ForestBiomassandEUPolicies
BIO4ECO- FinalConference,17.September2020,Webinar
17.09.2020| WWW.EFI.INT
HaraldMauser
EFILiaison OfficeBrussels
• largeexpansionofEuropeanforestresourcesduringthepast70years– uniqueatgloballevel
Unique ExpansionofForest ResourcesinEurope
WWW.EFI.INT
Source:adaptedfromVerkerk2015;multipledatasources
• moremixedandstructuredforests
• higheramountofdeadwood
• risingshareofnaturalregeneration
| WWW.EFI.INT| WWW.EFI.INT
EU- not ahuge forested Region,but ahuge Forest ProductsProducerEU28’s share oftotal world forest area in2015was 4%
Source:FAOSTAT
EU28’s shareofworld total valueofforestexportsin2015was 42%=110billionUSD
Brazil+Russia33%
EU4%
REST
BuildingaCarbonSinkinEurope– whoelse?
| WWW.EFI.INT
Source:Nabuursetal.2013
EU28
forest sink
MitigatingGHGEmissionsbyForests……andWoodUse!
| WWW.EFI.INT
Ø trade-offsbetween options,each having its limitations,risks and temporaldynamics of emissionsØ themost effective forest-based mitigation strategy should optimize the sum of alloptions inagiven timeframe
Source:G.Grassi,JRC,presentation20170530,Brussels
NewCEPIstudy presented 19.June2020:20%offset in2018
StoringCarboninForestsisnotfreeofRisks
| WWW.EFI.INT
ForestdisturbancedamageinEurope 1971–2030
Source:Seidletal.2014
Photo:CameronStrandberg
EUForest Biomass - anOpportunity
WWW.EFI.INTRoundwood productionfortheperiod2000-2010(m3 ha-1 landyr-1)
Øgrowingresource:moreforeststhaneversinceearlyMedievaltimes;areaandgrowingstockstillincreasing,firstsignsofsaturation
Øincreasedproductivitybyexpandingstate-of-theartforestmanagementpractices
Ømainsourceofnon-food,non-feedrenewablebiologicalmaterial forthecircularbioeconomy
Øincreasing investmentsininnovationand regionalpoliciestotransformtowardsacircularbioeconomy
Source:Verkerketal.2015
EUForest Biomass facing achanging Environment
WWW.EFI.INT
ØmorediverseforestownershipwithdifferentattitudesØstructuralchangesinwood-processingindustriesandglobalwood-productmarkets
Ø lackingachievementsonEUnature/biodiversityconservationgoals
Øadditionalandsometimesconflictingsocietaldemands,e.g.moreambitiousnature/biodiversityconservation,climatechangemitigation,transitiontoamoreclimatefriendlyandsustainablesociety
Øgrowingimpactofdisturbances,e.g.forestfires,wind,snow/ice,droughts,pestsanddiseases
PrivateForest Ownership
Source:Pulla etal.2013
The Future – full ofUncertainties andContradictions
WWW.EFI.INT
Ø increasingglobaldemandformaterialsduetoagrowingandincreasinglyrichglobalpopulation
Ø roleofmaterialandenergysubstitutioninclimatechangemitigation
Ødynamicsofglobalmarketsforwoodandwood-basedproductsinthetransitiontoacircularbioeconomy
Ø impactsofclimatechange- productivitychanges- increaseindisturbances,whichmayoutweighproductivitygains- feedbacksfromforeststoclimatenotlimitedtocarbon- balancingmitigationandadaptation
Ø futuredevelopmentofnitrogen depositionØparadigmshiftontheroleofforestsinEUpoliciesØsociallicensetooperateinforestryandwood-processingindustries
Source:Hatfield-Dodds etal.2017
Future GlobalRaw Material Demand
Raw material extraction associated with+41%inGHGemissions
EUForestPolicyEnvironmentin2020acomplex puzzleof sectoral policies
DGAGRI DGENV DGRTD DGSANTEDGENERDGCLIMA DGGROWSource:CEPF,mod.. DGFISMA
EffortSharingRegulation
Post-2020CAP/RD,StateAid,EIPAGRI
ForestStrategyandMAP
StateAidRules
HabitatDirectiveGuidanceNatura2000andforests
GreenInfrastructure
WaterFrameworkDirective
TimberRegulation
InvasiveAlienSpeciesRegulation
RoadmaptoaResourceEfficientEurope
NoNetLossMappingofEcosystem
Services(MAES)
7th EnvironmentActionProgramme
BiodiversityStrategyto2020
