See our analysis of the new amendments here.
We recently analysed how the Council of the EU and the European Parliament took an axe to the European Commission’s proposal for a Forest Monitoring Law, chopping out everything that increases transparency on the state of our forests. This is like sawing off the branch that we’re all sitting on, as we all depend on forests – not only for wood products but also for fresh, clean water, flood control, cooling in summer, pollination, and healthy soils, and so much more.
We called on MEPs to take urgent action and propose strengthening amendments before they vote on the Parliament’s preferred text on September 23rd. Well – they have done, just about.
Parliament has agreed to re-introduce some key satellite monitoring on Forest area, Tree canopy density, and Defoliation. This is much needed improvement, ensuring that at the least we would have accurate and up-to-date maps of EU forest cover (this will help identify which forests are being thinned out by various pressures such as fire, wind, drought and bark beetle). Everyone needs this information, not just the forestry sector.
The new proposals from Parliament are the bare minimum, but as they provide monitoring that is crucial for the EU’s stability and security, this is an improvement. MEPs must ensure there is no back-tracking when final negotiations occur with the Council and the Commission.
Now we wait for the outcome, when we will see how many politicians recognise that everyone needs data on forests – farmers worried about wildfire, foresters worried about bark beetles and drought, communities living in fear of flooding and heat-waves and fire, and everyone who goes to the forest to rest and recharge.
See our analysis of the new amendments here.
