Multi-functionality and sustainability in the European Union s forests. Stockholm 26 June,, 2017

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1 Multi-functionality and sustainability in the European Union s forests Launch of the EASAC report Stockholm 26 June,, 2017 Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

2 How the report was done Hosting for the report: Finnish Academy of Science and Letters 19 High level experts from 14 countries: FI, SU, SE, NL, CZ, AU, BE, FR, GE, GR, IT, UK, PO, HU Multidisciplinary approach, including energy, economic, forestry, conservation, ecology and climate change experts Independent, scientific understanding on European forests - accounting for multi-functionality Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

3 Workflow: How the report was done Helsinki, May 2015 Kick-off workshop Amsterdam, Oct Working meeting Brussels, Feb day Workshop with EU policy makers & stakeholders Writing the report spring-autumn 2016 Reviews from Scientific Academies, Dec 2016-March 2017 Brussels, May 11, Release of the report Helsinki, Suomen julkistustilaisuus Stockholm Swedish launch >250 peer-reviewed references Defining the framework Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

4 What is in scientific debate? 1) CLIMATE CHANGE 2) BIODIVERSITY Bellassen & Luyssaert Nature 2014 Fares et al., Nature Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26, 2017

5 Forests, EU Policy and Global commitments Global Commitments UN Framework Convention on Climate Change UN Convention on Biological Diversity EU-related Actions 2009 Renewable Energy Directive (RED); 2011 Low Carbon Economy Roadmap; 2013 Decision on GHG emissions and removals; 2030 Climate and Energy Framework; 2016 Ratification of the Paris Agreement; inclusion of GHG emissions and removals from LULUCF into the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework (20 July 2016); November 2016 package on Clean Energy for All Europeans Birds Directive 1979; Habitats Directive 1992; Alien Species Regulation 2014; Biodiversity Strategy ; Mid-term review of EU Biodiversity strategy (Dec 2015) Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

6 Main issues Forests in EU Diversity in history, ecological, climatic and edaphic factors, stocks and growth, management, ownership Forestry is important branch in many economies Many ecosystem services from forests are important for local people as well Tree species map Growing stock map Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

7 Main issues Forests in EU EU has only minor influence on the forest policy in Europe International treaties and commitments bind the Union but national legislations overrule the policies regionally possibilities for conflicts and strong incentives for lobbying EU should develop ways to account for the national differences but simultaneously set clear incentives for better and transparent policies following the international obligations, esp. Paris Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

8 Main issues - Climate change mitigation Forests produce many climate benefits: sequester carbon, contribute to cloud formation, products for substituting fossil fuels and other carbon intensive materials Forest carbon sink and storage are dynamic and depend on management Critical risks forecasted in future Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

9 Main issues - Climate change mitigation In future forest policies: The planned intensification of harvests for e.g. bioenergy will in short and medium term yield in loss of carbon sink and release of carbon from storage: no mitigation but possible acceleration of climate change Forests already suffer from climate change; fires, droughts, storms, pathogens: current management tools are not planned to increase forest resilience nor their climate impact Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

10 Forest and climate change / Sebastiaan Luyssaert, Vrije Univ Amsterdam Δ out? in Top of the atmosphere Δ Absorbance Δ Reflectance CO2 Water vapor Condensation nuclei Atmosphere Large-scale Δ Reflectance Land surface Bottom of the biosphere Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

11 Forest and climate change / Sebastiaan Luyssaert, Vrije Univ Amsterdam Δ out? Top of the atmosphere CO2 Water vapor CRITICAL QUESTIONS: HOW MUCH ABSORBING/ REFLECTING MATERIAL IS IN THE ATMOSPHERE? Atmosphere Δ Absorbance Δ Reflectance in Condensation nuclei Point source Δ Reflectance Land surface Bottom of the biosphere Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

12 Main issues - Biodiversity Forest structural elements, old growth forests, and forest continuity are crucial for biodiversity Forest management is central in maintaining - or loosing - biodiversity values of production forests: genetic, species and habitat diversity Good biodiversity implies often good productivity and resilience Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

13 Main issues - Biodiversity In future forest policies: Meeting biodiversity conservation targets is more important than ever, but compromised by the planned intensification of use of wood Global and EU level biodiversity conservation is hampered by exclusive Member State level land use planning Land sharing & land sparing: protecting the old-growth forests and maintaining deadwood in production forests are key tools for preserving biodiversity Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

14 Forest biodiversity in Europe / Sebastiaan Luyssaert, Vrije Univ Amsterdam Genetic diversity Functional diversity Disturbance diversity Landscape diversity 80 to 100 years Species diversity Figure credit: fs.usda.gov, medicalxpress.com, MPI-Jena Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

15 Case Finland / Janne Kotiaho: Current use and esp. the planned increase of use of forests threaten the biodiversity in forests in Finland Endangeríng of species has not continued to increase in FI Currently, >800 endangered forest species; in >600 cases forest management is the primary cause of endangering Being endangered means high probability to become extinct International criteria: during next 50 years up to species will become extinct Most important reasons: Decrease in decaying wood and old growth, both are due to intensive forest management Amount of decaying wood is now less than 10% of natural state Forests over 160 years have decreased in area by 42% during the last 15 years The current forest management is not sustainable in the biodiversity protection, and the planned increases in harvests will re-start endangering again Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

16 MORE BY OLLI TAHVONEN Main issues Economics and policy 1. How to find an optimal balance between forest utilisation and storage of carbon? 2. Forests and climate change in the EU -policy How to create correct forest owner-level incentives in market economies? What kind of country-level incentives does EU create? 3. How should forest management adapt to the demand for multifunctionality? Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

17 The Commission understands the science But not yet reflected in policy Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,

18 THANK YOU! Jaana Bäck & EASAC team, June 26,