Horizon2020
BioeconomyStrategy
HorizonEurope LULUCFRegulation
LULUCFreview
RenewableEnergyDirectiveII(sustainabilitycriteriaforbiomass)
ILUCRegulation
2030ClimateandEnergyFramework
EnergyUnionGovernanceRegulation
CENsustainabilitycriteriabio-basedproducts
PlantHealthRegulation
PublicProcurementDirective
ForestReproductiveMaterialDirective
CAP/RDPolicy
CircularEconomyActionPlanII
FLEGTActionPlan
2050- Vision
AgriculturalResearchandInnovation
BlueprintForest-basedIndustries
EIPAGRI
IndustrialStrategyGuidanceCascadingUse
ofBiomass
PlasticsStrategy
NatureActionPlan
HaltEU-drivenglobalDeforestation
PackagingDirectiveII
BiodiversityStrategyto2030
ProtectandRestoretheWorld’sForests
SingleUsePlasticDirective
8th EnvironmentActionProgramme
REDIIreview
NewStrategyonAdaptationtoClimateChangeClimateLaw
Post-2020ForestStrategy
PlantProtectionProductsRegulation
UNAgenda2030/SDGsParisAgreement
BonnChallenge
ForestReproductiveMaterialRegulations
BirdsDirective
International
SustainableFinanceActionPlan
Parliament
SustainableFinanceRegulations(Taxonomy)
inpreparation
LIFE+Programme BernConvention(wildlifeandnaturalhabitats)
AarhusConvention(accesstoinformationandjustice
onenvironmentmatters)
FORESTEUROPE(incl.Resolutions)
ClimateChangeFrameworkConvention
(incl.Protocols)
BiodiversityConvention(incl.Protocols)
CombatDesertificationConvention
UNForumonForests
ConventiononLong-rangeTransboundaryAirPollution/ICPForest
AlpineConventionCarpathianConvention
WTOAgreements
EuropeanGreenDeal–OtherActions
RenovationWaveInitiativeBuiltEnvironmentStrategy
SustainableProductsPolicyInitiativeLeadMarketsclimateneutral/circularProducts
CarbonRemovalsCertificationEuropeanUrbanInitiative
Long-termVisionforRuralAreas
NatureRestorationPlan
3billionTreePlantingRoadmap
The new EU Governance Framework
WWW.EFI.INT
Ø newEuropeanCommission,ParliamentandCommitteeoftheRegions
Ø newpoliticalguidelinesfortheEuropeanCommission2019-2024-auniqueaspirationoflivinginanaturalandhealthycontinent,reflectingtheimportanceoftacklingclimatechangeandbiodiversitychallenges
Ø impactofCOVID19andrecoveryneeds
EuropeanGreenDeal
PresidentVonderLeyen ontheEuropeanGreenDeal:…itisaboutcuttingemissions,…… creatingjobsandboostinginnovation.…..Wecarealsoaboutbiodiversityandforests,…..greencitiesandforexamplethecirculareconomy.
ForestBiomassforIndustriesandtheEnergyUnion
WWW.EFI.INT
NewIndustrialStrategy for Europe…securesupplyofcleanandaffordableenergyandrawmaterials…reducingitscarbonandmaterialfootprint
EUEnergyUnion…renewableenergysourcesareacrucialelement…decarbonising theenergysystem…energysupplyneedstobesecureandaffordable
Sustainablysourcedforestbiomasswill…Ø continuetobeanimportantcontributortoenergysecurity,independenceandmitigationofenergypovertyØ beneededforenergygenerationandmaterialproductioninthefuturedevelopmentofEUindustries
PrimaryenergyproductionintheBaseline
Source:EuropeanCommission2018
Forest-basedValueChainsforRuralDevelopment
WWW.EFI.INT
GeneralobjectivesoftheEUCommonAgriculturalPolicy- fosterasmart,resilientanddiversifiedagriculturalsectorensuringfoodsecurity- bolsterenvironmentalcareandclimateactionandtocontributetotheenvironmental- andclimate-relatedobjectivesoftheUnion
- strengthenthesocio-economicfabricofruralareas
Ø forest-basedvaluechainsareimportantcontributorstotheeconomicdevelopment,employment,innovation,identityanddynamismofruralregions
Ø strengthenthecontributionsofland-basedproductionsystemstothebioeconomy (growingbiomassneedsforfoodandnon-foodapplications,demandsfromothersectors/policiesonecosystemservices)
