 #

Motion for a resolution
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 in low-forest-cover Member States, especially in areas where forests have been destroyed by man and grazing; considers, furthermore, that new protection requirements should focus on areas where human activity and grazing have destroyed forest or where particularly valuable natural forests exist;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
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, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions~~different legislations as, but not limited to, the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Common Agriculture Policy, the LULUCF regulation, the Renewable Energy Directive, the TIMBER and FLEGT regulations, actually regulates many aspect touching on forests;

Amendment 240 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
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;~~ actions to increase forest cover and other wooded land where relevant, especially in abandoned lands, close to urban and peri-urban areas as well as in mountainous areas considering regional site and changing climatic conditions.

Amendment 241 #

Franc BOGOVIČ, Milan BRGLEZ, Tanja FAJON, Klemen GROŠELJ, Irena JOVEVA, Ljudmila NOVAK, Romana TOMC, Milan ZVER

Motion for a resolution
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 in those Member States where forest cover is low, and in other Member States the preservation of forest cover in areas with accentuated ecological functions;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
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 effectively protected forests and multifunctional, healthy and sustainably managed forests and viable industries; encourages, in addition, actions to ~~increase forest cover;~~ restore and improve the status of forest ecosystems and where appropriate, to increase forest cover to strengthen resilience and support local development;

Amendment 243 #

Simone SCHMIEDTBAUER, Norbert LINS

Motion for a resolution
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 goals for environment~~al and~~, climate ~~goals~~and biodiversity will never be possible without ~~multifunctional~~healthy forests; encourages, in addition, actions to increase forest cover, whe~~althy and sustainably managed forests and viable industries; encourages, in addition, actions to increase forest cover~~re the trees being planted are appropriate for local conditions, and the planting and subsequent new forest does not have negative impacts on existing biodiversity;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 245 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 247 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 248 #

Mazaly AGUILAR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises the crucial role of ~~forests,~~ the forest-based sector ~~and the bioeconomy~~ in achieving the goals of sustainable development and the implementation 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;

Amendment 249 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI

Motion for a resolution
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 25 #

Motion for a resolution
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, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests, thereby laying the foundations for better coordination of national policies;

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Observes that the Paris Climate Agreement treats forest fires as a natural phenomenon; notes that forest fires can be prevented by ensuring forest growth, reducing the quantity of dead wood and ensuring that there is a comprehensive network of forest roads; considers that the Paris Agreement should recognise that good, planned management of commercial forests can combat forest fires; takes the view that countries that have succeeded in preventing forest fires should be rewarded in carbon calculations;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that maximising sustainable self-sufficiency in wood as a raw material is in the interest of Europe's timber industry; points out that promoting short-rotation plantations might constitute a building-block of the energy transition as a way of reducing the pressure on forests;

Amendment 252 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Jérémy DECERLE, Irène TOLLERET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that forest restoration cannot compensate for deforestation, since the recovery of lost habitats and ecosystems can take decades or even centuries; notes that it is therefore essential for restoration to be used as a supplementary measure and not as an alternative in combating deforestation;

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
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 254 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Norbert LINS, Lena DÜPONT, Marlene MORTLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Insists, also, on the importance of informing society about the sustainable management of our forests in order for all citizens to be aware of the richness of this heritage and of the need to manage, maintain and exploit our resources to avoid any conflicts in society;

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes that safeguarding and sustainably managing our forests is a core part of our general well-being, as they are a home for public-interest activities in the field of leisure and health as well as education;

Amendment 256 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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 257 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Ulrike MÜLLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Calls for enhanced protection for Europe's last primary forests; considers that the use of these forests by state forestry enterprises, administrations and agencies, forestry enterprises and citizens could be restricted or totally prohibited if such use is incompatible with the objective of conserving the forests; urges Poland to cease logging in the Białowieża Forest;

Amendment 258 #

Motion for a resolution
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 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
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 26 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Maria NOICHL, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
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, some of which already have implications on the Member States' forestry policies, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests;

Amendment 260 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Stresses that acknowledging and safeguarding property rights is key to achieve a long-term commitment to sustainable forest management;

Amendment 261 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Ulrike MÜLLER

Motion for a resolution
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 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Ulrike MÜLLER

Motion for a resolution
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 263 #

Motion for a resolution
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, and ensuring the continuity of the multifunctional and multidimensional role played by forests; stresses that a coordinated, balanced and coherent approach to forests, the forest-based 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 264 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

~~13.~~ Stresses that an ambitious, ~~13.~~ independent and self-standing EU Forest Strategy is needed for the post-2020 period which is not subordinate to any other sectoral strategy; notes that since agroforestry can have both agricultural and forestry characteristics, The EU Forest Strategy needs to be coordinated with the Farm to Fork 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 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 265 #

Motion for a resolution
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 coherentin order, notably, to face the biodiversity and climate crisis; stresses that a coordinated, coherent and better integrated with the relevant EU legislations, approach to forests, the forest- based 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 266 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the need to give full and real political support to the forestry sector and stresses, in this regard, 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 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 267 #

Motion for a resolution
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 268 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
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 and the fact that in some Member States more than half the land area consists of forests; stresses that a coordinated and coherent approach to forests, the forest-based 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 269 #

Motion for a resolution
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~~ EU Forest Strategy building up on the Biodiversity Strategy is needed for the post-2020 period; 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 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 27 #

Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
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, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests;forest protection inherently forms part of the environmental action for which Community competence is founded on Article 191 of the Treaty1a; _________________ 1aCourt judgement for Joined cases C- 164/97 and C-165/97

Amendment 270 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses that an ambitious, independent and self-standing ~~EU F~~national forest Sstrateg~~y is~~ies are needed for the post- 2020 period which isare not subordinate to any other sectoral strategy; calls for ~~a new EU Forest Strategy that~~these strategies to 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 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 271 #

Motion for a resolution
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~~EU 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 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 272 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls on the Commission to make every effort to ensure, in the implementation of the Regional Development Fund, that particularly initiatives aimed at putting a stop to biodiversity loss in forests, promoting mixed- and native-species planting and improving forest management are fostered, and that projects are implemented and funding is targeted;

Amendment 273 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Regrets that such a coordinated and consistent approach is not also applied to the EU's trade policy, which permits the mass import of agricultural products that are directly responsible for deforestation in third countries, particularly protein crops and livestock products;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Considers that strictly protected areas in non- intervention management regime should be part of the EU Forest Strategy and of local development strategies based on low impact natural tourism and provisioning of non- productive ecosystem services;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Calls on the Commission to make every effort to ensure that communication in the Member States between forest owners and users, particularly those in the environmental protection, leisure, tourism and hunting sectors, has priority and is supported and promoted at local level; stresses in this connection the role of local partnership schemes, for example in the context of regional forest forums;

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Takes the view that the EU Forest Strategy should: a~~ct 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;~~ . lay down guidelines for the exploitation, restoration, protection and conservation of forests; b. determine the main thrust and prospective development plans for Europe's forest-based economy, the use of forest resources and the natural useful properties of the forest; c. plan on an EU scale the measures to be taken to ensure the sustainable use, restoration, protection and conservation of forests; d. establish an EU-wide forest inventory and surveillance system for monitoring the state, exploitation, restoration, protection and conservation of forests; e. assist and coordinate national forest management strategies in response to climate change, including assisted migration, adaptation and acclimatisation of forest peoples.

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
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, with binding force on Member States, recognising both the need to respect national competence and the need to contribute to wider EU objectives; in this respect, one must highlight the role to be played by an efficient tool for coordinating the new strategy within the framework of the EU's various forest- related policies, hence establishing cohesion and synergies with the other sectors that intersect with the forestry sector; stresses that local and regional authorities have a key role to play in strengthening the sustainable use of forests and, in particular, the rural economy, and urges that local and regional authorities be involved both in designing forestry sector measures and in their implementation;

Amendment 278 #

Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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; calls to strengthen the role of the Standing Forestry Committee (SFC) in order to ensure the coordination among relevant stakeholders and policies at the EU level;

Amendment 279 #

Ivan DAVID

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 28 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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 and guidelines, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests;

Amendment 280 #

Motion for a resolution
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 281 #

Carmen AVRAM, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Maria NOICHL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Michal WIEZIK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Takes the view that the EU Forest Strategy should act as a bridge between national forest and agroforest policies and EU objectives relating to forests and agroforests, recognising both the need to respect national competence and the need to contribute to wider EU objectives, while coherently addressing the specificities of both private forests and publicly owned ones;

Amendment 282 #

Motion for a resolution
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 competences which can be shared, in the networking of sectors with a direct or indirect connection to forestry, and the need to contribute to wider EU objectives;

Amendment 283 #

Motion for a resolution
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 bothe power of decision of forest owners and the achievements of certification, the need to respect national competence and the need to contribute to wider EU objectives;

Amendment 284 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Takes the view that the EU Forest Strategy should act as a bridge solely between national forest policies ~~and EU objectives relating to forests~~, recognising ~~both~~ the need to respect the Member States' national competence ~~and the need to contribute to wider EU objectives~~;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Takes the view that the EU Forest Strategy should act as a bridge between national forest policies and EU objectives and competences relating to forest~~s, recognising both the need to respect national competence and the need to contribute to wider EU objective~~s;

Amendment 286 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Ulrike MÜLLER, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Considers that the state agencies, enterprises, organisations and administrations in charge of planning, organising and managing the forest-based economy and the use of forest resources should be required to ensure: a. improvements in the natural properties of forests (protection of water, protection of soil from erosion, conservation of biodiversity, climate regulation), in the interest of protecting public health and the environment and developing local economies; b. continued, sustainable and rational use of forests with a view to methodically meeting the needs of national economies and local communities for wood products by using processes and methods which do not harm workers or the environment; c. expanded reproduction and a better diversity of forest species and quality; d. good forest conservation and protection against fire, parasites and diseases using processes and methods which do not harm workers or the environment; e. adaptation, acclimatisation and assisted migration of forest peoples in response to climate change.

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
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 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls on the Member States to improve national legislation to put in place, or strengthen where necessary, protection against illegal logging and loss of biodiversity;

Amendment 289 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Calls on the European Commission to encourage the commercialization of felled wood and trimmed wood/roundwood, instead of living trees from publicly-owned forests, as a method to prevent illegal logging and overexploitation, which would give state authorities more control over the volume of cut and commercialized wood, thereby discouraging illegal practices by privately contracted firms;

Amendment 29 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Elsi KATAINEN, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
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 290 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Insists that state forestry agencies should help owners plan and organise the management of the forest-based economy and, where necessary, should organise, on the basis of agreements with owners, the performance by the forestry enterprises of state forestry agencies of work relating to the forest-based economy and the cultivation and protection of forests;

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Calls on the Member States to increase the human and financial resources of state forestry agencies; stresses the importance of maintaining public expertise and denounces the privatisation of these national organisations which are on the front line of SFM;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

~~15.~~ Stresses the importance of ~~15.~~ 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; reiterates, in this regard, its call for the Commission to apply a new approach and to distance itself from the idea of voluntary commitments and move towards an ambitious and comprehensive biodiversity strategy by 2030 which lays down legally binding targets for the EU and its Member States, including specific targets aiming to achieve at least 30% of land and maritime areas protected and to restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems at EU level by 2030;

Amendment 293 #

Francesca DONATO, Mara BIZZOTTO, Angelo CIOCCA, Gilles LEBRETON, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 294 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
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, and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals; highlights that any possible EU guidelines related to sustainable forest management should be developed in the framework of the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy;

Amendment 295 #

Motion for a resolution
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~~consistency of ambition of the post-2020 EU Forest Strategy with the Green Deal, building on Biodiversity Strategy, particularly with a view to ensuring that SFM has a positive impact on society with measurable targets and indicators, including on strict protection of forest area targeting complexity, connectivity and representativeness of forest ecosystems;

Amendment 296 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses the importance of evidence-based decision-making with regard to ~~EU policies~~multilateral cooperation relating to forests, the forest-based sector and its value-chain, without it leading to the systematic collection of data at EU level; 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;

Amendment 297 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI

Motion for a resolution
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 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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 299 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of the 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
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~~whereas therefore the EU has no competence with regard to the forest policies of the Member States, but whereas the EU has a long history of contributing, through its policies, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests;

Amendment 300 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

Amendment 301 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Stresses that intensive management of forests is incompatible with European environmental targets, particularly those associated with the climate emergency and carbon neutrality; calls, therefore, for strict limits on clear- cutting on parcels of more than 0.5 hectares; stresses the disastrous effects of clear-cutting on biodiversity and soil compaction, as well as on the attractiveness of the areas concerned for residential use and tourism; calls for a move towards forestry based on reforestation and the natural regeneration of stands with a degree of 'rational mechanisation' of harvesting methods;

Amendment 302 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the European Commission to invest supplementary funds - additional to the budget already allocated to the CAP scheme - in an EU- wide action on reforestation, afforestation and to implement specific subsidies for forestry management and environmental protection, to contribute to the Green Deal 2050 climate change mitigation efforts;

Amendment 31 #

Gilles LEBRETON, Joëlle MÉLIN, Maxette PIRBAKAS, Mara BIZZOTTO, Francesca DONATO, Elena LIZZI

Motion for a resolution
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, to sustainable forest management (SFM) and the Member States’ decisions on forests~~refore, the European institutions have no competence to adopt any legally binding rules whatsoever for the forest- based sector;

Amendment 32 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the Commission's attempts to influence forest policy, which is a sole competence of the Member States, inter alia on the pretext of promoting biodiversity, possibly in the form of new, area-based, protection targets, which could even adversely affect climate and the environment in Member States that are managing their forests well, are cause for concern;

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 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas approximately 40% of EU's forests are publicly owned, Member States are obliged to set an example for sustainable forest management in their publicly owned forests for the public good;

Amendment 35 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas only 26 % of forest species and 15 % of the forest habitats are in favourable conservation status;

Amendment 36 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Michal WIEZIK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas European forests absorb and store approximately 10% of EU carbon emissions, contributing thus to climate change mitigation efforts;

Amendment 37 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Martin HÄUSLING, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas illegal logging is ongoing also in the EU3a _________________ 3aexamples Romania, Sweden, Poland https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/p df/Briefing%20note%20May- June%202019_Final.pdf and https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/p df/Briefing_Note_April_- _May_2018_Public_version.pdf

Amendment 38 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas forests are circular ecosystem founded on full recycling of matter and nutrients within, whereas any form of active management is based on exploitation of resources from this ecosystem, which inevitably and negatively affects its functioning, structure and biodiversity;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)

Bd. whereas in order to preserve the full scale of forest biodiversity and functionality, together with the need for mitigation of climate change, a proportion of forest areas to be set aside any form of active human intervention is crucially needed;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

— having regard to the New York Declaration on Forests, ratified on 23 June 2014 by the European Union,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 42 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Elsi KATAINEN, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas ~~forests and the entire~~ the forest-based value chain ~~are fundamental to the further development of the circular bioeconomy as they~~ provides jobs, ensures economic welfare in rural and urban areas, and is key to prospects of mountainous and rural areas, and whereas forests deliver climate change mitigation and adaptation services, offer health-related benefits, and ~~protect the~~harbour biodiversity and prosptect~~s of mountainous and rural area~~ed species;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
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 the EU Forest Strategy should contribute effectively to the rational and sustainable exploitation of forests, to their planned restoration and effective protection in the interests of current and future generations, and to the education of citizens in a spirit of heightened responsibility concerning the measured and economical use of forests, which represent a significandt p~~rospects of mountainous and rural areas~~art of the European Union's natural wealth;

