European Union Policies on Sustainable Forestry and Biodiversity

Transcription

1 European Union Policies on Sustainable Forestry and Biodiversity EU-India Environment Forum New Delhi 21 November John Bazill DG Environment

2 Introduction 2006 map of forest cover

3 Introduction Forest management policies in EU at national or, often, sub-national level However, many EU policies affect forest management, eg: Biodiversity Climate change (eg. LULUCF) Internal market Energy Water

4 Biodiversity Birds Directive (1979, recast 2009) Regulates hunting and other activities Protects listed species Special Protection Areas many in forest areas

5 Biodiversity Habitats Directive (1992) Member States designate protected sites in 9 biogeographic zones Protection for listed animal species Over half listed sites are forest areas Some cases of conflict between forest managers and nature protection agencies/ NGOs Guidelines established - balance economic and conservation values Conservation values of many forests linked to human intervention

6 New Challenges Climate change adaptation Shorter winters Drought risk Invasive alien species Globalization and increased trade > increased risks

7 Market measures Forest certification private schemes - not formally regulated by EU or Member States Some consumer demand, but main driver for demand are corporate policies Large areas certified in EU

8 Market measures to support biodiversity Biodiversity conservation a key pillar of sustainable forest management (sfm) concept Use of demand-side measures to stimulate sfm

9 Market Measures Green Public Procurement Public procurement = 16 % EU GDP EC Directives 2004/17/CE and 2004/18/CE allow for environmental factors to be taken into account in procurement Communication on Public Procurement for a Better Environment (COM (2008) 400) Buying Green Handbook EU target of 50% green tenders

10 Market Measures GPP policies for timber/ timber products in: Belgium Denmark France Finland Germany Netherlands UK + London Olympics Cities and municipalities also Efforts to promote convergence of criteria for sustainability of forest management

11 GPP - requirements Legality - Likely to fall away as EU Timber Regulation enters into application Sustainability of timber production difficult to define! main schemes PEFC and FSC generally accepted. Other forms of proof allowed 2010 ITTO report on public procurement of timber - useful reference Several middle-income cities/ countries introducing such policies eg Mexico, Sao Paulo, Ghana (under development),

12 Future developments Links to non-product specific policies green building codes climate performance life cycle approaches > All likely to favour sustainably produced timber products Training of purchasing officers

13 Private Sector Company policies mainly large companies (brand reputation) Timber Trade Federation policies - EU Member States + European level Financial Institutions Avoid illegal timber, move towards 100% sustainable timber, traceability

14 New developments Incentives for renewable energy feed in tariffs > wood chips for green electricity Sustainability criteria in Renewable Energy Directive Debate about whether to harmonise criteria at EU level Potential markets for wood in 2 nd generation biofuels and in bio-plastics

15 New developments EU legislation prohibiting sale of illegally harvested timber and timber products on EU market EU Timber Regulation (see separate presentation)

16 Conclusion Forest policy largely at national level but at EU level environment and other policies increasingly influencing forest management eg. biodiversityrelated legislation, energy policy Role of demand side measures in stimulating sustainable forest management including biodiversity conservation Green credentials of wood rest on sustainability of production including biodiversity

17 Thank you! More information EU GPP policy ITTO report on public procurement of forest products Example of corporate sourcing policy Example of EU MS Federation procurement policy Example of a Bank policy (HSBC) y.pdf