Ø supportprosperousterritorialdevelopmentadaptedtoongoingchangesintheruralandurbanlandscapes;increasingtheirresilience (natural,socio-economic)
Ø EuropeanGreenDealrequestsnationalCAPStrategicPlanstoincentivise forestmanagerstopreserve,growandmanageforestssustainably
WWW.EFI.INT| WWW.EFI.INT| WWW.EFI.INTWWW.EFI.INT
WecannotsolvetheGrandSocietalChallengeswithoutthehelpalsofrombiologicalResources
Helsinki City new wooden library
Ø prioritynumberone:phasing-outfossils
Ø inthelong-run,youcandothisintheenergysectorwithoutbiomass,butneeditstillinthecomingdecadeortwo(energysecurity,mitigatingenergypoverty)
Ø inthematerialsector,youcannotphase-outfossilsandotherclimate-unfriendlymaterialswithoutbiomass
Ø needtocutdownconsumption,increaseresourceefficiencyandboostsustainablecircularbioeconomy-wehavenorealisticalternativeoptions
EuropeanGreenDealRenovationWaveInitiative
Circular EconomyActionPlan–Sustainable ProductsInitiative
The EuropeanGreenDeal hardly seestheforest-basedBioeconomy
Øarathernarrowperspective onforests:carbonsinkandbiodiversity
Øveryfewstatementsonthemultiplebenefits forestsprovidetosociety
Ømarketaspectsandtheimpactonregionaleconomicdevelopment arehardlymentioned.Employment implications ofthetransitiontocarbonneutralityby2050areweaklyaddressed.
ØEUforest-basedsectorcandomuchmoreforreachingtheclimate,biodiversity,economicandsocialobjectivesthantheEuropeanGreenDealproposalnowindicates
Øpost-COVID19recoveryenhancestheabovepoint® circular bioeconomy isessentialtocombinecarbonneutrality+employment+incomeneeds+biodiversityconservation
WWW.EFI.INT| WWW.EFI.INT
Narrow,few options
Wide,many options
Biodiversity,ClimateChangeMitigationandAdaptationinForestsaremarriedØkeepingforestsinks,controllingdisturbancerisksandadaptingforeststochangingclimaterequiresforestmanagement(e.g.transformmonoculturetomixedspeciesforests)
ØmitigatingbiodiversitylossintheEUforestsneedsmorediversemeasuresthantheEGDseemstosuggests(e.g.forestmanagement)
ØOne-size-fits-allpolicyisnotoptimal.TowhatextentdoesthecentralrequirementforreforestationandafforestationmakesenseindifferentMemberStates(e.g.inSpain,Finland,….)?
Ø forest owners andwood-processing industries need incentives &income tofinanceadaptation,resilience,forest managementandinnovation®bioeconomy needed
WWW.EFI.INT
GreenDeal should maximize Synergies
WWW.EFI.INT
1717
Ø demandsforforestusecanhavetrade-offs,butalsosynergies
Ø biodiversityisprerequisiteforsustainableandresilientbioeconomy,butsustainablebioeconomyisalsoneededtoprotectbiodiversityasitgeneratesincomeforforestownersandforestindustrythatallowsinvestmentinbiodiversityandnaturalcapital
Ø managementmeasurescansimultaneouslybenefitbiodiversityandbioeconomy,e.g.,plantingmixedforestsandaddressingdisturbances
Ø seekeconomicefficiencyandsynergies withotherpolicies
+ =
Communication,AwarenessRaising and TrustBuildingare needed inongoing EUPolicy Processes
WWW.EFI.INT
18181818
Ø EUForestStrategypost-2020Ø ReviewoftheRenewableEnergyDirective(sustainabilitycriteriaforforestbiomass)
Ø ReviewoftheLULUCFRegulation(forestreferencelevels)Ø TaxonomyDelegatedAct(definitionofsustainableforestmanagement)
Ø LegalframeworktohaltandreverseEU-drivenglobaldeforestation(domesticproducersaffected)
Ø CAPStrategicPlans(roleofforest-basedvaluechains)Ø ImplementationoftheEUBiodiversityStrategyfor2030Ø NatureRestorationPlanØ Roadmapforplanting3billiontreesØ Guidelinesonbiodiversity-friendlyafforestation,reforestationandcloser-to-nature-forestrypracticesØ EUUrbanGreeningPlatform(urbantreesandforests)Ø ForestInformationSystemforEuropeFISE
Thankyouforyourattention!
| WWW.EFI.INT
Photo: Sanit Fuangnakhon / Shutterstock