eu action to protect and restore the world’s forests
TRANSCRIPT
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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