The future of forests should unite us
A small conference to discuss how the EU’s forests can be better managed was supported by a diversity of Parliamentary representatives
News & Observations
Welcome to the Forest Defenders Alliance newsroom—your source for news and updates on protecting our forests and the communities that rely on them. Explore the latest actions, policy insights, and ways to join the movement.
07.24.2026
The EU’s Emissions Trading System continues to menace forests by promoting wasteful bioenergy
Bioenergy emits as much CO2 as coal and gas, but produces a fraction of the energy. Why isn’t this wasteful fuel being regulated under the ETS?
Demonstrators rally in Tallinn to defend Estonia’s forests
“The forest is meant to be preserved, not exploited.”
Public forest lobbyists must stop attacking nature laws
EUSTAFOR has forgotten who they’re supposed to serve.
Satellite imagery shows increased logging in protected Natura 2000 forests
People think Natura 2000 forests are protected, but in reality, they’re increasingly being logged. A new investigation reveals logging in Natura sites from 2001 to 2023.
The European Commission must protect the Forest Strategy from logging lobby attacks
EUSTAFOR’s message on their chronic mismanagement: “The beatings will continue until morale improves”
Is the EU going to create more biomass out of thin air?
The EU’s new “Bioeconomy Strategy” promises a lot of new industrial funding streams, while treating forests and climate like an afterthought
Warning for the COP: “Sustainable Forest Management” is eliminating forest carbon sinks
Policymakers would be laughed out of the room if they made the same arguments in a financial context that they make for sustainable forest management.
The European Commission should not let Sweden and Finland cook the books on carbon accounting
While logging through their remaining old-growth forests, the Nordic PMs now want to mow down the LULUCF Regulation, too
A hot take on the leaked Bioeconomy Strategy draft
The draft admits the urgency of reducing pressure on ecosystems, while still promising too much.
The EPP is torching European forest policy
By killing the Forest Monitoring Law, the EPP has told us exactly what they stand for. And it isn’t a livable planet.
Parliament has a choice: Advance the Forest Monitoring Law, or let voters down
Last-minute amendments can restore credibility and a semblance of science-based monitoring to the FML
After policymakers’ hatchet job on the Forest Monitoring Law, what’s next?
It’s still possible to enact a science-based FML, but the window is closing.
Member States aren’t even pretending anymore they will hit land sink targets
The forest carbon sink is evaporating due to poor management, but in the National Energy and Climate Plans, it’s business-as-usual oblivion.
The chemical industry is coming for your forests
The European Commission workshop on the proposed Bioeconomy Strategy (May 5) was well-attended by industries that want to use biomass, including forest biomass, to manufacture chemicals and materials. The Renewable…
The EU Bioeconomy Strategy threatens forests – you can weigh in (due June 23)
The EU’s forest and land carbon sinks are in steep decline, meaning the EU isn’t going to hit its legislated carbon sink targets. A big part of the reason for…
EUSTAFOR wants to keep forest monitoring in the 1950’s
Ho-hum, another week, and another predictably anti-science statement by the Brussels office of the European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR). Have they totally forgotten they are supposed to represent the public…
Public Forests Should Serve the Public, Not the Forest Industry
Many forests across Europe are publicly owned and are intended to serve a variety of public needs – from biodiversity conservation and carbon storage to clean water and recreation. In 2020,…
Vattenfall Biomass Plant Defeated: Lessons from a Successful Dutch Campaign
We recently received incredible news from one of our coalition partners in the Netherlands, Comité Schone Lucht (Clean Air Committee): after six years of relentless campaigning against the proposed Vattenfall…
Deforestation Regulation – No More Delay!
Europe’s forests are in crisis. While we often hear about deforestation — the complete clearance of forests — another silent threat is just as destructive: forest degradation. Across the EU, forests are…
The EU Nature Restoration Law – Will It Bring Forests Back to Europe?
The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to bring nature back into the lives of Europeans. One of its key elements is the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL), which aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global…
Why the EU Needs Stronger Forest Monitoring: Three Reasons to Support the FML
The European Union needs to implement the Forest Monitoring Law as quickly as possible.