Amendment 45 #

Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas forests and the entire forest-based value chain are fundamental to the further development of the circular ~~bio~~economy 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 and rural areas;

Amendment 46 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Marc TARABELLA, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Pina PICIERNO, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas riverside forests have a very important role to play being natural protection against increase of water level during floods, but also in terms of preserving humidity in a situation of rising global temperature; whereas they play a key role in preserving biodiversity, but also tend to absorb among others agricultural mineral residues through the groundwater, thus limiting the expose of rivers to polluting factors; whereas in some member states there have been some regional projects of replanting riverside forests at least several meters from the river shore;

Amendment 47 #

Petri SARVAMAA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Mazaly AGUILAR, Peter JAHR, Herbert DORFMANN, Carmen AVRAM, Paolo DE CASTRO, Anne SANDER

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas properly funded high- quality research, innovation, collection of information, maintenance and development of databases, best practise and knowledge sharing are of utmost importance for the future of EU´s multifunctional forests and for the entire forest-based value-chain, in light of the increasing demands being placed upon them and the needs to meet the multiple opportunities and challenges facing the society;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the risk of forest fires driven by weather is projected to increase markedly with climate change in most European regions, particularly in western central Europe, leading to a northward expansion of the zones at moderate fire danger, with the highest absolute danger concentrated around the Mediterranean area; whereas that risk is more pronounced for higher than for lower emission scenarios1a _________________ 1a https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repos itory/bitstream/JRC108974/jrc108974_fin al.pdf

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the scale of climate change will bring about a significant migration of European tree species, increased tree mortality – thereby endangering the totality of biotic interactions – and changes in the composition of the microbial flora of soil, thereby lowering the soil fertility and generating a proliferation of tree pests;

Amendment 5 #

Michal WIEZIK, Maria NOICHL, Martin HÄUSLING

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

— having regard to its resolutions of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal and of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the continuing decline in biodiversity has had negative consequences for the delivery of many ecosystem services over the last decades, whereas these declines have occurred in part because of the intensive agriculture and forestry practices, whereas the continuing decline in regulating services can have detrimental consequences for quality of life4a _________________ 4aIPBES(2018): Summary for policymakers of the regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. M. Fischer, M. Rounsevell, A. Torre-Marin Rando, A. Mader, A. Church,M. Elbakidze, V. Elias, T. Hahn. P.A. Harrison, J. Hauck, B. Martín- López, I.Ring, C. Sandström, I. Sousa Pinto, P. Visconti, N.E. Zimmermann and M.Christie (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. available at: https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/ipbes_6 _15_add.4_eca_english.pdf

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas climate scientists agree that simultaneously reducing combustion emission and decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxyde through forest growth is central to achieve the goals of reducing global carbon dioxyde emissions by 45% 2010 levels by 2030, as advised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its special report “Global warming of 1,5°C” from 2018;

Amendment 52 #

Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas forests are part of our natural heritage, which we must preserve and maintain, and whereas in order for this heritage to prosper and to be a source of biodiversity and an economic, tourism and social resource it is essential that it be well managed;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the Rural Development Fund, in the framework of the CAP, has provided tools and resources to support the forestry sector and should continue to do in the post-2020 CAP, through a strong focus on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM);

Amendment 54 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI

Motion for a resolution
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 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas sustainably managed forests are enormously important in guaranteeing jobs in rural areas, representing a benefit for human health, while at the same time making a vital contribution to the environment and biodiversity;

Amendment 56 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

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 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas European forests and their situations differ and therefore need to be handled differently, but always with a view to improving their economic, social and environmental functions.

Amendment 58 #

Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas national policies on forests and forest management currently reflect a framework that is fragmented, incohesive and at present insufficiently coordinated at EU level;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas outermost regions contain very rich reservoirs of biodiversity and that it is fundamental to preserve them;

Amendment 6 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Pina PICIERNO, Paolo DE CASTRO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to Regulation No 1143/2014 of the EP and the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species and the consecutive Implementing regulations with updates of the List of invasive species, among which also tree species,

Amendment 60 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas biodiversity loss in forest have significant environmental, economic and social consequences;

Amendment 61 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Paolo DE CASTRO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas access to natural forest terrains and/or forest products comprise a crucial element for some breeds of domesticated or semi domesticated autochthonous and local breeds of animals, which have a high socio- economic and cultural value, such as the East Balkan swine or the Black Iberian pig; whereas the quality of the products from these animals depend highly on the presence of acorns and other forest products, which is why it is crucial to allow the breeders have access to the necessary conditions for the respective animal breeding;

Amendment 62 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI

Motion for a resolution
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 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas growing existing forests to their biological carbon sequestration potential optimizes carbon dioxyde removal while limiting climate change and protecting biodiversity, soil, air, land, and water; Whereas forests store more carbon dioxyde per acre per year the older they get, especially after maturity at 50 years; whereas forest store about 2.5 times more carbon in soils than in tree biomass1a; _________________ 1aBruno De Vos et al., Benchmark values for forest soil carbon stocks in Europe: Results from a large scale forest soil survey, Geoderma, Volumes 251–252, August 2015, Pages 33-46

Amendment 64 #

Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM, Herbert DORFMANN, Petri SARVAMAA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the increase in the forested area of Europe must be accompanied by the necessary forest management and maintenance; whereas Europe's forests are rich in diversity and whereas the forests to be managed via the Forest Strategy can differ markedly depending on the Member State, the tree species and the size or operating methods of forest holdings;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the crucial role of sustainable forest management should be promoted to European society, which is increasingly disconnected from forests and forestry, underlining the multiple benefits forests provide under the economic, social and environmental, as well as cultural and historical point of view;

Amendment 66 #

Manuel BOMPARD, Anna DEPARNAY-GRUNENBERG

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas, in addition to carbon sequestration, forests have a beneficial impact on the climate, the atmosphere, the preservation of biodiversity and river and waterway management, protect soil from erosion by water and wind and possess other useful natural properties;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas almost 23% of European forests are to be found in Natura 2000 sites, with the share in some Member States exceeding 50%, and almost half of the natural habitats in Natura 2000 areas are forests;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas active management imposes adverse effect on important attributes of forest ecosystems, mainly quantity and quality of deadwood, and early and late seral stages of forest;

Amendment 69 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas primary forests are unique reservoirs of biodiversity and have a greater carbon sequestration capacity than secondary forests; whereas the Białowieża Forest is an irreplaceable region for biodiversity conservation, particularly owing to its size, protection status and its essentially undisturbed nature; whereas the Białowieża Forest is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, and is recognised by Unesco as a biosphere reserve;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report of 31 May 2019,

Amendment 70 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas High Conservation Value Forests (HCV Forests) have a crucial role to play in preserving vulnerable habitats, but also in enhancing science; whereas some EU member states have adopted targeted policies towards HCVF, which is commendable; whereas the added value from these forests cannot be compared or measured in economic terms, which makes it difficult at times to be understood by forest owners, which is why some sort of compensatory mechanism could be further designed, if and where applicable;

Amendment 71 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas high extinction rates of highly specialised forest species often observed in managed forests contradicts the idea of sustainability of such management, in particular in the context of environmental pillar, and calls into question compatibility of active management and forest conservation for cases where full scale of forest biodiversity, and in particular the most threatened species, are the subject of conservation measures;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas managed plantations that are harvested periodically store far less carbon because trees are maintained at a young age and size2a; whereas plantations are often monocultures, and sequester less carbon more slowly than intact forests with greater tree species diversity, mostly composed of European endemic species, and higher rates of biological carbon sequestration2b; _________________ 2a Harmon et al (1990): Effects on carbon storage of conversion of old-growth forests to young forests, Science. 1990 Feb 9;247(4943):699-702. John Sterman et al. (2018): Does replacing coal with wood lower CO2 emissions? Dynamic lifecycle analysis of wood bioenergy, Environmental Research Letters, http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1 748-9326/ aaa512/meta 2bLiu, Y., M. Kumar, G.G. Katul, and A. Porporato (2018): Reduced resilience as a potential early warning signal of forest mortality. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, August 5-10, 2018, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas according to the latest estimations, only 26% of forest species and 15% of the forest habitats were found to be in favourable conservation status1a; _________________ 1a https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodive rsity/forests/forest-dynamics-in-europe- and

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas currently underway coal- to-biomass projects in the EU would release 67 MT of CO2 per year and require approximately 2,700km2 of forest to be cut down every year while producing only 64 TWh of electricity, which is less than 2% of the EU’s electricity production;

Amendment 75 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Marc TARABELLA, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Pina PICIERNO, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas forests can be sources of both primary forest products such as wood, they provide for valuable secondary products such as mushrooms, truffles, herbs, honey and berries, which are very important for the economic activities in some regions of the Union;

Amendment 76 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas European forests play an important role in improving the environment, developing the economy, meeting the Member States' needs for wood products and enhancing the well- being of the population;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas it is clear that old growth forests, mixed stand forests and agroforestry offer climate, biodiversity and resilience benefits that exceed those of plantation forestry;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas the demand of authentic wild nature globally is growing, and public support for strict protection of forest ecosystems has increased significantly;

Amendment 79 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas use of wood as biomass for energy production creates higher emissions of CO2 per unit of energy than coal, because of a lower energy density, bigger emissions originating from the supply chain and less efficient conversion of combustion heat to electricity; whereas wood biomass is more efficiently used to produce heat than energy;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)

— having regard to the European Environment Agency report on The European environment — state and outlook 2020: knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe published 04 December 2019,

Amendment 80 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Maria NOICHL, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Michal WIEZIK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas agroforestry, defined as land use systems in which trees are grown in combination with agriculture on the same land unit, is a suite of land management systems, which boost overall productivity, generate more biomass, maintain and restore soils and provide a number of valuable ecosystem services;

Amendment 81 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM, Maria NOICHL, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas the multifunctional role of forests, the considerable time they take to become established and the importance of ensuring a good diversity of species make sustainable use and the preservation and multiplication of forest resources an important European task;

Amendment 82 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas socially and environmentally responsible hunting plays an important role also in forests and semi-forest regions through control of game or spread of disses on it, such as African swine fever;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas new climate change adaptation and mitigation options arise, among them proforestation5a _________________ 5aproforestation - growing existing forests intact to their ecological potential, as in William R. Moomaw, 2019: Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good. In Frontiers in Forests and Global Change

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas the average life cycles recognised for wood products are 50 years for construction, 8 years for wood panels, and a year for energy, heat or paper; whereas it takes on average 40 years for a new tree to sequester the equivalent of carbon dioxyde released in the atmosphere by the wood products issue from a harvested tree; Whereas climate scientists estimate it is necessary to curb climate change in the next 12 years in order to remain under 2°C of global warming;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas Europe's agricultural soils could store more than 1 500 million tonnes of carbon1 a by moving towards agroforestry, hedge planting, no-tillage and green cover; whereas agroforestry represents 90 % of this potential; whereas agroforestry has a positive impact on soil protection, water quality preservation and biodiversity; _________________ 1a www.agroforesterie.fr › agroforesterie- et-PAC-fevrier-2013

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas the provisions of the LULUCF Regulation6a accept that carbon pool of deadwood in the forest is analogous to the long-lived harvested wood products as its carbon does not undergo instantaneous oxidisation, whereas deadwood constitutes crucial microhabitats on which number of species, including protected species, are dependent; _________________ 6a Regulation (EU) 2018/841 OF THE EUROPEANPARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 May2018

Amendment 87 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Marc TARABELLA, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Pina PICIERNO, Paolo DE CASTRO, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas forests play a crucial role in the fight against soil erosion, but also desertification of land masses; whereas studies show that trees in parks and city- environment have positive effect on keeping lower temperatures as compared to treeless areas;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)

Cg. whereas logging and the wood industry are among the most dangerous industrial sectors and have high levels of accidents at work, occupational disease and early retirement; whereas exposure to wood dust is a major health risk for the millions of workers in the wood industry, as it causes respiratory and skin diseases and is the second biggest cause of work- related cancer;

Amendment 89 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)

Cg. whereas in its Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services from 2019, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services concludes that 25% of species, both animal and vegetal are threatened and that one million species face extinction;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
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 90 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO

Cg. whereas in the current programming period (2014-2020) there are measures in the CAP targeted at helping economic actors in building capacities with regard to forestry management;

Amendment 91 #

Michal WIEZIK, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)

Cg. whereas the proposed climate law considers increased ambition without improving and correcting rules guiding the EU energy union and climate action;

Amendment 92 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM, Sylwia SPUREK, Juozas OLEKAS, Robert HAJŠEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Pina PICIERNO, Paolo DE CASTRO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas some forestry regions have been massively invaded by pests and insects such as woodworms and various fungi; whereas natural populations of chestnut forests have been massively invaded by Cryphonectria parasitica, which causes a serious threat for the survival of these populations, but also threatens man-led activities related to it, such as production and collection of chestnuts in the long run;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas the short-term effect of logged forest on climate is negative13a, whereas potential future re-growth of logged site is of no immediate and short- term use in the critical time we have left to act and as such should be disregarded as an argument in the climate and forest policy up to 2050; _________________ 13aG. Englund,; S.-O. Holm;B.-G. Jonsson, D. van der Spoel, 2019: The climate benefit of reduced forest harvesting is enormous

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas large trees and intact, older forests provide essential habitat that is missing from younger, managed forests; whereas in 2017, only 26 % of forest species and 15 % of the forest habitats were found to be in favourable conservation status, and were not showing any trend towards bettering;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas working conditions in the logging sector have improved with mechanisation, but whereas at the same time forestry machinery damages the surrounding vegetation and contributes to soil degradation;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas the carbon molecules of CO2 in the atmosphere do not differ based on their origin;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C i (new)

Ci. whereas climate change is altering the growth capacity of forests, and increasing the frequency and seriousness of drought, floods and fires and fosters the development of new pests and disease which affect EU forests; whereas intact ecosystems have greater capability to overcome environmental stressors, including changes to climate, than degraded ones as they have inherent properties that enable them to maximize their adaptive capacity3a; _________________ 3aJames E. Watson et al (2018): The exceptional value of intact forest ecosystems. In Nature Ecology & Evolution

Amendment 98 #

Ivo HRISTOV, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Recital C i (new)

Ci. whereas increasing use is being made of posted workers on forest worksites; whereas the conditions in which posted workers operate on forest sites are harsh and dangerous, particularly in the case of felling; where significant social fraud is being made possible by the use of posted workers in the forestry industry;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C i (new)

Ci. whereas global voluntary certification schemes for responsible forest practices certification such as the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) are currently in place; where as of today 11 EU member states have introduced the FSC certification system together with 45 other states or other territories;

source: 650.371

2020/03/30 ITRE 108 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Valérie HAYER, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that the~~re is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; points out, however,~~ future European Forest Strategy needs to be fully aligned with the European Green Deal and with an ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy; adheres to the decision and recognition by the European Court of Justice1a of forest ecosystems as an inherent part of EU natural heritage on which the EU has competence to act, and thus respects both competences of Member States and the European Union; points out that many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest- based sector and require coherence and stronger cross- sectoral coordination; _________________ 1aJudgment of the Court of 25 February 1999. European Parliament v Council of the European Union. Joined cases C- 164/97 and C-165/97, ECLI:EU:C:1999:99

Amendment 10 #

Tomas TOBÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Welcomes the initiative from the Commission to put forward a new European Forest Strategy for the post 2020-period; emphasises, however, that a new strategy must fully respect the principle of subsidiarity and, accordingly, adopt a bottom-up approach and build on national and industrial expertise, as well as local procedural knowledge;

Amendment 100 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Notes that the European Green Deal as a new growth strategy for EU requires investments to fully support clean and circular economy. The forest and wood industry have huge potential to invest and contribute to clean and circular economy and create jobs in Europe. The availability of the sustainably sourced raw materials should be ensured and fostered by supportive and coherent policy framework for the all sectors involved.

