ernst schulte, european commission, dg environment
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Green Paper on forest protection and information: Preparing forests for climate change ANNUAL CONFERENCE of the European Forest Institute 15 September 2010 Dresden. Ernst Schulte, European Commission, DG Environment. Afforestation Cork production - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Green Paper Green Paper on forest protection and information: on forest protection and information: Preparing forests for climate changePreparing forests for climate change
ANNUAL CONFERENCEANNUAL CONFERENCEof the European Forest Instituteof the European Forest Institute
15 September 201015 September 2010
DresdenDresden
Ernst Schulte, European Commission, DG EnvironmentErnst Schulte, European Commission, DG Environment
European Commission, DG Environment — Unit B1European Commission, DG Environment — Unit B1 22
EU Involvement in forest issues: Historical Overview
1957 1987
European CommunitiesNo systematic approach to
forestry
AfforestationCork production
Regulation on monitoring of
atmospheric pollution
1992
Regulations on forest fire protection and monitoring
Forestry measures
related to CAP reform
1998 2006
EU Forestry StrategyRural Development
Forest Action Plan
+Stronger
RDR +
LIFE+Regulation
2003
Green Paper on forest
protection & information
Forest FocusRegulation
2010
Basis of the Green Paper EU Forest Action Plan
Key action 6 : EU compliance with UNFCCC/Kyoto Protocol +
adaptation to the effects of climate change Key action 8 : Work towards a European Forest Monitoring System Key action 9: Enhance the protection of EU forests
Commission White Paper on adaptation to climate change – COM(2009)147
Asks for establishing an EU Framework for Action, Launching a debate on forest protection and information and Adapting the EU Forestry Strategy
What is at stake ?
Trees and soil as sinks or sources of carbon Output of forest products that can act as sink during
their useful life High expectations for bio-energy supply, especially
with current bio-energy debate Ecological functions that are essential to the earth’s
life supporting systems (70% of species threatened by loss of their habitat)
Protecting forests =both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change
“Diversity supports multifunctionality”
Socio- Economic functions : Forest based industry = 10 % of EU manfacturing/2.5 million jobs Large downstream value chain Possible imbalance supply/demand > bio-energy 2020 Local importance on non wood forest products Important landscape element (tourism/property value) « Green infrastructure » protects settlements
Environmental functions – ecosystem services: Forests protect soil Forests protect water quality and regulate water quantity Forests are a major repository of terrestrial biodiversity Forests regulate climate and weather Forests as carbon stocks
Functions of EU forests
Forest fires , mainly in Southern Europe Storms and windthrow more frequent invasive alien species, incl. exotic trees, new pests Fragmentation of ecosystems and holdings Changes in water regime Excessive game density Decline of genetic resources Scarcity of undisturbed areas Impacts of forest management Forest « dieback » at regional level
Forest Protection Challenges
loss of biodiversity and carbonforest functions at risk
Impacts of climate change on forests
Increase in water stress Increased risk of storm damage Increased fire risk in terms of frequency and scale Changes in nutrient balance in soils Northward/altitude migration of tree species as well as
other organisms Increase in insect outbreaks , e.g. of bark beetles Increase of pests Forest dieback, including damage caused by game and
invasive alien species
Rapid changes may affect ecosystem stability and forest functions
Tools available now
EU policies: EU Forest Strategy, FAP, CAP (rural development), Natura Directives, Forest based industries, FP7, climate policy, energy, plant health, etc
National policies: National and regional forest programmes, including forest protection plans, national forest inventories, management requirements, legal provisions, etc
Forest management: afforestation, fire and storm prevention & restoration, overall planning with the aim to guarantee multi-functionality of forests
Current forest information sources
Forest resourcesSFM indicators
Biodiversity
Forest fires
National statisticsEFFIS
EU forest monitoringForest Focus
Life + Forest condition
Forest classification
NFIs
Forest types (EEA)
European Forest Data Centre
&European Forest
Information and Communication
Platform
IACS
Future forest information needs
Possible forest reporting requirements after 2013 could target on:
A harmonization of definitions and forest inventory systems which assures compatibility and comparability
An agreement on a forest typology Assuring continuity of the forest condition monitoring,
including information on climate (carbon contents of soils), biodiversity (incl. Wilderness and forest fragmentation aspects) and biomass
Assuring continuation of efficient forest fire monitoring and disaster prevention
21/04/2321/04/23 DG Environment — Unit B1DG Environment — Unit B1 1111
Recent relevant Council conclusions:
International biodiversity beyond 2010 of 22 December 2009
Biodiversity post-2010 of 15 March 2010
forest fire prevention within the European Union of 26 April 2010
Preparing forests for climate change: Forest protection and information in the EU of 11 June 2010
Where are we ?
International forest protection conference, Valsain/Spain,April 2010
Green Week and forest side session of 3 June 2010
Public consultation on the Green Paper (ended in July 2010)http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/fprotection.htm
Public consultation on biodiversity (ends 22 October 2010)http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/biodecline.htm
21/04/2321/04/23 DG Environment — Unit B1DG Environment — Unit B1 1313
Green Paper public consultationn 254 replies to the consultations were regrouped into the
following categories
Business and industry (48) Governmental and public bodies (55) NGOs (40) Private and forest owners (90) Research and academia (21)
n Analysis started in September 2010n Results expected end of 2010/beginning of 2011
A POLICY PROCESS
Studies: storms, forest fires, forest protection, dieback, protective functions, biotic agents, …
Valsain Declaration on forest protection of 6 April 2010 Council conclusions, Forest Strategy and Forest Action Plan Opinions/resolutions from the Parliament, CoR, EESC Report on public consultation (2010/2011) White paper on forest protection and information (2011) Legislative proposal (2012) update of the EU Forest Strategy on climate related aspects
21/04/2321/04/23 DG Environment — Unit B1DG Environment — Unit B1 1515
Thank you for your attention !Thank you for your attention !