Scientists call for strengthening EU commitment to old-growth forests ahead of Convention on Biological Diversity COP16
Scientists from 24 countries signed a letter proposing that the EU recognize the true value of forest ecosystems.
Member States are in denial about biomass impacts on climate
National Energy and Climate plans from EU member states are refusing to state the obvious – that logging forests for fuel is burning up the carbon sink.
Calling forest and climate NGOs: Tell the Croatian government to stop bullying forest activists
Logging companies are suing Croatian NGO Green Squad for simply calling out forest destruction. NGOs and individuals can support Green Squad by signing a letter to the Croatian government.
Poland Initiates 6 month Logging Ban in High-Value Forests
In a big win for forests and climate, Poland bans logging for 6 months in 10 sensitive areas, with plans to expand the protected areas permanently.
Massachusetts lights the path for forests and climate
A transparent and science-based process developed meaningful recommendations for modern forest management.
Partner Update (Hungary): Interview by Greenpeace with Jozsef Fidlozky – Firewood is 55% of Hungary’s Timber Harvest
Spela Bandelj, Biodiversity Manager for Greenpeace CEE and Jozsef Fidloczky, Project Manager of Life40ak Forests, walk a Natura 2000 clearcut site and talk about the future of the forests in Hungary.
Partner update (Germany): ROBIN WOOD’s Campaign Against Wood Burning Power Plants
Powerful protests in Germany as ROBIN WOOD opposes wood-burning biomass in EU coal plants and exposes the “residues” myth and rampant greenwashing by industry.
Washington Timber Auction Paused in Legacy Forests
Controversial timber sale “paused” in Wishbone WA as NGOs sue after Washington Department of Natural Resources fails to look at climate impacts.
The Nature Restoration Law is essential for the future of forests (and the planet)
It’s not complicated, what we need to do for forests. But it won’t be simple either.
EU policymakers agree on new restrictions on forest biomass in the Renewable Energy Directive
In the wake of the IPCC’s most frightening report yet, as we see the collapse of the forest carbon sink due to overlogging for biomass fuel, it’s a no-brainer to slam the brakes on logging forests for renewable energy
NGOs call on Energy Council to end support for burning forests as renewable energy
The current reform to forest biomass policy supported by the Council will lead to ecosystem and climate collapse
The future of forests should unite us
A small conference to discuss how the EU’s forests can be better managed was supported by a diversity of Parliamentary representatives
Demonstrators rally in Tallinn to defend Estonia’s forests
“The forest is meant to be preserved, not exploited.”
Public forest lobbyists must stop attacking nature laws
EUSTAFOR has forgotten who they’re supposed to serve.
Satellite imagery shows increased logging in protected Natura 2000 forests
People think Natura 2000 forests are protected, but in reality, they’re increasingly being logged. A new investigation reveals logging in Natura sites from 2001 to 2023.
The European Commission must protect the Forest Strategy from logging lobby attacks
EUSTAFOR’s message on their chronic mismanagement: “The beatings will continue until morale improves”
Is the EU going to create more biomass out of thin air?
The EU’s new “Bioeconomy Strategy” promises a lot of new industrial funding streams, while treating forests and climate like an afterthought
Warning for the COP: “Sustainable Forest Management” is eliminating forest carbon sinks
Policymakers would be laughed out of the room if they made the same arguments in a financial context that they make for sustainable forest management.
The European Commission should not let Sweden and Finland cook the books on carbon accounting
While logging through their remaining old-growth forests, the Nordic PMs now want to mow down the LULUCF Regulation, too
A hot take on the leaked Bioeconomy Strategy draft
The draft admits the urgency of reducing pressure on ecosystems, while still promising too much.
The EPP is torching European forest policy
By killing the Forest Monitoring Law, the EPP has told us exactly what they stand for. And it isn’t a livable planet.
Parliament has a choice: Advance the Forest Monitoring Law, or let voters down
Last-minute amendments can restore credibility and a semblance of science-based monitoring to the FML
After policymakers’ hatchet job on the Forest Monitoring Law, what’s next?
It’s still possible to enact a science-based FML, but the window is closing.