Amendment 101 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the European Union to create a monitoring network for European forests to collect information at local level (reforestation, temperatures, parasitic diseases, natural disasters) linked to Copernicus earth observation programmes, which can produce reliable forecasts in real time so as to improve sustainable forest management.

Amendment 102 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Acknowledges that sustainable and active forest management is mainly driven and sustained by SMEs; furthermore, sustainable and active forest management is the most effective way to prevent forest damages, deforestation and to preserve biodiversity.

Amendment 103 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Nils TORVALDS, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Claudia GAMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Stresses that wood is one of the substitutes for plastic in industrial production and can also be used in construction. As such it allows for decreased use of plastic, where this use should be minimised.

Amendment 104 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Highlights that forests do have very different characteristics within the Union and therefore needs different policy and management approaches.

Amendment 105 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Is concerned that the forest strategy is set to be proposed in relation with the bio diversity strategy, which risks to ignore the specific role of SMEs in sustainable forest management and therefore disregards the most effective way to prevent forest damages, deforestation and preservation of biodiversity.

Amendment 106 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Stresses the importance of forests, resulting from their capacity as carbon storage natural mechanisms, which can help achieve the European Green Deal goals.

Amendment 107 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Underlines the need of the New European Forest Strategy to avail itself of the existing mechanisms and investments in sustainable forest policy, as well as of new instruments devised in reply to the current situation, most notably brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and its societal and economic consequences; stresses that particular attention should be paid to sustainable forest management and job creation in the forest-based industry.

Amendment 108 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)

8d. Invites the European Commission to propose a mechanism encouraging transformation of abandoned lands, fallow lands and post-industrial lands into forests, thus contributing to the decarbonisation policy and tackling the climate change.

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that, according to the industry, the extended value chains of forest-based industries, from forestry to the paper industry, have helped create nearly 4 million jobs, providing some 8% of overall EU added value from the manufacturing industry;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy, however, stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully observe the principle of subsidiarity;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Emphasises the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances and utilizes the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Stresses the need of the new forest strategy to be based on the three pillars of sustainability, environmental, economic and social sustainability;

Amendment 15 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries ~~help decarbonise Europe by~~could help replac~~ing~~e CO2- intensive raw materials ~~and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as biogas and biofuel, and therefore help~~ with forest-based alternatives; highlights, however, the trade-offs inherent in this, since the production of forest-based alternatives and increased demand for timber can lead to issues such as deforestation, land grabbing a~~chieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal~~nd habitat deterioration, having an impact also on forests' ability to sequester carbon; is of the view that it is only by promoting truly renewable sources of energy that we can overcome this contradiction which should be addressed in the future strategy proposed by the Commission;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries can help decarbonise Europe by replacing CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as sustainably produced biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal; recognises, however, the challenges resulting from the increasing demand for wood including the degradation of critical wildlife habitat and carbon stored in forests and calls on the Commission to address these adequately in the future strategy while facilitating reaching climate neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries may help ~~decarbonise Europe by~~to replac~~ing~~e 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 Deal~~Commission to address these challenges adequately when preparing the new forest strategy;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries help decarbonise Europe by replacing CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal; points out, nonetheless, that such forest- based alternatives are not environmentally neutral and have an impact on air quality and on citizens' health;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries help decarbonise Europe by replacing CO2-intensive raw materials ~~and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as biogas and biofuel~~such as steel with effective and sustainable forest-based alternatives, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal; stresses the importance of reforestation which respects local ecosystems by planting a variety of species, while 42% of tree species in Europe are at risk of extinction;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy as forest policy is primarily a competence of the Member States; points out, however, that many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest- based sector and require stronger cross- sectoral coordination; notes that a coherent and stable regulatory environment is a prerequisite for encouraging innovation and investments in forest-based industries;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Not~~Stresses that European forest-based industries ~~help decarbonise Europe by~~do not contribute to replacing CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with forest-based alternatives such as biogas and biofuel, ~~and~~on the~~refore h~~ contrary, highlights that the production, processing and transport of biofuelps ins a~~chieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal~~ source of emitting significant amounts of carbon to the atmosphere; highlights furthermore that the production of biofuels is at the expense of forests;

Amendment 21 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Nils TORVALDS, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Claudia GAMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries help decarbonise Europe by replacing CO2-intensive raw materials, products and fossil energy with forest- based renewable alternatives such as textiles, chemicals, construction and packaging materials as well as biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the European forest- based industries help decarbonise Europe by ~~replac~~substituting CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with forest- based alternatives; such as construction material, new innovative chemicals, plastics and textiles, biogas and biofuel, and th~~erefore help in achieving~~us help reach the goals of the Paris Agreement and ~~the~~ European Green Deal;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that ~~European~~ forest-based industr~~ies~~y should help to decarbonise ~~Europe b~~by gradually replacing CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with ~~forest-based~~renewable alternatives ~~such as biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal~~, and therefore play a key role in the pursuit of ecological balance;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that European forest-based industries help decarbonise Europe by replacing CO2-intensive raw materials and fossil energy with sustainable forest-based alternatives such as bio-based products, biogas and biofuel, and therefore help in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal;

Amendment 25 #

Tomas TOBÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights the essential role of sustainable active forest management in achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and in the EU´s circular bio-economy; in particular, notes the great capacity of managed forests to capture carbon dioxide, as well as the potential of forest- based products to substitute fossil fuels; in this context, believes that the strategy should support innovation in the entire value chain, including by means of facilitating sharing of best practice and by providing a competitive regulatory environment;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that the yield of wood energy is very poor and that substituting it for fossil fuels increases CO2 emissions; considers, therefore, that it is not the appropriate way in which to combat global warming effectively; observes that only the strict processing of waste into pellets can form part of a policy designed to have a favourable impact, in line with the circular economy;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
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 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights that sustainable and active forest management contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation, improves energy security, create jobs throughout the forest-based value chain and promote economic growth;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
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 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; points out, however, that ~~many~~ EU policies have anhad a negative impact on forests and the forest- based sector ~~and require stronger cross- sectoral coordination~~, including by compounding the depopulation problem in many regions; takes the view that forests must be protected by means of other policies, such as agricultural, industrial, trade and rural development policies and by bringing an end to restrictions on national public investment;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls on the European Union to recognise forests as a shared resource, to step up forestry services and to improve the working conditions of forest workers and wood cutters;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Stresses the vital importance of sustainable forestry practices for carbon sequestration and in order to preserve diversity; further stresses the benefits for air and water quality and water supply, as well as for reducing the risk of soil erosion and flooding (and thus of natural disasters), thereby benefiting local communities and farmers;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Stresses that forest-based industry must be invited to play a part in the protection of its primary resource; stresses that 10% of the EU’s surface area would be suitable for replanting of woodland and could thus make it possible to increase the capacity of carbon sinks, provided that species adapted to local ecosystems are planted; reiterates its call on the Commission to adopt legally binding targets for the Union and its Member States in order to place at least 30% of land and seas under protection and restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 20301 a; _________________ 1aParagraph 10 of the European Parliament resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019/2824(RSP)).

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Stresses that intensive management of forests is incompatible with European targets, particularly those associated with the climate emergency, biodiversity and carbon neutrality; calls, therefore, for strict limits on clear-cutting on plots of more than 0.5 hectares; stresses the disastrous effects of clear- cutting on biodiversity and soil compaction, as well as on the attractiveness of the areas concerned for residential use and tourism; calls for a move towards forestry based on the natural regeneration of stands with a degree of 'rational mechanisation' of harvesting methods;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Stresses that overcutting of forests is responsible for the disappearance of many species; draws attention to the European collaborative project FunDivEUROPE, which involves 29 research teams drawing on data from more than 200 plots in the forests of six European countries, and other similar studies; stresses that these studies demonstrate that a trend towards biotic homogeneity damages the capacity of forests to deliver multiple ecosystem benefits; stresses that they recommend preventing the invasion of exotic species and increasing the diversity of trees in plantation forests in order to promote the multifunctionality of forests, thus making it possible to cater for three types of desiderata: environmental, economic and social;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support recyclable, upcycled1 a and bio-based products through public procurement and investment support; calls on the European Union to ensure that materials of biological origin, including all wood waste, returns to the value chain by encouraging eco-design, increasing recycling targets and promoting the use of secondary raw materials comprising wood for products before their potential incineration at the end of life; _________________ 1a process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality and environmental value

Amendment 36 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes th~~at forest-based industry is a key driving force behi~~e 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 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the~~Recognises the importance of sustainable forest-based industry for circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support safe, sustainable and recyclable ~~and~~, bio-based products through public procurement and investment support; notes, however, that it should lead to increase of forest carbon sinks not only in wood but also soils best achieved through non-intervention areas and sustainable forest management in managed forests;

Amendment 38 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Nils TORVALDS, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Claudia GAMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support recyclable and bio-based products through public procurement and investment support; highlights that first and foremost the sector needs stable and long term regulatory conditions to develop rather than short term support measures;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the circular bioeconomy; e~~Encourages the Member States to support recyclable and bio-based products through public procurement and investment support;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a common~~Welcomes the decision of the Commission, building on the 2030 biodiversity strategy, to prepare a new EU forest ~~polic~~strategy; 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 ~~coordination~~policy integration between climate, biodiversity, forest, agriculture and industry policies;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force beh~~Stresses the importance of preserving the forest heritage in Europe and worldwide and of incentivisindg the circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support recyclable, sustainable and bio-based products through public procurement and investment support;

Amendment 41 #

Markus BUCHHEIT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support recyclable and bio-based European products through public procurement and investment support;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the circular bioeconomy; encourages the Member States to support recyclable ~~and~~ bio-based products through public procurement and investment support;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that forest-based industry is a key driving force behind the circular bioeconomy; ~~encourages the Member States to support recyclable and bio-based products through public procurement and investment support~~suggests that programmes be set up that will help the Member States to introduce policies to promote recyclable and bio-based products;

Amendment 44 #

Tomas TOBÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that between 1990-2015, forest coverage in the EU increased by an area the size of Greece, as a result of both natural growth and afforestation; further notes that the forest industry employs more than 3 million people and that approximately half of the renewable energy consumed in the Union comes from wood; in this context, recognises the positive economic, societal and environmental contributions of the forest industry and believes that the forest strategy should stimulate further investments in innovation and technological advancement;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
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 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recognises that forests and the forest-based sector contribute significantly to the development of circular bio-economies in the EU and sustainably managed forests have a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change and for reaching climate neutrality by 2050;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Notes that the EU's ability to harness the potential of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as feed, bio- based products and bioenergy, food, pulp and paper production, as well as parts of chemical, biotechnological and energy industries’ will be the difference in achieving a climate neutral EU by 2050;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the use of wood as an environmentally friendly raw material; underlines that long-lived wood-based products and wood construction provide an effective way of increasing carbon storage; calls on the Member States to assess environmental and energy performance by category of building in order to identify the most climate-friendly solutions for building and renovation; proposes that a target of 50% should be set for wood or other organic matter (hemp, straw) by 2022 for public buildings and that the use of wood in the construction industry should be more widely supported; calls on the Commission to include recommendations to this end in its renovation plan to be launched at the end of the year;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ECalls for implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy; 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 storage and creating greenhouse gas substitution effect; stresses the importance of availability of wood-based raw materials for the forest-based industry;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that the~~re is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; points out, however,~~ forest ecosystem is part of the European natural heritage regarding which the EU has competences, and that many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest- based sector ~~and require stronger cross-sectoral coordination~~; stresses, therefore, that it is vital to have stronger cross-sectoral coordination and greater integration of the relevant policies, both at EU level and among the Member States;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ENotes that European forest resources are increasing; 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 storage; in products and fostering substitution of fossil-based alternatives;

Amendment 51 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Valérie HAYER, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
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 storage~~Stresses 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 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the sustainable use of wood as an environmentally friendly raw material; underlines that wood-based products and wood construction can provide an effective way of increasing carbon storage;

Amendment 53 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Valérie HAYER, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Acknowledges the occurrence of illegal logging and recognises that almost all primary old growth forest has been lost; urges the Commission to act on both accounts and protect the remaining old growth forest; regrets the decline in forest biodiversity as stated in the State of Nature 2020 for Europe; calls on Commission and Member States to act and enforce the Birds and Habitats Directives to reverse this trend;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Emphasises that sustainable forest management provides three main climate benefits, CO2 sequestration and carbon storage in resilient, growing forests; carbon storage of harvested wood products; and a renewable and climate- friendly raw material that replaces energy-intensive materials and fossil fuels;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
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 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Acknowledges that in order to achieve the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal, it is crucial to enhance wood availability to attract forest-based investments in the EU;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1; _________________ 1 Directive (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.deleted

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
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 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1; stresses that European legislation requires only 36%1 a of all trees burned to produce energy, which means, because of the low threshold set for electrical efficiency, that 64 out of every 100 trees cut and burned are wasted1 b; calls for an end to incentives and subsidies for wood energy production, which is manifestly not a sustainable practice; _________________ 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. 1a Renewable Energy Directive, Article 29:11 (c) for installations with a total rated input thermal input above 100 MW, it is produced with high efficiency technology, or achieved an annual electrical efficiency of at least 36 %; 11 (c) for installations with a total rated input thermal input above 100 MW, it is produced with high efficiency technology, or achieved an annual electrical efficiency of at least 36 %; 1b FERN briefing, the shocking truth about EU forests...in numbers https://www.fern.org/fileadmin/uploads/fe rn/Documents/2020/The_shocking_truth_ about_EU_forests_in_numbers.pdf;

Amendment 6 #

Markus BUCHHEIT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; points out, however, that many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest- based sector ~~and require stronger cross- sectoral coordination~~;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1 ; encourages implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive for increasing innovation and investments in forest-based industries; stresses the importance of stable regulatory framework and discourages a second revision of the Renewable Energy Directive; _________________ 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 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1; considers that a more efficient use of timber should be prioritised, in accordance with the 'cascading principle', starting from higher value-added uses and discouraging the production of products with a short life; _________________ 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 62 #

Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the ~~Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1 ;~~ Commission to modify Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1 on basis of scientifically sound knowledge and to follow the ‘cascading use principle’ to prioritise the most efficient use of wood; stresses that burning wood for energy must only occur at the end of the cascade; _________________ 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 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Member States to ensure the timely and adequate implementation of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)1 which was adopted in December 2018 and stipulates strong sustainability criteria for renewable energy sources; _________________ 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 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Expresses concern about the state of health and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe because of climate change and pest and disease hotbeds in forests; stresses the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to monitor, provide information and tackle the pressures exerted on forest resources by the spread of invasive alien species, pests and diseases;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that the contribution of biofuels and biomass to energy generation and heating in the EU is important and will further increase, as result of the renewable energy targets in REDII and that modern bio-based economy implies challenges such as the sustainability of biomass raw material, efficiency in biomass use and economy of scales in biomass mobilization; recognises that sustainable forest management can solve many of these issues;

Amendment 66 #

Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls that the revised Renewable Energy Directive sets out that a risk-based approach should be taken by operators in order to minimise the risk of using unsustainable forest biomass for the production of bioenergy;

