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1C Fosseway Business CentreStratford Road

Moreton-in-Marsh • GL56 9NQUK

t +44 1608 652 895e saskia@fern.org

www.fern.org

The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU

The EU Forest Action Plan and beyond;Forests, Paper (and Bio-energy).

An NGO perspective

The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU

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PART 1The Forest Action Plan

The Rural Development Regulation

The Forest Action Plan

Vision: “Forests for society: long term multifunctional forestry, fulfilling present and

future societal needs and supporting forest related livelihoods”

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Problems with the FAP• Internal contradictions: how to “weigh” environmental, social and economic;• No clear actions, no timeline, no work programme;• Does not provide a vision but pleases all sides;• In short: it is not an Action Plan.

FERN’s visionContent:• Halting biodiversity loss by 2010;• Highlight the socio-economic values of forests (incl NTFPs);• Analyse downward trend in job creation and reverse trend (or minimise negative impacts);• Clarify land needs for bio-energy.

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Process • Guarantee funds spent wisely; Public funds for public goods.• Monitoring programme;• Improved communication;• Improved consultation.

How serious are we about: Target 2010?

(EU Heads of State agreed to halt biodiversity loss in the EU by 2010 and to restore habitats and natural systems)

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Forests contain highest level of biodiversity in Europe and current forestry practices (and agricultural practices) are still a clear threat to Europe’s forest biodiversity;• Finland: Forests are the most important habitat type in Finland. Finland is host to 564 endangered species, most of them forest dependent (37.5 per cent of all European endangered species); •Hungary: 60 per cent of the native flora and fauna in Hungary is dependent on forests; 45 per cent of the rare and EU-protected birds are endangered because of forestry practices;•Czech Republic: 28 rare forest biotopes with listed endangered species are listed in the red books.

EU Rural Development FundsEU subsidies to forestry sector should contribute to promoting SFM and biodiversity conservation; This is not reality:•In Finland no forestry measures that would contribute to improvements in biodiversity are included in the national rural development strategy;•In Hungary the programme will subsidise the establishment of tree plantations (in many cases using exotic species) which in some cases even cause environmental damage due to the invasive character of the species (e.g. Robinia pseudoacacia).

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Conclusion:

• Forest Action Plan is only meaningful if linked to other policies and regulations which have clear targets, commitments and plans;• RDR is the most relevant regulation as it provides funds; • Concerns: funds will not be spent on measures to improve forest management or biodiversity conservation; Member States: EU does not take target 2010 seriously enough;

The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU

Part IIEuropean Paper Industry

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The European Paper VisionNGO wide vision•Reduction of consumption•Reduce reliance on virgin tree fibre•Ensure social responsibility•Source fibre responsibly•Ensure clean production

Forestry Industry Response

“Combining strong economic performance with sound environmental management and

attention to social conditions where we work”

• No clear commitments• Not addressing problems

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Reduction of consumption

•Win-win: How to keep end-users happy by delivering the same service with less resources;•But: consumption needs to go down in Europe by more than 50%;

Paper consumption

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50

100

150

200

250

300

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

kg/capita

N. America 293

EU15 266

New EU 10 81

World 52

China 33

US

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Reduce reliance on virgin fibre• Recycling is increasing (56% in 2005); • However: fibres could be re-used 5-10 times. Now average is 2 times;• Increase the use of other non-wood materials;

Concrete suggestion: CEPI supports only recycled fibre for EU ecolabel for tissue paper

Source fibre responsibly

Forest Certification: some questions• What is the concrete impact of certification on the ground?• PEFC versus FSC?• Future of Europe’s Forest owners/ forests in PEFC?

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A positive example: Karelia: UPM/StoraEnsocommitment not to buy from mapped old growth forests.

Suggestion: more of these commitments to not source paper from controversial sources

Social responsibility:

This includes: respecting human rights, including local and indigenous rights;

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“ On January 20, 2006, Aracruz Celuloseused helicopters, bombs, guns, tractors and 120 Federal Police Agents to destroy villages and expel 50 indigenous people from their traditional lands in Espirito Santo”

Suggestion: to come with a clear statement on respect for customary rights and FPIC

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The new challenge: Bio-energy•Wood as biomass can be a good thing;•First generation biofuel cannot meet requirements;•Second generation. Problems? unclear??•Conditions need to be put in place.

A question: •A paper industry not only reliant on wood pulp (ex China 85% of paper does not come from wood and this will be changed by European and other forces…)•Is that a positive development?

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Conclusions for Europe’s forests• Truly multifunctional forestry in Europe• Subsidies for improved forest management

and biodiversity conservation only• Linking Biodiversity Action Plan, Biomass

Action Plan, Biofuel Directive and Forest Action Plan together… into one vision for multifunctional forestry in Europe

Conclusions for paper industry•Much more is possible to meet NGO paper vision; clear concrete commitments needed;•Some companies have given good examples;•Small steps first but followed by big steps;•Some of the way we can go together…

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Thank You