Member States aren’t even pretending anymore they will hit land sink targets
The forest carbon sink is evaporating due to poor management, but in the National Energy and Climate Plans, it’s business-as-usual oblivion.
The chemical industry is coming for your forests
The European Commission workshop on the proposed Bioeconomy Strategy (May 5) was well-attended by industries that want to use biomass, including forest biomass, to manufacture chemicals and materials. The Renewable…
The EU Bioeconomy Strategy threatens forests – you can weigh in (due June 23)
The EU’s forest and land carbon sinks are in steep decline, meaning the EU isn’t going to hit its legislated carbon sink targets. A big part of the reason for…
EUSTAFOR wants to keep forest monitoring in the 1950’s
Ho-hum, another week, and another predictably anti-science statement by the Brussels office of the European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR). Have they totally forgotten they are supposed to represent the public…
Public Forests Should Serve the Public, Not the Forest Industry
Many forests across Europe are publicly owned and are intended to serve a variety of public needs – from biodiversity conservation and carbon storage to clean water and recreation. In 2020,…
Vattenfall Biomass Plant Defeated: Lessons from a Successful Dutch Campaign
We recently received incredible news from one of our coalition partners in the Netherlands, Comité Schone Lucht (Clean Air Committee): after six years of relentless campaigning against the proposed Vattenfall…
Deforestation Regulation – No More Delay!
Europe’s forests are in crisis. While we often hear about deforestation — the complete clearance of forests — another silent threat is just as destructive: forest degradation. Across the EU, forests are…
The EU Nature Restoration Law – Will It Bring Forests Back to Europe?
The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to bring nature back into the lives of Europeans. One of its key elements is the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL), which aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global…
Why the EU Needs Stronger Forest Monitoring: Three Reasons to Support the FML
The European Union needs to implement the Forest Monitoring Law as quickly as possible.
Scientists call for strengthening EU commitment to old-growth forests ahead of Convention on Biological Diversity COP16
Scientists from 24 countries signed a letter proposing that the EU recognize the true value of forest ecosystems.
Member States are in denial about biomass impacts on climate
National Energy and Climate plans from EU member states are refusing to state the obvious – that logging forests for fuel is burning up the carbon sink.
Calling forest and climate NGOs: Tell the Croatian government to stop bullying forest activists
Logging companies are suing Croatian NGO Green Squad for simply calling out forest destruction. NGOs and individuals can support Green Squad by signing a letter to the Croatian government.
Poland Initiates 6 month Logging Ban in High-Value Forests
In a big win for forests and climate, Poland bans logging for 6 months in 10 sensitive areas, with plans to expand the protected areas permanently.
Massachusetts lights the path for forests and climate
A transparent and science-based process developed meaningful recommendations for modern forest management.
Partner Update (Hungary): Interview by Greenpeace with Jozsef Fidlozky – Firewood is 55% of Hungary’s Timber Harvest
Spela Bandelj, Biodiversity Manager for Greenpeace CEE and Jozsef Fidloczky, Project Manager of Life40ak Forests, walk a Natura 2000 clearcut site and talk about the future of the forests in Hungary.
Partner update (Germany): ROBIN WOOD’s Campaign Against Wood Burning Power Plants
Powerful protests in Germany as ROBIN WOOD opposes wood-burning biomass in EU coal plants and exposes the “residues” myth and rampant greenwashing by industry.
Washington Timber Auction Paused in Legacy Forests
Controversial timber sale “paused” in Wishbone WA as NGOs sue after Washington Department of Natural Resources fails to look at climate impacts.
The Nature Restoration Law is essential for the future of forests (and the planet)
It’s not complicated, what we need to do for forests. But it won’t be simple either.
EU policymakers agree on new restrictions on forest biomass in the Renewable Energy Directive
In the wake of the IPCC’s most frightening report yet, as we see the collapse of the forest carbon sink due to overlogging for biomass fuel, it’s a no-brainer to slam the brakes on logging forests for renewable energy
NGOs call on Energy Council to end support for burning forests as renewable energy
The current reform to forest biomass policy supported by the Council will lead to ecosystem and climate collapse