Amendment 67 #

Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes that in order to ensure the sustainable production of biomass, the Renewable Energy Directive has set out sustainability criteria which must be met in order to comply with the Union target for Renewable Energy, and to benefit from support schemes; stresses that the harmonised, Union-wide, criteria that have recently been agreed are essential for the smooth functioning of the internal energy market and to avoid the distortion of competition;

Amendment 68 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that there is a continued need for sustained support for forest- related research and innovation throughout the forest-based value chain, including wood- based products to be used as substitutes for fossil or carbon-intensive materials such as plastic substitute packaging materials, smart and ~~clothing fibre~~textile fibres, chemicals and medicines;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that there is a continued need for sustained support for forest- related research and innovation throughout the forest value chain, including safe wood- based products to be used as plastic substitute packaging materials, smart and clothing fibres and medicines; stresses that the prioritisation of wood-based alternatives must take into account the whole life cycle of products and their environmental performance;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that there is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; stresses that forestry policy is primarily a national competence, points out, however, that many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest- based sector ~~and require stronger cross- sectoral coordination~~;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that there is a continued need for sustained support for forest- related research and innovation throughout the forest value chain, including wood- based products to be used as plastic substitute packaging materials, smart and clothing fibres and medicines; stresses that single-use plastic must be replaced with sustainable, long-lived products;

Amendment 71 #

Markus BUCHHEIT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that there is a continued need for sustained support for forest- related research and innovation throughout the forest value chain, including wood- based products to be used as plastic substitute packaging materials, smart and clothing fibres and medicines, in order to reduce the dependence of European production chains on imports from non- EU countries in the event of a crisis;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that according to scientific research, sustainably managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; urges therefore that the new forest strategy promotes sustainable forest management including by SMEs;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Stresses that wood-based materials must play a crucial role in substituting fossil-based alternatives in industries such as the construction industry, the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry;

Amendment 74 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening of links between research, industry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships; reiterates its position adopted at first reading whereby the Programme for single market, competitiveness of enterprises and European statistics should include the sustainability of enterprises among its objectives, in particular that of micro- enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening of links between research, industry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships; believes that research in forestry and forest restoration has potential to deliver positive results in terms of climate change mitigation, growth of sustainable businesses, employment, maintaining long-term forest health and biodiversity protection;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening of links between research, industry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships; underlines the essential role of high-level research and innovation in fostering contribution of the forest and forest-based sector in meeting the challenges of our time;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
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 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening of links between research, industry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in the forest-based industry, noting especially the role of SMEs in contributing to sustainable forest-based research and innovation;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for adequate funding for Horizon Europe and for the strengthening ofand encouraging new and existing links between research, industry and society at all levels through specific instruments such as European Partnerships (e.g. Circular Bio-based Europe and Build4People);

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that ~~there is no specific legal basis for a common EU forest policy; points out, however, that~~, while forest policy remains primarily a national competence, many EU policies have an impact on forests and the forest-based sector and require stronger cross-sectoral coordination under Article 191 of the Treaties;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for ~~adequate~~ funding for Horizon Europe ~~and for the strengthening of links between research, industry and society through specific instruments such as European Partnerships~~to be stepped up and for programmes to be introduced that promote cooperation between research, industry and society;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
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 83 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Valérie HAYER, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses therefore the importance of encouraging further research in the forestry and bio-based industry and believes that partnerships under the Horizon Europe program should be further directed towards this in order to strengthen the links between research, industry and society;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Notes work under the EU Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth1a including EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, in the area of forestry and other economic activities related to forests; _________________ 1a Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Central Bank, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action Plan: Financing Sustainable Growth (COM/2018/097 final)

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Underlines the importance of data harmonisation and data sharing across the EU on forestry resources;

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 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Emphasises 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 in order to create industrial symbiosis;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Stresses the importance of education and skilled, well-trained workforce as it comes to the successful implementation of sustainable forest management in practice; calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States to continue to implement and strengthen existing European instruments in this regard;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

~~8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, and the regional and economic importance of forests.~~deleted

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
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 90 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management with binding targets for biodiversity, and the regional and economic importance of forests; calls on the Member States to make carbon sequestration the primary task of their national forest organisations and to increase their human and financial resources; stresses the importance of maintaining public expertise and denounces the privatisation of these organisations.

Amendment 91 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Nils TORVALDS, Mauri PEKKARINEN, Claudia GAMON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, steady supply of wood- based raw materials and the regional and economic importance of forests; acknowledges that sustainable forest management is primarily driven and sustained by SMEs; highlights the positive effects of sustainable forest management for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Amendment 92 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, and the regional and economic importance of forests.; points out the important role that sustainable forest management has in the whole forest and bioeconomy value chain, especially in terms of providing sustainable raw materials to the sector;

Amendment 93 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, and the regional and economic importance of forests; stresses that sustainable forest management will lead at the same time to the doubling of forest assets because wood harvesting takes place at a lower rate than growth, therefore forest volumes continue to increase.

Amendment 94 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need ~~for~~to apply non- intervention principle in a certain proportion of European forest areas arising from climate and biodiversity crisis, to replace intensive management practices by long-term sustainable forest management, and the regional, environmental, social, cultural and economic importance of forests.

Amendment 95 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, and the regional and economic importance of forests. There is a need to foster the know-how and understanding of sustainable forest management as it can prevent the deforestation and has positive impact on the health and diversity of the forests.

Amendment 96 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, and the regional and economic importance of forests~~Highlights yet again the irreplaceable role of forests as the green lungs of our world and takes the view that their protection should be a political priority for the European Union.

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management~~, and the regional and economic importance of forests~~ that is not held hostage by private interests and the importance of forests to people's financial, social and environmental quality of life.

Amendment 98 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the need for sustainable forest management, strengthening traditional forest law compliance and the regional and economic importance of forests.

Amendment 99 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
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.

source: 648.616

2020/04/30 ENVI 263 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas forests and other wooded land cover at least 43 % of the EU’s territory, and some Member States have more than half of their territories covered by forests and are heavily invested in forestry; half of the Natura 2000 network is made by forest areas, though this covers around 20% of the total forest surface of the EU. Forest areas are crucial for regulating the water cycle, absorbing CO2 and providing close-to-nature recreation possibilities.

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas, unlike in many parts of the world where deforestation is still a major problem, in the EU the area of land covered by forests has grown by 9 million hectares over the last 25 years as a result both of natural growth and afforestation work;

Amendment 100 #

Adam JARUBAS, Jarosław KALINOWSKI, Bartosz ARŁUKOWICZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Urges the Commission to prioritize effective enforcement of the Nature legislation as part of the future Strategies, including the use of its prerogative to ask for a decision ordering interim measures and compel compliance through imposition of sanctions and penalty payments when there is a risk of irreparable damage to invaluable and irreplaceable natural values;

Amendment 101 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Reiterates that sustainable and multi-purpose forest management should continue serving as a guiding principle of the EU forest strategy;

Amendment 102 #

Adam JARUBAS, Jarosław KALINOWSKI, Bartosz ARŁUKOWICZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Points out that, in its policy guidelines, the Commission emphasises that climate change, biodiversity, food security, deforestation and soil degradation are intricately linked, that we have to change the way we produce, consume and trade, and that the focus of our action in bringing about this paradigm shift must be the preservation and restoration of ecosystems; with that in mind, takes the view that the forest strategy must be made part of the European Green Deal, must take over the objectives of the deal, and, more specifically, be subject to the EU biodiversity strategy;

Amendment 103 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Calls to secure that new Forest Strategy serves as a central policy instrument in the EU to ensure efficient coordination of forest-related policies and initiatives within the scope of all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic and social; thus serves as a platform to coordinate all nature conservation and biodiversity aspects related to forests and their management at EU level;

Amendment 104 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Hildegard BENTELE, Marlene MORTLER, Jens GIESEKE, Alexander BERNHUBER, Christian DOLESCHAL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Take the view that it is of the utmost importance that access to EU support for forests be simplified and red tape cut, taking into account the difficulties faced by small and medium- sized land owners and even by some public entities;

Amendment 105 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Stresses the importance of the reorientation of forestry so as to adopt integrated forest management practices, thereby realising the existing potential of woodland by means of multifunctional active forestry with sustainable management;

Amendment 106 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Urges the Commission and the Member States, when they approve and introduce their forestry management plans, to adopt special measures to support biodiversity, specifically measures to conserve protected species and natural habitats that improve their status, both inside and outside Natura 2000 areas;

Amendment 107 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1e. Calls for the establishment of a specific financial instrument for the management of areas in the Natura 2000 network, particularly special areas of conservation, with a view to the more effective adoption of suitable conservation measures for habitats and species protected by EU legislation;

Amendment 108 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, sustainably managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management; recognises the positive impactPoints out that there are diverging views on the CO2 absorption capacities of managed forests, with research indicating that old-growth forests absorb considerably more CO2 than plantation forests, while also being more resilient to disturbances and accommodating higher biodiversity; considers that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management on the basis of a clear and ambitious EU-level definition; calls, to this effect, on the European Commission to develop a common definition of sSustainable forest management oin ~~European forest biodiversity; notes that forest protection and production do not act in contradiction, but can in fact be complementary to one another~~the EU on the basis of the highest sustainability standards and with the preservation of valuable carbon sinks and the conservation and restoration of forests and their biodiversity at its core;

Amendment 109 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research~~, sustainably managed forests~~6a there is a reduction in forest carbon stocks as a result of increased wood harve ~~a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests~~sting, and the long periods required (decades to centuries) before the initial increase in emissions is reabsorbed.; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management; recognises the positive impact of sustainable forest management, in particular non-intervention management, on European forest biodiversity; notes that forest protection and production ~~do not~~can act in contradiction, but canould in fact be comp~~lementary to one another;~~atible with one another and have positive result also for climate when principles of nature-based solutions are adopted7a; _________________ 6aEuropean Academies Science Advisory Council, February 2019: Forest bioenergy, carbon capture and storage, and carbon dioxide removal: an update 7aEEA, December 2019: The European environment - state and outlook 2020

Amendment 11 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas many aspects of forests and forestry are regulated under EU legislation such as the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Common Agricultural Policy, the LULUCF Regulation, the Renewable Energy Directive and the Timber Regulation;

Amendment 110 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, sustainably managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management; highlights 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; recognises the positive impact of sustainable forest management on European forest biodiversity; notes that forest protection and production do not act in contradiction, but can in fact be complementary to one another;

Amendment 111 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, ~~sustainably manag~~undisturbed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management; recognises the positive impact of sustainable forest management on European forest biodiversity; notes that forest protection and production do not act in contradiction, but can in fact be complementary to one another; regretfully notes that many areas across the EU have had forestry policies that encouraged commercial forestry at the expense of the natural environment;

Amendment 112 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 113 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 114 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, sustainably managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management practices as part of national emission-reduction policies; recognises the positive impact of sustainable forest management on European forest biodiversity; notes that forest protection and production do not act in contradiction, but can in fact be complementary to one another;

Amendment 115 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, ~~sustainably managed~~resilient, biodiverse and healthy forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than ~~unmanag~~monocultures and intensively harvested forests; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote ~~sustainable forest management; recognises the positive impact of sustainable forest management on European forest biodiversity~~more sustainable forest management methods; notes that forest protection and production do not necessarily act in contradiction, but can in fact, under certain approaches such as close-to-nature forestry, be complementary to one another;

Amendment 116 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, sustainably managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than unmanaged forests; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should ~~promot~~guarantee sustainable forest management; recognises the ~~positive~~vital impact ofthat sustainable forest management must have on European forest biodiversity; ~~notes~~takes the view that forest protection and production ~~do not act in contradiction, but can in fact be~~need to complement~~ary to~~ one another;

Amendment 117 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that according to scientific research, sustainably managed forests have a higher CO2 absorption capacity than ~~unmanaged forests~~forests that are not sustainably managed; urges, therefore, that the new forest strategy should promote sustainable forest management; recognises the positive impact of sustainable forest management on European forest biodiversity; notes that forest protection and production do not act in contradiction, but can ~~in fact~~ be complementary to one another;

Amendment 118 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights that restoring, maintaining and growing the European forest fund must be done by taking all necessary measures compliant with healthy financial management; stresses that any sound financial management must ensure that it differentiates sufficiently, by taking into account the fact that different tree species are tied to specific regions and habitats, which is paramount to an efficient and successful forest strategy; planting, therefore, should be done with full consideration of the ecological, biological and historical specificities of the regions, in order to ensure that forests retain their natural species composition;

Amendment 119 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. 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 12 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the area of forest in the Union is increasing, inter alia as a result of forestation; whereas nearly 25% of the total area of forest in the EU belongs to the Natura 2000 network;

Amendment 120 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Emphasises that forests cover almost half the surface area of Natura 2000 sites (i.e. 37.5 million hectares), that 23% of all Europe’s forests are located in Natura 2000 sites, and that forests are absolutely vital to Natura 20002a; regrets, nevertheless, that knowledge about the implementation of Natura 2000 in forests, and about the effects of Natura 2000 on biodiversity, forest management and other uses of land throughout the EU, is fragmented; _________________ 2aEEA, European Forest Ecosystems – State and Trends, 2016.

Amendment 121 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that although best-preserved forests, from which no products are extracted, are few, they should be given the attention they deserve, as they make a contribution to knowledge, health and ecotourism that we cannot deny to future generations; stresses that Natura 2000, as the European ecological habitat conservation network, should play a crucial role in the European Forest Strategy; is of the opinion that Natura 2000 should be key to guarantee the protection and conservation of forests;

Amendment 122 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Hildegard BENTELE, Marlene MORTLER, Jens GIESEKE, Alexander BERNHUBER, Christian DOLESCHAL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Considers that, with a view to increasing the value of forestry and forest ecosystems, producers' income should be taken into account, necessitating measures intended to: ensure fair prices for timber production; make family farming an integral part of protecting against forest fires; ensure respect for small-scale forest owners, providing them with the support and means to manage forests efficiently;

Amendment 123 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance and the vital role of the forestry and wood cluster for protection of the climate; stresses that forestry and forestry services, as well as downstream processing operations, generate substantial economic activity, particularly in rural, structurally disadvantaged regions, thanks to their demand for further goods and services from other sectors;

Amendment 124 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the need for Member States to share good practices with regard to forest management and planning; also draws attention to the importance of establishing European guidelines, linked to the pre-established objectives in the European Green Deal, with a view to providing the Member States with guidance on forestry management, maintenance and planning;

Amendment 125 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that protection and proforestation, as well as reforestation and afforestation with location and environment appropriate tree species, should be the focus of the future EU Forestry strategy; Notes that close-to- nature management practices are the best able to achieve these goals;

Amendment 126 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges the Union to promote the multifunctional use of forests, including economic use, as a result of which forest cover and the associated problems such as illegal felling, land grabbing and damage to environmental benefits and biodiversity in third countries would also be reduced;

Amendment 127 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses that according to research4a old-growth forests and forest grew old continue to accumulate carbon, contrary to the view that they are carbon neutral or even sources of CO2; _________________ 4a S.Luyssaert et al., 2008: Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks. In Nature

Amendment 128 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Points out, in that connection, that there are five major challenges when it comes to the implementation of Natura 2000 in forests: (1) the balance between conserving biodiversity and timber production; (2) integrating conservation and the requirements of local stakeholders; (3) climate change; (4) the lack of funding; and (5) conflict with other sectoral policies; with that in mind, calls on the Commission and the Member States: (1) to improve communication and transparency; (2) to place more emphasis on the science behind conservation when drawing up management strategies and in responding to climate change; (3) to involve the general public more in formulating and implementing policy; (4) to put in place an effective funding strategy; and (5) to establish an integrated European land-use and conservation policy;

