EU action to protect and restore the world’s forests

Astrid Schomaker

Director

European Commission - DG Environment

Deforestation and forest degradation

➢ From 1990 to 2020, some 420 million hectares of forest have

been lost, an area bigger than India (FAO)

➢ Approximately 80% of deforestation is caused by unsustainable

agricultural practices.

➢ Deforestation and other land use change accounts for 12% of

greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2009 (IPCC) and is

a major driver of biodiversity loss

Role of the EU

➢ The EU is a major importer of commodities associated with

deforestation and forest degradation

➢ Between 1990 and 2008, the EU consumed one third of the

globally traded agricultural products associated with

deforestation

➢ This makes the EU responsible for 10% of worldwide

deforestation associated with the production of goods or

services

➢ Palm oil (33,95%) and soy (32,83%) are responsible for the

largest parts of embodied deforestation among commodities

analysed in terms of EU consumption

EU strategic documents on

deforestation

➢ Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the

World’s Forests of July 2019

➢ European Green Deal: “The Commission will take measures, both

regulatory and otherwise, to promote imported products and value

chains that do not involve deforestation and forest degradation.”

➢ EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: “The Commission will also present

in 2021 a legislative proposal and other measures to avoid or minimise

the placing of products associated with deforestation or forest

degradation on the EU market.”

➢ Farm to Fork Strategy: “The Commission will present in 2021 a

legislative proposal and other measures to avoid or minimise the

placing of products associated with deforestation or forest degradation

on the EU market.”

5 priorities for stronger action to protect and

restore the world‘s forests

1. Reduce the EU consumption footprint on land and

encourage the consumption of products from

deforestation-free supply chains in the EU

2. Work in partnership with producing countries to

reduce pressures on forests and to ‘deforest–proof’

EU development cooperation

3. Strengthen international cooperation to halt

deforestation and forest degradation and encourage

sustainable forests restoration

4. Redirect finance in support of more sustainable land-

use practices

5. Support availability of, quality of and access to

information on forests and commodity supply

chains. Support research and innovation

1. Sustainable supply chains:

demand side

2. Sustainable supply chains:

supply side

3. International cooperation

4. Finance and

investments

5. Research & transparency, traceability

IED

Objectives

6

Minimise the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide

Promote the demand for and consumption of commodities and products that are not associated with deforestation and forest

degradation.

Specific

Incentivise financial and economic investors to integrate such concerns into their investment decisions

Minimise the risk that commodities and products are placed on the EU market that are associated with deforestation and forest degradation

New legislative proposal

Main change in comparison to existing EU legislation

(EUTR, FLEGT): Refocusing from legality to include

sustainability criterion (deforestation-free)

Starting points:

1. Based on scientific evidence

2. Building on existing, internationally used definitions

3. Non-discriminatory

4. Implementable in practice

New legislative proposal:

Scope - Commodities and derived products

Commodities covered: Palm oil, soy, wood, beef, cocoa,

and coffee

Covering selected derived products

Choice of commodities and products based on :

Commodities with the highest global contribution to

deforestation

EU consumption of those commodities

New legislative proposal:

Main elements

Definition of deforestation (including plantations),

based on FAO

Definition of deforestation-free

Mandatory due diligence for operators and large

traders

Progressive scope

New legislative proposal:

Enhanced scrutiny for high-risk, simplified due diligence

duties for low risk countries

Country benchmarking: identification of low and high risk

countries

No ban of any country or any commodity

No discrimination

Only one part of the EU’s policy response

5 priorities for stronger action to protect and

restore the world‘s forests

1. Reduce the EU consumption footprint on land and

encourage the consumption of products from

deforestation-free supply chains in the EU

2. Work in partnership with producing countries to

reduce pressures on forests and to ‘deforest–proof’

EU development cooperation

3. Strengthen international cooperation to halt

deforestation and forest degradation and encourage

sustainable forests restoration

4. Redirect finance in support of more sustainable land-

use practices

5. Support availability of, quality of and access to

information on forests and commodity supply

chains. Support research and innovation

1. Sustainable supply chains: demand side

2. Sustainable supply chains:

supply side

3. International cooperation

4. Finance and investments

5. Research & transparency, traceability

Partnership with producing countries

Ensure that deforestation is included in political

dialogues at country level

Ensure that EU support for policies in partner countries does not

contribute to deforestation and forest degradation

Help partner countries to implement sustainable

forest-based value chains and promote sustainable

bioeconomies

Scale-up support for improved land and forest

governance and law enforcement (EU Action

Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, FLEGT Work Plan 2018-2022, etc.).

Target 2: climate change (including reforestation,

restoration, afforestation )

Target 3: creation of decent jobs through sustainable value chains

Target 4: sustainable forest management (including

conservation)

Target 5: reduce deforestation and import of products

associated with deforestation

Objectives of EU Forest Partnerships

Target 1: improved governance (including human rights and

reduction of inequalities)

EU holistic and integrated approach to protect, restore and sustainably use forests

Thank youLearn more here: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/eu_comm_2019.htm

© European Union 2021

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