European forest strategy – The way forward

Glaustai 30-09-2020

Forests and woods cover nearly half of the land surface of the EU. They play a vital role as they have the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change, provide many ecosystem services, contribute to the development of the circular bio-economy and provide employment for some 2.6 million people, in particular in rural areas. The European Parliament is expected to vote during its October I plenary session on an own-initiative report emphasising the need for an ambitious and strong EU forest strategy beyond 2020, aligned with the European Green Deal and the 2030 biodiversity strategy, and coordinated with the Farm to Fork strategy.