Amendment 129 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Andreas GLÜCK, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. 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 they 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 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas according to Article 4 of the TFEU, environment is a shared competence of the Union and its Member States; whereas, under TFEU Article 191, Union policy on the environment shall, inter alia, aim for a high level of protection; whereas the European Court of Justice has ruled that forests are part of EU's natural heritage and thus covered by Article 1911a; _________________ 1aSee CJEU C-164/97 and C-165/97, paragraph 16: https://eur- lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:61 997CJ0164&from=HR

Amendment 130 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Points out that the vulnerability of forests is made clear by the recurrence and extent of forest fires, the dominance of alien species, the prevalence of pests and forestry producers' inadequate income; stresses that one of the causes of this vulnerability is the lack of investment and of people, factors which are inextricably linked to the EU's policies and guidelines;

Amendment 131 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Reiterates the fact that conservation of high-carbon ecosystems, including forests, represents a response option with immediate impact on climate change, unlike afforestation, reforestation and restoration which take more time to deliver8a, calls for policy actions in the EU to be guided by this principle; _________________ 8aIPCC, 2019: Climate Change and Land Report-Summary for Policymakers

Amendment 132 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Takes the view that the timber production price is essential to ensuring the interest and involvement of owners in the active management of forestry, with regard, specifically, to protecting forests and fostering their multifunctionality, ensuring the sustainability of forest ecosystems and favouring native species;

Amendment 133 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses the need to map and protect old growth forests in the EU; Notes that there is no EU definition of old growth forests and calls on the Commission to introduce a definition in the future EU Forestry Strategy; Calls on Member States to set aside forests so that they can become old growth;

Amendment 134 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Observes that protection targets that are country-specific or formulated in terms of land area can even have negative effects on climate and the environment in countries that are managing their forests well; calls for measures to increase forestation particularly in countries that have little forest cover;

Amendment 135 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Draws attention to the importance of coordination and coherence between the measures provided for in the European Green Deal and the EU's post- 2020 forest strategy;

Amendment 136 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Stresses that the continuing decline in biodiversity has had negative consequences for the delivery of many ecosystem services over the last decades, whereas these declines have occurred in part because of the intensive agriculture and forestry practices, whereas the continuing decline in regulating services can have detrimental consequences for quality of life 12a; _________________ 12aIPBES(2018): Summary for policymakers of the regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and EcosystemServices. M. Fischer, M. Rounsevell, A. Torre-Marin Rando, A. Mader, A. Church,M. Elbakidze, V. Elias, T. Hahn. P.A. Harrison, J. Hauck, B. Martín-López, I. Ring,C. Sandström, I. Sousa Pinto, P. Visconti, N.E. Zimmermann and M. Christie(eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. available at: https://ipbes.net/sites/default/files/ipbes_6 _15_add.4_eca_english.pdf

Amendment 137 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls on the Commission to propose overarching legislation to ensure favourable ecological status by 2030 of EU ecosystems, including forests;

Amendment 138 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Recognises that climate change is altering the growth capacity of forests, and increasing the frequency and seriousness of drought, floods and fires as well as fostering the development of new pests and diseases which affect forests; notes that intact ecosystems have greater capability to overcome environmental stressors, including changes to climate, than degraded ones as they have inherent properties that enable them to maximize their adaptive capacity;

Amendment 139 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Calls for Member States to ensure that forests above 10 hectares have forest management plans comprising carbon storage and biodiversity considerations and where applicable comply with Natura 2000 objectives;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the tradition of forest management in Europe developed and operated in relatively cold climate, whereas current challenges are new challenges for forest managers and cannot be tackled without knowledge of forest ecology, including understanding of large-scale processes of adaptation of forests to natural disturbances;

Amendment 140 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Acknowledges the crucial climate benefits of forests and highlights the need to increase CO2 storage in forests; Notes that, in line with the cascading approach enshrined in the current EU forest strategy, only leftovers at the end of the wood value chain should be used as biomass for substituting fossil-based heat production, and that harvested timber should be used for longer life-cycle products, such as in construction and furniture, in order to preserve the carbon storage;

Amendment 141 #

2f. Calls on the Commission to propose a further amendment of the Renewable Energy Directive so that burning forest wood would no longer be incentivised nor eligible for meeting Member States' renewable energy targets;

Amendment 142 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)

2g. Highlights that large-scale intensive bioenergy plantations, including monocultures, and especially those replacing natural forests and subsistence farmland, have negative impacts on biodiversity;

Amendment 143 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in substituting fossil-based materials with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the ~~EU’s circular~~potential of the EU’s circular, sustainable bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 ~~and that measures to this end should be included~~; stresses, however, that measures in the new forest strategy concerning the bio- economy and use of wood biomass should duly take into account the impacts on the conservation of forest ecosystems and on CO2 sequestration; highlights that the new forest strategy must respect resource- efficiency and the principle of cascading use;

Amendment 144 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in substituting fossil-based materials with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included; observes that wood has great potential as a renewable building material which sequesters carbon; believes that there is a need for better communication concerning the environmental impact of using wood for building, so that the use of wood as a sustainable construction material can be promoted;

Amendment 145 #

3. ~~Emphas~~Recognises th~~e important role~~at forests can play ~~in substituting fossil- based~~a role in helping substitute less sustainable materials with ~~bio~~wood-based products; b~~elieve~~ut insists that the ~~new forest~~ir crucial role in carbon stora~~tegy should reflect the importance~~ge, biodiversity protection and the provision of othe ~~role played by European forests and the EU’s circular~~r ecosystem services must also be taken into account; recognises the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand of wood for materials, energy and the bio- economy ~~in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included~~, which is in tension with the levels of harvesting deemed sustainable, and calls on the Commission to thoroughly address these challenges when preparing the new forest strategy;

Amendment 146 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in substituting fossil-based materials with bio-based products; underlines the important role of local and regional authorities in promoting the transition to the bio-economy by involving economic actors in the use of local wood resources; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;

Amendment 147 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Emphasi~~Stresses the importan~~t role forests can play in substituting fossil- based materials with bio-based product~~ce of natural carbon sinks in limiting global warming and notes that commercial forestry has less CO2 sequestration potential compared to natural, regenerated forests and woodlands; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality byas soon as possible, and well before 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;

Amendment 148 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in substituting fossil-based materials and energies with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included; stresses that these measures should make use of the full potential of substitution- effects;

Amendment 149 #

Inese VAIDERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in substituting fossil-based materials with bio-based products, including in heating of buildings; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the role of forests is multifunctional resulting in economic, environmental and social benefits;

Amendment 150 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in substituting fossil-based materials with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;(Does not affect the English version.)

Amendment 151 #

3. Emphasises the important role forests can play in supplementing and substituting fossil-based materials with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;

Amendment 152 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Andreas GLÜCK, Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the important role forests can also play in substituting fossil- based materials with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;

Amendment 153 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Emphasises the ~~important~~ role forests can play in substituting to some extent fossil- based materials with bio-based products; believes that the new forest strategy should reflect the importance of the role played by European forests and the EU’s circular bio- economy in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and that measures to this end should be included;

Amendment 154 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – point a (new)

(a) Points out that in the report on progress on the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy, it is noted that despite the action taken so far, the implementation of the EU biodiversity policy remains a major challenge 1a, and that the reports on the conservation of forest habitats and species show little improvement so far; calls on the Commission to integrate in the new forest strategy as a key component the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems and biodiversity; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/ rep/1/2018/EN/COM-2018-811-F1-EN- MAIN-PART-1.PDF

Amendment 155 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Takes note of the progress made on valuing ecosystem services under the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (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 156 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes with concern that 15% of the forest habitats and 26% of forest species were found to be in favourable conservation status in 2015 1a; recalls Target 3b of the EU biodiversity strategy that seeks to bring about a measurable improvement in the conservation status of species and habitats that depend on, or are affected by forestry and in the provision of related ecosystem services; deplores, that according to the mid-term review of the biodiversity strategy, no significant progress towards the target has been made 2a; _________________ 1a https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodive rsity/forests/forest-dynamics-in-europe- and 2ahttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52015DC0 47

Amendment 157 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses the need to reduce the EU's consumption in general, and also of wood and wood-based products by promoting a more circular economy and prioritising the most efficient use of wood which allows for the locking-in of carbon over the long-term and minimises the generation of waste;

Amendment 158 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls the letter of more than 700 scientists calling for a scientifically-sound revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, in particular excluding certain types of woody biomass from counting towards the target and from the eligibility to receive support;

Amendment 159 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that development of the bioeconomy, the promotion of measures stimulating the development of forestry products on national markets, such their use in buildings, and the enhancing of research and innovation activities will ensure the forestry sector is future- oriented;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas, according to the European Environment Agency's report on 'The European Environment - state and outlook 2020', long term trends in bird populations, including common forest birds, demonstrate that Europe has experienced a massive decline in biodiversity, of which intensive forest management is one of the drivers2a; whereas, according to the same report, Europe faces environmental challenges of unprecedented scale and urgency, and that urgent action is needed during the next 10 years to address the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, increasing impacts of climate change and the overconsumption of natural resources; _________________ 2aSee p83, https://www.eea.europa.eu/soer-2020/

Amendment 160 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Takes the view that the EU's forest strategy should help to reverse the trend of native species increasingly being overlooked in favour of fast-growing alien species, such as the eucalyptus;

Amendment 161 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that nature-based solutions to tackle climate change must have no negative social or environmental consequences; calls for safeguards in this respect within the forthcoming strategy;

Amendment 162 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Highlights the need of effective conservation of especially primary and old-growth forests which as complex systems have more above-and belowground carbon stored, more faunal complexity, major carbon sequestration, regulating local and regional weather regime, generation of rain and reduced risks of drought, ensuring hydrological services, consistently higher number of forest-dependent species, sustain important large-scale ecological processes, higher functional diversity, higher intra-specific genetic diversity, higher chance for dispersal or retreating refugia, provision of key pollination and dispersal processes, human health benefits than simplified systems 9a; _________________ 9aJames E.M. Watson at el., 2018: The exceptional value of intact forest ecosystems. In Nature Ecology& Evolution

Amendment 163 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Emphasises the importance of vocational training and retraining programmes for forestry specialists in the use of new technologies and their adaptation to ongoing change, including the creation of a communications platform for the exchange of good practices, and considers it important to involve forest owners and managers in this process and to encourage them to follow sustainable forest conservation and biodiversity promotion practices;

Amendment 164 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Calls for the new forest strategy to help ensure that forest management practices avoid any fragmentation of forest ecosystems into smaller parts, with a particular focus on primary forests, since many species including larger mammals rely on interconnected, intact forest habitats for survival; Calls for the forest strategy to prioritise the re- connection of already fragmented forests through the restoration of forest corridors appropriate to local conditions and biodiversity;

Amendment 165 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Urges the Commission and the Member States to reinforce the use of forest management plans, including through the creation of a harmonized framework for their establishment and implementation given that the current usage of forest management plans has varied considerably among the Member States;

Amendment 166 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Takes the view that information on forest resources and forests' condition is essential to ensuring that decisions taken on forests are as socio-economically and ecologically beneficial as possible, at all levels;

Amendment 167 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Recalls that national forest inventories provide the majority of the information required on forest resources; proposes that efforts be made to harmonise this information with a view to improving its comparability and to extending the scope of forest inventory systems beyond wood production aspects, to include sustainable forest management criteria and indicators, together with socio-economic information from woodland areas;

Amendment 168 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. 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 10a and should be protected through legal and incentivising instruments targeting their complexity, connectivity and representativeness 11a ; _________________ 10aEuropean Commission, 2019: Communication Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests’ (COM(2019)0352 11aEuropean Parliament resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019/2824(RSP)), the exact reading of par.52

Amendment 169 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Calls on the Commission to include in the new EU forest strategy binding targets for the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems in line with the EU’s biodiversity strategy; considers that the forest strategy should also include adequate instruments to reach these goals;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas the concept of close-to- nature forestry allows for sustainable use of forest, including for selective logging of valuable species for specialized use, and at the same time keeps better balance between provisioning and other ecosystem services;

Amendment 170 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Considers it important to provide for not only the conservation and management of existing forests but also the reforestation of deforested areas; considers that stress must also be placed on the need for widespread reforestation in areas that have been affected by recurring forest fires;

Amendment 171 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Stresses particular importance of the Carpathian region and notes that EU accession to Carpathian convention would be of relevance to provide support to the region which holds irreplaceable natural values in continental Europe;

Amendment 172 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Martin HOJSÍK, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3e. Notes with concern that at EU level, reported data 11a indicate that energy accounts for 48% of total use of woody biomass; reiterates that next to natural carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection in situ, to be coherent with our biodiversity and climate goals, use of harvested wood should be leaning towards material use; _________________ 11aJoint Research Centre of the European Commission, 2018:Biomass production, supply, uses and flows in the European Union

Amendment 173 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)

3f. Highlights the value and the potential of newly established and traditional extensive agroforestry systems for agricultural production, diversification, including for the purpose of bioeconomy, carbon sequestration, prevention of desertification and potential to decrease pressure on forest ecosystems; regrets that the rules of the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy have systematically led to their degradation and in many cases have hampered their restoration, regeneration and rejuvenation; notes with concern the current large-scale die-off of iconic Mediterranean high-nature value agroforestry system and urgently calls for change of the rules in order to facilitate regeneration and restoration of existing agroforestry systems, and establishment of new ones;

Amendment 174 #

3g. Requires that the Commission develop a common and sufficiently detailed definition of close-to-nature forestry, building on the ongoing experiences of integrating biodiversity considerations into forest management;

Amendment 175 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products and believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards this; calls on the European Commission and Member States to also fund research and continue to gather data on innovative methods of protecting and building resilience of forests such as introduction of resilient species; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 176 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Martin HOJSÍK, Irena JOVEVA, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013~~; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products and~~ and that science is now unequivocal that parts of the bio-based economy were and are a false solution, in particular when it comes to bioenergy; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products and incorporating scientific findings into policy to turn bioeconomy into a no regret and success story, believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards this; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 177 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products and believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards this; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas; stresses that the Union should allocate sufficient resources to funding forestry measures in accordance with the expectations of policy on climate and the environment, including investment in protecting and restoring forests;

Amendment 178 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in ~~forestry and bio-based products and~~to, inter alia, forest ecosystems, biodiversity, carbon storage, wood-based products as well as genuinely sustainable forest management practices, including close-to-nature forestry; believes that EU funds for independent research should be further directed towards thiese areas; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 179 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products, particularly regarding the substitution of fossil-based raw materials and energies, and believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards this; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas, for the 2007-2012 period, Member States reported that only 26% of forest species and 15% of forest habitats of European interest, as listed in the Habitats Directive, were in 'favourable conservation status'3a ; _________________ 3aSee 2016 EEA report on 'European forest ecosystems -state and trends', https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/e uropean-forest-ecosystems, p14

Amendment 180 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products and believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards this; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, safeguarding forest ecosystems and boosting biodiversity, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 181 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in forestry and bio-based products, as well as in conservation science, and believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards thiese objectives; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 182 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further public research in forestry ~~and bio-based products and believes that EU funds for research should be further directed towards this~~; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas;

Amendment 183 #

4. Notes that research and technology have come a long way since the forest strategy was introduced in 2013; stresses the importance of encouraging further research in the forestry ~~and bio-based products and~~sector; believes that EU funds for research should be further stepped up and directed towards this; stresses that more research and funding would make a positive contribution to climate change mitigation, sustainable economic growth and employment, especially in rural areas and outermost regions;

Amendment 184 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes that the current forest strategy failed to deliver on developing, objective and demonstrable EU sustainable forest management criteria; Regrets that, contrary to the commitment made in the 2013 EU Forest Strategy, the Commission and Member States satisfied themselves with a vague and non- operational definition of sustainable forest management (SFM), agreed on in the pan-European FOREST EUROPE process; Notes that this definition has been incorporated into national legislation and voluntary systems, such as forest certifications, in place in Member States and that it has not been able to prevent problematic and intensive forest management in the EU;

Amendment 185 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights that one of the major problems in the forestry sector is its lack of competitiveness, as well as the low value of forest resources and products; calls, therefore, for the forest strategy to provide incentives to promote value chains for forestry products; stresses the importance of agricultural European innovation partnerships (EIP-AGRI), which are key to furthering EU forest competitiveness and sustainability;

Amendment 186 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for the introduction of a coordinated electronic timber tracking and tracing system and for support for the development of automated tools for the timber circulation analysis and monitoring at all stages of its transformation and integration with related government and commercial record keeping, reporting, permits issuance, agreements registration systems;

Amendment 187 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Emphasises that local and regional authorities have a key role to play in ensuring the long-term sustainability of forests as they could play a part in regional-level sustainable development plans, the development of long-life-cycle carbon-absorbing forestry products and the promotion of SME entrepreneurial spirit in the forestry sector;

Amendment 188 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that a transparent multi- level governance platform, including regional, national and EU institutions as well as private stakeholders, is needed in order to find appropriate solutions for the many challenges related to forests and forest management at EU level;

Amendment 189 #

4a. Calls for the continued funding for research in soils and their role in forests climate change resilience and adaption, biodiversity protection and enhancement as well as the provision of other ecosystem services;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Recital A e (new)

Ae. whereas the Commission’s 2018 report on progress of the implementation of the current EU Forest Strategy states that the implementation of the EU biodiversity policy remains a major challenge and that ‘reports on conservation of forest habitats and species show no improvement so far’;

Amendment 190 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers it essential to preserve endemic genetic resources and select those elements of the existing gene pool that are best adapted to expected growing conditions in the future;

Amendment 191 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to create economic and policy instruments that will allow more forest to grow to their ecological potential and absorb carbon dioxide;

Amendment 192 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the importance of the existence of scientific evidence with regard to the EU's forestry policies;

Amendment 193 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Calls on the Commission to incorporate close-to-nature forestry in the framework of SFM and to develop EU criteria with concrete benchmarks and thresholds on, for example, the amount of dead wood, the amount of forests managed in accordance with forest management and, in general, the use of low impact silviculture;

Amendment 194 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Emphasises that a robust combination of financial instruments, national funding and private-sector financing is essential to ensure continued investment in modern technologies, in environmental and climate measures that reinforce the multifunctional role played by forests and in creating decent working conditions;

Amendment 195 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Proposes updating rules of reporting and accounting for LULUCF in order to incentivise choice of non- intervention in the accounting category of managed forest land in areas of old- growth forests, e.g. by excluding respective removals from the limitations posed by the Regulation;

Amendment 196 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Stresses the importance of other forest-related activities, specifically the harvesting of non-wood forest products, such as mushrooms and soft fruit, along with grazing and beekeeping;

Amendment 197 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Stresses that forest fires are a regular occurrence, and are both a cause and a consequence of climate change; notes that storms, forest fires and pests can be mitigated using improved and more active forest management and forestry techniques through, for example, grazing and agro-forestry practices, which should be supported within the framework of the common agricultural policy;

Amendment 198 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Considers that strictly protected areas in non- intervention management regime should be part of the EU Forest Strategy and of local development strategies based on low impact natural tourism and provisioning of non- productive ecosystem services;

Amendment 199 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Calls for the Commission to uphold the principle of do no harm laid down in the Green Deal Communication and to revise all relevant legislation to reflect the up-to-date science in relation to forest ecosystems, different carbon pools and their true value for the climate change mitigation and adaptation, including the crucial role of their biodiversity for this adaptation;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas forests and other wooded land cover at least 43 % of the EU’s territory, and some Member States have more than half of their territories covered by forests and are heavily invested in forestry; whereas forests in the EU has grown substantially between 1990-2015 as a result of afforestation, reforestation programmes and natural growth;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Recital A f (new)

Af. Whereas large trees and intact, older forests provide essential habitat that is missing from younger, managed forests and are essential stocks of carbon that cannot be replaced for at least 100-150 years if harvested; whereas old forests continue to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere, including through forest soil; whereas primary forests have almost disappeared in the EU;

Amendment 200 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Recalls the need to protect forests from growing threats and to reconcile their productive and protective functions, taking into account that drought, fires, storms and pests are expected to damage forests more frequently and more severely as a result of climate change;

Amendment 201 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Calls for an amendment of the Renewable Energy Directive in order to limit subsidy regime to biomass waste and residues;

Amendment 202 #

Michal WIEZIK, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Martin HOJSÍK, Radan KANEV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4f. Reiterates that woody biomass should be used in accordance with cascading use principle, giving priority to material use, re-use and recycling, in line with circular economy principles, over other uses;

Amendment 203 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe; ~~highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases.~~ underlines that the new forest strategy should take into account that a diverse forest, especially if it reflects the composition that is natural to the region, is generally more resilient than mono-culture forest or forests that have short harvesting cycles; highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests; recalls that according to the European Environmental Agency the main sources 1a of pressure on forests in the EU are increased land use, expanding urban areas and climate change; emphasizes that the ecosystems are increasingly prone to natural disturbances such as storms, fires, droughts, invasive species, pests, insect infestation and diseases all amplifying vulnerability to climate change; _________________ 1aForest dynamics in Europe and their ecological consequences EEA, published 27th November 2018.

Amendment 204 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe; stresses the importance of the assistance provided under the EU's civil protection mechanism; highlights the need to increase the monitoring and coordination capacities of national surveillance services and instruments along the lines of the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS); highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases.

Amendment 205 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe caused by intensive agriculture and forestry practices, air and water pollution, the use of pesticides and other harmful human activities; highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases., as well as rectify legislation that does harm to forests;

Amendment 206 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe; highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms not only to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases.; but also to support the recovery of forests hit by fires and the prevention of incidents of this kind;

Amendment 207 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe; highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases, and considers that comprehensive pest management should be promoted and facilitated as the climate cycle moves into a warmer phase.

Amendment 208 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe; highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle the transboundary pressures on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases.; calls on the Commission to facilitate a platform for exchange of best practice to combat this;

Amendment 209 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Expresses its concern over the health condition and resilience of forests in many parts of Europe; highlights the need to strengthen and make full use of EU mechanisms to tackle ~~the~~ transboundary pressures, including those man-induced, on forests from the spread of invasive alien species, pests, and diseases, excessive or illegal logging.

Amendment 21 #

Adam JARUBAS, Jarosław KALINOWSKI, Bartosz ARŁUKOWICZ

Draft opinion
Recital A g (new)

Ag. Whereas continuous forest habitats, interconnected forest habitats and forest corridors are key to securing the survival of endangered flora and fauna as they lower the risk of isolation and provide space for bigger mammals in particular, who require larger areas of protected forests; Whereas these types of well-connected forests are among the most efficient ways of ensuring that species can travel and adapt to changing climatic conditions and temperatures;

Amendment 210 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 211 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)

(1) Points out that air pollution has a significant impact on not only human health but also the environment; invites the European Commission to explore the impacts of air pollution on forests and forest biodiversity in its upcoming zero- pollution action plan;

Amendment 212 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)

(2) Welcomes the launch of Forest Information System for Europe (FISE) on February 2020 that provides European data infrastructure in the area of forests; calls on the Member States to fully engage in sharing data and working towards a harmonized data framework on the state of forests in Europe; calls on the work of the FISE to be completed in a timely manner on all five priority themes; on forest basic data, bio-economy, nature and biodiversity, climate change mitigation and forest health and resilience;

Amendment 213 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 3 (new)

(3) Stresses that the EU forest strategy should have as one of its objectives achieving a substantial increase in the proportion of forests species and habitats in favourable conservation status; calls on the strategy to include ambitious measures to this effect;

Amendment 214 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 4 (new)

(4) Recognises that the EU forest strategy should take into consideration the high economic, social and cultural value of forests; points out that different economic activities related to forests can have varying disruptive effects on the forest ecosystems; stresses that the new EU forest strategy should encourage only that kind of economic activity that respects sustainable boundaries of forest ecosystems;

Amendment 215 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 5 (new)

(5) Strongly encourages the limiting of the harvesting method of clear cutting and advocates increasing the use of continuous growing; recognizes that clear cutting of a forest releases majority of the residual carbon stock from the ground of the area into the atmosphere; stresses the need to promote alternative and less invasive methods of harvesting wood;

Amendment 216 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 6 (new)

(6) Welcomes that, as announced in the European Green Deal, the new forest strategy will have as its key objectives effective afforestation, forest preservation and restoration; highlights, that the carbon capture potential of forest ecosystems continues to increase into the maturity of the forest ecosystem and that natural forests offer important benefits; stresses that priority should be given to the protection and restoration of existing forests, in particular old-growth forests;

Amendment 217 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 7 (new)

(7) Considers that despite of the EU Timber Regulation, illegal logging still takes place in some EU Member States; calls on the Commission to finalise, without delay, the fitness check of EU rules against illegal logging, foreseen to be published in 2020 according to the Commission Work Programme, in order to make the necessary changes to the legislative framework; calls on the Commission to swiftly pursue infringement procedures when breaches occur;

Amendment 218 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 8 (new)

(8) Stresses that the new EU forest strategy must strictly protect European primary forests against all activities, disturbances and fragmentation; notes with concern that data on primary forests remains incomplete, but according to available information only 46% of mapped primary forests in Europe have the highest status of protection, 24% are afforded a status of national parks and 11% remain unprotected 1a; calls on the Commission to propose without delay a comprehensive definition of primary forests and work to improve data collection on primary forests; _________________ 1a https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10. 1111/ddi.12778 figure 3.

Amendment 219 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 9 (new)

(9) Recalls, that most of the EU forests are managed 1a, including majority of old growth forests; the improvement of the proportion of old growth forests requires an EU forest strategy with a long term planning; invites the Commission to propose a long term EU forest strategy for the improvement of the proportion of old growth forest; _________________ 1a https://science.sciencemag.org/content/35 1/6273/597.full

Amendment 22 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas more than 3 million people in the EU are employed by the EU forest sector and these jobs are dependent on resilient forest ecosystems in the long- term;

Amendment 220 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 10 (new)

(10) Calls on the Commission to explore the potential of developing a legislative framework on a EU certification scheme for locally produced wood, that is based on the highest sustainability standards;

Amendment 221 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 11 (new)

(11) Points out that there is scope for improvement in the uptake of Rural Development funds by Member States, especially in the programs related to improving forest biodiversity; calls on the Member States to use the available support measures for the conservation of forests and biodiversity; highlights also the importance of ensuring sufficient resources for the implementation of the new EU forest strategy;

Amendment 222 #

Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Michal WIEZIK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls the Commission to restart the negotiations for an international legally binding forest convention, that would contribute to the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests and to provide for their multiple and complementary functions and uses, including action towards reforestation, afforestation and forest conservation, while taking into account social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations, and recognizing the vital role of all types of forests in maintaining the ecological processes and balance, and supporting the identity, culture and the rights of indigenous people, their communities and other communities and forest dwellers;

Amendment 223 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Expresses its concern on the biodiversity loss occurring in the Union, something that needs to be also stopped by the European Forest Strategy; reminds that the loss of biodiversity is an internal problem of the Union; notes that the Strategy should protect the last fragments of mature forests in the Union due to their importance as biodiversity reservoirs and as a way to increase forest resilience; emphasises that the Strategy should promote a zero-impact silviculture on soil and landscapes;

Amendment 224 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that, despite the establishment of the Forest Information System of Europe, the available data on EU forests, and in particular on their ecological status is incomplete, difficult to aggregate and not backed by remote sensing; Calls for significant investment by the Commission and Member States in the further development of the Forest Information System for Europe and the implementation of a Pan-European remote sensing programme;

Amendment 225 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that accomplishing a unified information system on EU forests is a long-lasting, and not fully achieved endeavour up to now. Stresses that for addressing present data gaps, synergies between authorities and relevant organizations need to be sought, going beyond project-bound limitations. This includes data availability, harmonized methodologies as well as supporting financial and capacity resources;

Amendment 226 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Emphasises that the new forest strategy should, at both EU and Member State level, incentivise growth in the circular bio-economy and acknowledge that forest-based value chains are key in achieving this growth; it should also encourage a widening of circular bioeconomy by further integration between forest-based value chains and other sectors and value chains that need to decarbonise;

Amendment 227 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that 90% of EU funding for forests comes from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD); is concerned about the envisaged cuts to the budget of the EAFRD; calls on decision-makers to avoid, if possible, any cuts to the support for the forest sector in order to comply with the objectives under the European Green Deal;

Amendment 228 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Hildegard BENTELE, Marlene MORTLER, Jens GIESEKE, Alexander BERNHUBER, Christian DOLESCHAL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to include in the new EU forest strategy binding targets for the protection and restoration of forest ecosystems, especially native European forests, in order to increase the EU's international credibility in this area, inter alia, and recommends supporting Member States in protecting native European forests;

Amendment 229 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that a uniform European approach to research is needed to tackle the impact of climate change on our forests; stresses the future importance of climate-resistant tree species and coordinated pest control;

Amendment 23 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Andreas GLÜCK, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas more than 3 million people in the EU are employed by the EU forest sector, making it an important pillar of rural economies;

Amendment 230 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Martin HOJSÍK, Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Highlights the role of forests in increasing resilience towards adverse impacts from climate change; Points out the need for concrete and effective actions in climate adaptation strategies and plans, incorporating the synergies between mitigation and adaptation;

Amendment 231 #

Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to establish and finance an European Afforestation and Reforestation Program using GNSS information, dedicated to increase the forest area, tackle the land degradation, increase the air quality in urban areas;

Amendment 232 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for strict protection of EU's primary and old-growth forests as part of the EU Forest Strategy;

Amendment 233 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recognises that almost all primary forests have been lost and expresses concern at illegal logging in the EU; 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 the introduction of new measures to prevent illegal logging, to hold those responsible to account, and to end the oppression of rangers;

Amendment 234 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Urges to improve knowledge about the dynamics of Mediterranean ecosystems in terms of their maturity and disturbance regime, which could also allow for new management models to be established; urges also to improve the professional training in the field of forestry in order to allow for new forest management objectives to be adapted to the needs of the 21st century; proposes to adapt Rural Development Plans (RDPs) in order to incorporate adequate funding for the measures previously outlined;

Amendment 235 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the Commission to address the issue of urban forest development in the European Forest Strategy; welcomes in this context the fact that many urban centres in Europe have signed up to the Tree Cities of the World programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); calls on the Commission to promote cooperation and the exchange of good practices among European towns and cities on the subject of boosting urban forestry;

Amendment 236 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recognises that while an increased forest sink might balance emissions, it will not create jobs, growth, innovation or economic growth; furthermore, a sink- focused approach for the role of forests in climate change mitigation will miss out on the great potential from material substitution and prevention of fossil emissions; the new forest strategy should avoid a sink-focused view that promotes the continued use of fossil-based material and energy;

Amendment 237 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Expresses deep concern that in parts of the Union there is a lack of implementation of existing forestry related EU-legislation; calls on the Commission and Member States to fully implement existing legislation and strengthening the implementation of sustainable and active forest management;

Amendment 238 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Stresses the need to take a comprehensive approach to the protection of Europe's forests, so that the methods leading to the achievement of Europe's goals do not ultimately lead to the transfer of deforestation and forest degradation to other parts of the world;

Amendment 239 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes that the implementation of adapted forest management plans takes place on Member State level and requires increased cooperation between forest and environmental authorities, NGOs, the local communities and forest owners;

Amendment 24 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the global demand of authentic wild nature is growing, and public support for strict protection of forest ecosystems has increased significantly;

Amendment 240 #

Michal WIEZIK, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Martin HOJSÍK, Radan KANEV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on Member States to ensure that the National Strategic Plans under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will incentivise forest managers to preserve, grow and manage forests sustainably;

Amendment 241 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Reiterates the call of the European Parliament1a for an EU-wide legally binding target to restore degraded habitats by 2030, including natural forests; _________________ 1aEuropean Parliament resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019/2824(RSP))

Amendment 242 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Hildegard BENTELE, Marlene MORTLER, Jens GIESEKE, Alexander BERNHUBER, Christian DOLESCHAL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Draws attention to the need to develop and introduce plans to tackle invasive species, equipped with specific human, technical and financial resources for that purpose;

Amendment 243 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls for trade agreements to take account of the principle of sustainability with regard to timber imports, and for penalties to be applied in the event of infringements;

Amendment 244 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Notes that multi-age, multi-species forests which are managed according to biodiversity protection criteria 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; Insists that mono-cultures, which are less resilient to pests and diseases as well as to drought, wind, storms and fires, should not be supported by EU funds;

Amendment 245 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Calls on the Commission to adopt specific measures aimed at achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 5 and promote a long-term action plan for sustainable European and global forest management at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity; notes the importance of coherence and synergy between the European Forest Strategy and the new biodiversity strategy of the European Union;

Amendment 246 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Stresses that it is only by encompassing the entire forest-based value chains that the new forest strategy can achieve policy impact; notes that forest-based value chains already today play a vital role for the European economy and will be essential in building a green-growth strategy through the European Green Deal; a new forest strategy must support competitive and sustainable EU forest-based value chains domestically as well as globally;

Amendment 247 #

Michal WIEZIK, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Martin HOJSÍK, Radan KANEV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Emphasises the therapeutic function of forests, which have direct positive consequences for human health and the quality of life of citizens; stresses that forests also contribute to the socio- economic development of Europe’s rural territories, including the distribution of income to the most depopulated areas of the Union thanks to ecotourism, one of the most demanded modalities within the tourism industry;

Amendment 248 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Reiterates the call of the European Parliament1a for consistent forest-related policies, which combat biodiversity loss and climate-change impacts, and which lead to an increase of the EU’s natural sinks while protecting, conserving and enhancing biodiversity; _________________ 1aEuropean Parliament resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019/2824(RSP))

Amendment 249 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Calls for a cross-cutting approach for the EU Forest Strategy including the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the EU Climate Law, the EU bio-based Circular Economy, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Water Framework Directive and other policies;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas only 5% of forests in the EEA are undisturbed by human intervention;

Amendment 250 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Calls on the Commission to include the need for support to forest owners, including financial support, in the new EU Forest Strategy; recommends strongly, however, that such support should be made subject to the application of sustainable forest management;

Amendment 251 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Highlights the importance of the environmental defenders in common efforts to protect and restore EU forest. We call for zero tolerance on attacks or harassment against them;

Amendment 252 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Considers that belated steps are needed to introduce an EU disaster- prevention approach and that it should be provided with appropriate financial resources from the EU budget;

Amendment 253 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure full and effective implementation and enforcement of the Birds and Habitats Directives, including adequate management plans for Natura 2000 areas and to assess whether sufficient funds have been provided for the protection of forests in Natura 2000 areas;

Amendment 254 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Stresses the need for the European Union to do more to stop the clear-cutting and illegal logging and enforce EU rules that prohibit the degradation of old- growth forests. Highlights the need for EU to follow through on the illegal logging cases through organisms such EPPO or OLAF;

Amendment 255 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Takes the view that education plays an essential role in sustainable forest management, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to support training focusing on forests, both in the EU and in third countries, including providing stipends and arranging academic exchange programmes;

Amendment 256 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Considers that the condition of forests needs to be monitored, by keeping records on forest resources, forest fires and pest outbreaks in the EU, through data on droughts and through forest inventories, which should provide up-to- date biodiversity information;

Amendment 257 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Recalls its support for a European legal framework based on mandatory due diligence to regulate access to the Union market only to products and commodities that do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, nor to the conversion or degradation of other natural ecosystems; believes such framework should apply to all economic actors, including financial actors, both upstream and downstream of the supply chain, and should also ensure the absence of related human rights violations; urges the Commission to adopt such proposal without delay;

Amendment 258 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Calls on the Commission to address the concerns of professional members of the public regarding the Renewable Energy Directive, in particular the issue of categorising all types of biomass as renewable energy sources, inter alia in relation to the high level of wood pellet imports into the EU and the potential risks that these imports pose to forests in third countries, and to continue to promote other sustainable forms of renewable energy;

Amendment 259 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Stresses that tree planting schemes must be an adjunct to restoring natural forests as the wrong tree in the wrong place can intensify forest fires and actually release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Notes that forest- restoration schemes must increase their carbon sequestration potential to meet global climate commitments;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas 90 % of European forests are accessible for recreational purposes;

Amendment 260 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Takes the view that a system monitoring pest outbreaks in the EU may be needed to obtain the full picture with regard to the condition of forests and their impact on forest biodiversity, given the expected impact of climate change on distribution of harmful organisms;

Amendment 261 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Takes the view that urgent action should be taken to prevent the introduction through international trade of new pests and diseases and their respective vectors;

Amendment 262 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)

5g. Believes that, taking into account legislation on invasive alien species and the potential repercussions that these species may have on forests, the Commission should propose new complementary financial tools to help affected areas tackle invasive species, particularly persistent and new alien species;

Amendment 263 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)

5h. Considers that more attention should be paid to the problem of diseases, such as oak decline, that affect trees, which are in decline around the world as a result of pests, diseases and climate change; draws attention to oak decline, which is ravaging cork-oak plantations in Portugal, France and Spain and is also affecting special protection areas (SPAs) and biosphere reserves; believes that the Commission should have included in the strategy effective measures and specific resources for tackling tree diseases;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas genetic variety in forests is essential for adapting to changing environmental conditions such as climate change and for restoring biodiversity;

Amendment 28 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas only 26 % of forest species and 15 % of the forest habitats were found to be in favourable conservation status1a; _________________ 1a https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/bett er-information-needed-on-europes-forests

Amendment 29 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas the majority of European forests are privately owned (approximately 60% of forest land) rather than publicly owned (40%);

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas forests and other wooded land cover at least 43 % of the EU’s territory, and some Member States have more than half of their territories covered by forests and are heavily invested in forestry; whereas about 60 % of EU forests are privately owned, most of which by small-scale owners with less than 3 ha of forest;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas it is important to underline the continuous efforts undertaken by forest owners and managers to ensure sustainable forest development and the importance to further enhance their potential to reach the objectives of the European Green Deal; whereas EU forest owners and managers have a long tradition of and experience in management of multifunctional forests;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas the conservation of high- carbon ecosystems, including forests, is identified by the IPCC as having immediate positive impacts and should thus be prioritised in this strategy;

Amendment 32 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas illegal logging is ongoing also in the EU5a _________________ 5aexamples Romania, Sweden, Poland https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/p df/Briefing%20note%20May- June%202019_Final.pdf and https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/p df/Briefing_Note_April_- _May_2018_Public_version.pdf

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)

Bd. whereas the current regime of bioenergy subsidies goes against the cascading use principle enshrined in the current EU forest strategy by creating a competitive advantage for bioenergy over material uses despite this use being further down in the cascade1a; _________________ 1abioenergy in accordance with this principle is down the line just above disposal. Wood is used in the following order of priorities: wood-based products, extending their service life, re-use, recycling, bio-energy and disposal

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)

Bd. whereas a balanced approach to all forest functions is key to ensuring consistency between forest-related policies;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation, since they absorb and store 10 % of EU carbon emissions; whereas the short-term effect of logged forest on climate is negative 1a whatever the use of logged wood, and potential future re- growth of logged site is of no use in the critical time we have left to act; _________________ 1a G. Englund,; S.-O. Holm;B.-G. Jonsson, D. van der Spoel, 2019: The climate benefit of reduced forest harvesting is enormous

Amendment 36 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation, since they absorb and store 10 % of EU carbon emissions; whereas they store about 2.5 times more C in soils than in tree biomass 1a , highlights therefore the importance of complex forest ecosystems for the terrestrial carbon cycling in Europe; _________________ 1aBrunoDe Vos et al., Benchmark values for forest soil carbon stocks in Europe: Results from a large scale forest soil survey, Geoderma, Volumes 251–252, August 2015,Pages 33-46

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation, since they absorb and store 10 % of EU carbon emissions; whereas maximum CO2 sequestration potential comes from untouched woodland, compared to efforts to sequester CO2 with commercial forestry;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation, since they absorb and store 10 % of EU carbon emissions; whereas forests play a multifunctional role and whereas in future they should not be regarded purely as carbon sinks;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation, since they absorb and store 10 % of EU carbon emissions and provide a renewable and climate friendly raw material that substitutes for energy- intensive materials and fossil fuels;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is covered by 182 million hectares of forests and other wooded land ~~cover at least~~accounting for 43 % of the EU’s territory and 5% of the world`s total forests, and some Member States have more than half of their territories covered by forests and are heavily invested in forestry;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas Europe’s forests are of immense value in terms of climate mitigation~~, since they absorb and store 10 % of EU carbon emissions;~~; whereas forest ecosystems store around 10 % of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions4a; whereas there is potential to increase this capacity; _________________ 4aSee 2016 EEA report on 'European forest ecosystems -state and trends', https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/e uropean-forest-ecosystems, p17

Amendment 41 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas in order to help tackle the biodiversity loss and climate crises, it is essential that forests are protected, restored and managed in such a way as to maximise their capacity for carbon storage and biodiversity protection; Whereas this is a win-win solution since growing existing forests to their maximum carbon storage potential whilst restoring previously degraded ecosystems and allowing organic material to decompose also protects biodiversity, soil, air, land, and water;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. 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 43 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas high extinction rates of specialized forest species often observed in managed forests contradict the idea of sustainability of such management and calls into question the compatibility of active management and forest conservation for cases where full scale of forest biodiversity, and in particular the most threatened species, are the subject of conservation goals;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest are vital for economic and social development, environmental protection and the systems that sustain life on Earth; whereas, however, newly planted forests cannot replace primary forests;

Amendment 45 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the European Union has committed to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including goal 15 to Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas forests provide numerous ecosystem services, as they help protect the soil (against erosion), form part of the water cycle and regulate the local climate (mainly via evapotranspiration) and the global climate (in particular by storing carbon);

Amendment 47 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES, Ulrike MÜLLER

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas forests are habitats and forest ecosystems are home to many of the species that are at risk of extinction and their value cannot be offset, monetised or quantified; whereas nature has a value in and of itself beyond its use value to humans;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas European forests have a key role to play in flood management: 4.5 per cent of European forests are considered floodplain forests which have a significant role in water retention;

Amendment 49 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Martin HOJSÍK, Frédérique RIES, Ulrike MÜLLER

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas forests disturbed by fires and logging have seen soil loss as high as 26.6 per cent. This makes soil less fertile and decreases agricultural productivity in surrounding areas. The soil in mature forests stores significantly more carbon than soils from areas that have been clear-cut;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the quality of forests in the EU has been in long-term decline, and they are also affected by problems typically associated with tropical forests, such as deforestation and illegal logging;

Amendment 51 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas intact ecosystems have greater capability to overcome environmental stressors, including changes to climate, than degraded ones as they have inherent properties that enable them to maximize their adaptive capacity, whereas they sustain large-scale ecological processes, such as natural disturbance regimes, which maintain disturbance adapted species and evolutionary lineages that are uniquely adapted to survive major seasonal temperature changes and landscape-level disturbances over time, such as large fires and insect infestations2a; _________________ 2aJames E. Watson et al, 2018: The exceptional value of intact forest ecosystems. In Nature Ecology& Evolution

Amendment 52 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Frédérique RIES, Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas even in the EU there are native forests with high carbon stocks, characterised by significant age, unique ecological characteristics and the highest levels of biodiversity, and which contain evolutionary lines uniquely adapted to survive large-scale disturbances, which could be vital in adapting to climate change, and these forests are not always sufficiently protected in the territories of the Member States;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas diverse natural ecosystems are an insurance policy against climate change. Scientists have found that forests with many tree species grow at a faster rate, store more carbon and are more resistant to pests and diseases;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas the IPCC Special Report on Land Use finds that commercial forestry has contributed to increasing net GHG emissions, loss of natural ecosystems, and declining biodiversity;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas 'proforestation' is the practice of letting forests grow to their maximum ecological capacity to store carbon and to reach their full biodiversity potential;

Amendment 56 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the European Parliament has declared a climate and environment emergency on 28th November 2019;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas forests protect biodiversity by providing a habitat for numerous species;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas forests are an integral part of sustainable development;

Amendment 59 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas the provisions of the LULUCF Regulation3a recognize that a carbon pool of deadwood in the forest is analogous to the long-lived harvested wood products as its carbon does not undergo instantaneous oxidisation, whereas deadwood constitutes crucial microhabitats on which number of species, including protected species, are dependent; _________________ 3aRegulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas forests and other wooded land cover ~~at least~~ 43 % of the EU’s territory,1a and ~~some Member States have more than half of their territories covered by forests and are heavily invested in forestry;~~ are host to a significant part of Europe's terrestrial biodiversity; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/product s-eurostat-news/-/EDN-20190321-1

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas forests store more carbon dioxide per acre per year the older the trees get, throughout their entire lifetimes; whereas, on the contrary, managed plantations that are harvested periodically store less carbon because trees are maintained at a young age and size and because carbon is released from the soil when it is disturbed;

Amendment 61 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas according to the IPBES Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of 2019, nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history and 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. having regard to the Report on stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests, which is currently being discussed in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the main source of EU funds for forest management;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas plantations are often monocultures which contain less biodiversity than natural and semi- natural forests and are less resilient to climate change, thus leading to more carbon losses due to natural disturbances;

Amendment 65 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Irena JOVEVA, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas forests are part of EU natural capital, on which the EU has competence to act 1a ; _________________ 1aTFEU Art 191 , such legal interpretation confirmed by court judgement of Joined Cases C-164/97 and C-165/97

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas types of cutting have different impacts on forests’ carbon dioxide storage capacities, soil quality and conservation status; whereas clear-cutting of large areas is the most damaging method, since it removes much of the organic matter and roots from the soil, causes the release of carbon stored in the soil (which is around 2.5 times as much as that stored in tree biomass) and significantly damages the complex structure of the forest and its dependent ecosystems;

Amendment 67 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA, Sirpa PIETIKÄINEN, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas in order to preserve the full scale of forest biodiversity and functionality, together with the need for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, a proportion of forest areas to be set aside any form of active human intervention is crucially needed;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas it has been estimated that coal-to-biomass projects which are currently underway in the EU would increase biomass consumption by 607 PJ per year and require approximately 2,700km2 of forest to be cut down every year while producing only 64 TWh of electricity, which is less than 2% of the EU’s electricity production 1a ; _________________ 1a https://ember- climate.org/project/playing-with-fire/

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas subsidies to bioenergy lead to worsening of the ratio of use of wood between material vs energy use, and at the same time to artificial increase in the supply of biomass1a, thus lowering the capacity of forests to sequester carbon; _________________ 1aas in JRC report (2018) ''Indeed, targets for renewable energy set by the EU have resulted in a surge in the consumption of woody biomass.'' estimates for energy use of wood: 42% (2005), 43% (2010), 48% currently, while energy uses likely underreported

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas forests contribute effectively to territorial balance, economic growth and employment in rural and urban areas, and help maintain the competitiveness of the forestry sector and the development of the bioeconomy while also providing a guarantee of biodiversity and ecosystem services;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Recital C g (new)

Cg. whereas use of wood as biomass for energy production creates higher emissions of CO2 per unit of energy than coal because of a lower energy density, the 'leak' of carbon through the biomass supply-chain and less efficient conversion of combustion heat to electricity; whereas the current EU Forestry strategy as well as the Renewable Energy Directive encourage the use of wood as biomass for energy production;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Recital C g (new)

Cg. whereas subsidies for various renewable energy sources help kickstart the sector, whereas solar and eolic energy sector and technologies can sustain themselves without subsidies after initial scaling up, whereas this is not true for bioenergy and this sector runs only thanks to subsidies;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas data available on forests at EU level is incomplete and of varying quality, which hampers EU and Member State coordination of forest management and conservation;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas new climate change adaptation and mitigation options arise, among them proforestation1a; _________________ 1aproforestation - growing existing forests intact to their ecological potential, as in William R. Moomaw, 2019: Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good. In Frontiers in Forests and Global Change

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Recital C i (new)

Ci. whereas illegal logging is an ongoing and unresolved problem in some EU countries;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Recital C j (new)

Cj. whereas nature in general and forests in particular are beneficial to people’s physical, mental and social well- being; whereas forests and woodlands in urban as well as rural areas provide restorative environments and can reduce stress, relieve mental illnesses, improve quality of life and offer opportunities for a wide variety of exercise activities; whereas forests are host to numerous cultural events and traditions and can also embody cultural and spiritual values for different communities and peoples;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Recital C k (new)

Ck. whereas rampant deforestation is one of the factors that have created a 'perfect storm' for the spill over of diseases from wildlife to people 1a ; _________________ 1a https://ipbes.net/covid19stimulus

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Recital C l (new)

Cl. whereas the EU has a responsibility to ensure that our consumption patterns and imports from third countries do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, nor to the conversion or degradation of other natural ecosystems, in other parts of the world;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy; stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully observe the principle of subsidiarity; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far-reaching societal, economic and environm building on the biodiversity strategy and covering the whole forest cycle and promoting the many services that forests provide; stresses that the new forest strategy should be aligned with the objective of limiting global warming to under 1.5oC, as per the Paris Agreement; emphasises the need for clear prioritisation, with climate and biodiversity protection as central ~~benefits of forests; underlines~~and interconnected objectives, in line with the aims of the Eur~~gent need to prevent and manage natural disturbances; highlights that the forest strategy should not be subordinate to an~~opean Green Deal; Stresses that such an approach is essential in helping tackle the ecological crises but also in helping to ensure the long-term viability of the~~r sectoral strategy~~ forestry sector;

Amendment 79 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Irena JOVEVA, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy; stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully ~~observe the principle of subsidiarity~~recognize both competences of EU member states and the European Union in the area of protection of forests; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic and consistent forest sStrategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far- reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests; underlines the urgent need to ~~prevent and manag~~understand and manage accordingly the natural disturbances; highlights that the forest strategy should ~~not be subordinate to any other sectoral strategy~~be built on an EU Biodiversity Strategy as laid down in the European Green Deal Communication;

Amendment 8 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the European Union has committed to the achievement of the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity, such as target 7 requiring that by 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity, but the Union is not set to meet the targets;

Amendment 80 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Nils TORVALDS, Fredrick FEDERLEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy; stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully observe the principle of subsidiarity and observes that, in all circumstances, forest owners have the power to decide on forest management within the framework of national law; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far- reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests; underlines the urgent need to prevent and manage natural disturbances; highlights that the forest strategy should not be subordinate to any other sectoral strategy;

Amendment 81 #

Monika BEŇOVÁ, Sara CERDAS, César LUENA, Maria ARENA, Delara BURKHARDT, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Simona BONAFÈ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy; stresses the need for the forest strategy to be fully ~~observe the principle of subsidiarity; emphasises, in this regard,~~aligned with the European Green Deal and the upcoming 2030 biodiversity strategy; recalls that under Article 191 TFEU, Union policy on the environment shall contribute, among other objectives, to the pursuit of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment, and to prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; recalls that several pieces of EU legislation affect forests and forest management; emphasises the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far- reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests~~; underlines the urgent need to prevent and manage natural disturbances; highlights that the forest strategy should not be subordinate to any other sectoral strategy~~ in full respect of the Union's climate and environmental objectives;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy; stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully observe the principle of subsidiarity and to respect the national competence for forest policies; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far- reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests and hence contributes to the achievement of the UN 2030 SDGs; underlines the urgent need to prevent and manage natural disturbances; highlights that the forest strategy should be consistent with other high level strategies, while it should not be subordinate to any other sectoral strategy;

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy as part of the European Green Deal; stresses the unlocked potential and urgent need for forests to play a bigger role in limiting global warming and restoring biodiversity; stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully observe the principle of subsidiarity; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic ~~and~~, consistent and Paris-compliant forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far- reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests; underlines the urgent need to prevent and manage natural disturbances; ~~highlights that the forest strategy should not be subordinate to any other sectoral strategy;~~

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new forest strategy; stresses the need for the forest strategy to fully observe the principle of subsidiarity; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU and that promotes the far-reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests; underlines the urgent need to highlights, however, that the approaches pursued and agreed in international and European conferences and conventions on forests and the environment – i.e. the European and international framework – must reprevsent an~~d manage natural disturbances; highlights that the forest strategy should not be subordinate to any o~~ undertaking by states that they will carry out the action listed in those conventions in developing their ~~sectoral strategy~~own strategies, plans and laws;

Amendment 86 #

Hildegard BENTELE, Jens GIESEKE, Christine SCHNEIDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the decision from the Commission to introduce a new ~~forest~~ strategy for forests; stresses the need for the ~~forest~~ strategy to fully ~~observe the principle of subsidiarity~~recognise EU competences in forest protection; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the ~~multifunctional role of forests and the forest-based sector in the EU~~protection of forests, their multifunctional role, as well as the resilience of the forest-based sector in the EU, based on the cascading use of wood, and that promotes the far- reaching societal, economic and environmental benefits of forests; underlines the urgent need to prevent ~~and manage natural disturbances;~~the further intensification of forest management: highlights that the ~~forest~~ strategy should ~~not~~ be subordinate to ~~any other sectoral strategy~~the Biodiversity Strategy, as proposed by the European Green Deal;

Amendment 87 #

1a. Observes that, according to the European Environment Agency, urban woods also make a by no means insignificant contribution to combating climate change and its impact on health, and draws attention to their particularly vital function for town- and city-dwellers as places of recreation and as natural surroundings; stresses that, in addition to woods in rural areas, urban woodlands and the interaction of woods and trees with urban and periurban areas, as well as understanding of their function for these communities, should be evaluated, particularly with reference to the persistent droughts;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Emphasises the need for a holistic and consistent forest strategy that enhances the multifunctional role and sustainability of forests and the forest- based sector in the EU and promotes the far-reaching environmental, societal, economic and cultural benefits of forests; emphasises, in that connection, that urgent action needs to be taken as a priority to prevent and manage the natural challenges and existing pressures that forests face, and to tackle deforestation;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that the European Forest Strategy should incorporate a greater variety of objectives into forest management, including the conservation of biodiversity, the recovery of ecological processes, and the adaptation to climate change, in line with the European Green Deal; stresses that the Strategy should establish long-term goals for forest management, and plan at the landscape level in order to allow the coexistence of all the tiles of any forest’s heterogeneous mosaic;

Amendment 9 #

Michal WIEZIK, Radan KANEV, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Martin HOJSÍK, Anja HAZEKAMP, Irena JOVEVA

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas forests are circular ecosystems founded on full recycling of matter and nutrients within, whereas any form of active management is based on exploitation of resources from this ecosystem, which inevitably and negatively affects its functioning, structure and biodiversity;

Amendment 90 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Observes that the Paris Climate Agreement treats forest fires as a natural phenomenon; notes that forest fires can be prevented by ensuring forest growth, reducing the quantity of dead wood and ensuring that there is a comprehensive network of forest roads; considers that the Paris Agreement should recognise that good, planned management of commercial forests can prevent forest fires; takes the view that countries that have succeeded in preventing forest fires should be rewarded in carbon calculations;

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines that the forest strategy should pay particular attention to, and propose guidelines for, the protection and adaptation of forest policies to the effects of climate change, including combating forest degradation and deforestation, conserving forest genetic resources, managing protected forest territories, enhancing research on biodiversity conservation and enrichment;

Amendment 92 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Hildegard BENTELE, Marlene MORTLER, Jens GIESEKE, Alexander BERNHUBER, Christian DOLESCHAL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines the urgent need to honour the pledge of the Commission to zero tolerance to non-compliance with environmental legislation, stresses that number of infringement cases currently open against the Member states1a address irreplaceable values of European forest ecosystems and urges the Commission to swiftly engage and act in these; _________________ 1a e.g. Case 2018/4076 against Slovakia, Case 2020/2033 against Romania

Amendment 93 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that safeguarding and sustainably managing our forests makes a core contribution to our general well- being and should not be subject to competition law; forests are a home for public-interest activities in the field of leisure and health as well as education;

Amendment 94 #

Adam JARUBAS, Jarosław KALINOWSKI, Bartosz ARŁUKOWICZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines that the EU and its Member States, while being the signatories of the Forest Europe process, have committed to apply the definition and principles of sustainable forest management (SFM)1a to their forests; _________________ 1aProvided in Forest Europe Helsinki ResolutionH1 of 1993

Amendment 95 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Takes the view that forests must be protected by means of other policies, such as agricultural, rural development and trade policies, and by bringing an end to restrictions on national public investment;

Amendment 96 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission to propose a binding target of protecting 30% of EU forests by 2030, with strict protection of all remaining primary and old growth forests;

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Reiterates that in addition to multifunctionality, forest management models must incorporate the criterion of environmental, societal and economic sustainability, which means that the stewardship and use of forests and forest lands are such that they maintain their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant environmental, economic and social functions at local, national and global levels, and do not cause damage to other ecosystems1a; _________________ 1aResolution H1, General Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Forests in Europe, Second Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, 16-17 June 1993, Helsinki.

Amendment 98 #

Christine SCHNEIDER, Hildegard BENTELE, Marlene MORTLER, Jens GIESEKE, Alexander BERNHUBER, Christian DOLESCHAL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Takes the view that the common agricultural policy, the underfunding, privatisation and dismantling of public services, including professional agricultural and forestry extension services, and the dominance of monopolies in the timber sector have stifled thousands of small-scale foresters, undermined forests' multifunctionality and the sustainability of forest ecosystems, resulted in poor forest planning and facilitated abandonment of the countryside by allowing large areas to be abandoned;

Amendment 99 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Observes that, with reference to the multifunctional role of forests, all aspects need to be promoted: the protective function of forests as a habitat for countless animal and plant species, the utility function of forests as sources of wood and other products, the protective function of forests for flora and fauna; stresses that the ecological, economic and social functions of forests must be considered in conjunction with one another;

source: 650.588

2020/06/11 AGRI 180 amendments...

Amendment 303 #

Motion for a resolution
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,~~need to prioritise the most efficient use of wood following the ‘cascading principle’ starting from using it for most value adding applications, i.e. for construction and furniture purposes, and the continued need for forest-related research and innovation throughout the forest value chain, including wood-based products that can play as a substitute in the textile industry, the chemical industry and the packaging industry;

Amendment 304 #

Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Ulrike MÜLLER, Petri SARVAMAA, Herbert DORFMANN, Martin HLAVÁČEK, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
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 305 #

Motion for a resolution
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; considers it important to stress the benefits to health of the forest-based sector not only from the point of view of clean air and recreation but also from the point of view of providing raw materials for the medicines industry and particularly the production of hygiene products, which serve to limit the spread of pandemics;

Amendment 306 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
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; further highlights the as yet under-used advantages offered by the replacement of single-use products, notably plastic products, by sustainable products such as recycled wood;

Amendment 307 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 308 #

Motion for a resolution
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, which can positively contribute to further solutions for climate change mitigation and job creation; 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;

Amendment 309 #

Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Irène TOLLERET, Jérémy DECERLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 310 #

Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carmen AVRAM

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors, and their coordination within the circular economy, 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;

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Highlights the need to take into consideration the links between the forest- based sector and other sectors, notably agriculture, 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;

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
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 education, 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;

Amendment 313 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 314 #

Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Fredrick FEDERLEY, Irène TOLLERET, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission to review the accounting rules for bioenergy as a part of a review of the Renewable Energy Directive; stresses the need to prioritise timber for uses with a long life cycle, as construction and furniture; notes with concern that at EU level, reported data indicate that energy accounts for 48 % of total use of woody biomass; highlights the urgency to stop using EU funds to support bioenergy production from wood, except if the biomass comes in a large majority from leftovers at the end of the wood value chain;

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
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 316 #

Manuel BOMPARD, Anna DEPARNAY-GRUNENBERG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Takes the view that the cascade model is a forward-looking, resource- efficient principle in forest management; calls on the Commission in this regard to pay particular attention to the cascade model in European funding initiatives; notes that using wood for burning should be the final stage of the cascading use process;

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that materials of biological origin, including all wood waste, returns to the value chain by encouraging eco-design, increasing recycling targets and promoting the use of secondary raw materials comprising wood for products before their potential incineration at the end of life;

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Stresses the importance to rural society of agroforestry systems, which are very low density and barely economically viable, taking into account that annual income is complemented by other activities, such as livestock farming, tourism and hunting, which need to receive enough financing to prevent desertification and overexploitation;

Amendment 319 #

Fredrick FEDERLEY, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Irène TOLLERET, Hilde VAUTMANS, Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Petri SARVAMAA, Martin HLAVÁČEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Observes that wood has great potential as a renewable building material which sequesters carbon; believes that there is a need for better communication concerning the environmental impact of using wood for building, so that the use of wood as a sustainable construction material can be promoted;

Amendment 320 #

Carmen AVRAM, Pina PICIERNO, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Paolo DE CASTRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Robert HAJŠEL, Marc TARABELLA, Clara AGUILERA, Sylwia SPUREK, Ivo HRISTOV, Monika BEŇOVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Recognizes the value of wood for energy purposes, but calls on the Commission and Member States to consider introducing binding sustainability criteria for biomass, in order to avoid overexploitation of wood resources and forests;

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
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 322 #

16b. Considers that the EU should encourage the use of locally-sourced timber, harvested wood products or forest biomass in order to minimise the carbon footprint created by transport of imports from third countries and to stimulate sustainable local production and jobs;

Amendment 323 #