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New EU Forest Monitoring and Strategic Planning Framework

Environment

This initiative will develop an EU-wide forest observation framework to provide open access to detailed, accurate, regular and timely information on the condition and management of EU forests, and the many products and ecosystem services they deliver. It will allow better informed decision-making on forests, increase public trust in forest management, reduce illegal logging, incentivise and reward more sustainable forest management, and support the adaptation of forests to climate change.

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Public consultation

ID: 13396

Lobbying Activity

65 responses

Consultation response

European Environmental Bureau, 7 Feb 2024

Forests play a vital role for biodiversity and climate, yet there is a significant deficit in public information about their status, the impact of management practices and their ecological condition. It is concerning that information about the state of forests, and their trends towards destruction…

EEB urges binding rules for transparent EU forest monitoring

European Environmental Bureau, 6 May 2022

The EEB supports a legally binding framework with harmonized definitions and public data. They want uniform reporting and indicators measuring management impacts on biodiversity.
Accessible data enables environmental groups to act as watchdogs against illegal logging and degradation.
The forestry sector faces scrutiny as its activities are identified as environmental threats.

European farmers urge voluntary approach to forest monitoring

European farmers, 7 Feb 2024

The group rejects a binding regulation, preferring voluntary guidelines and coordination of national inventories. They oppose sharing detailed geolocated information to protect private property and business secrets. They argue that forestry management must remain a national competence for member states.
This would avoid significant administrative costs and prevent public access to sensitive business information.
The public and environmental researchers would lose access to detailed, transparent forest data.

European farmers demand lower reporting burdens for forest monitoring

European farmers, 5 May 2022

Copa and Cogeca argue that any new framework must build upon existing national reporting to minimize overlaps. They request the Commission focus on reducing the administrative burden for forest owners. They oppose EU-level monitoring of detailed forest management activities.
Farmers would avoid significant costs associated with new, highly detailed data reporting requirements.
The European Commission loses authority to approve national plans or monitor specific management practices.

ClientEarth urges real-time data to fight EU forest crime

ClientEarth AISBL, 6 May 2022

The organization calls for a public EU-wide platform providing real-time, accessible remote sensing data to monitor forests. They argue that domestic timber harvesting requires more effective public and institutional scrutiny to prevent illegal logging.
Open data empowers the organization to use legal tools to challenge illegal logging.
Logging operators and member states with poor management risk increased legal scrutiny.

Finnish Forest Industries Federation demands respect for national forest management

Finnish Forest Industries Federation (Metsäteollisuus ry), 5 May 2022

The federation recommends improving existing international reporting systems instead of creating new laws. They argue that Member States must maintain the power to decide forest management priorities. Furthermore, they demand that specific forest location data remain secret to ensure data reliability.
Respecting local management allows the industry to avoid costly EU-wide forestry regulations and restrictions.
Environmental monitors and the public lose access to transparent data on specific forest conditions.

Finnish forest owners urge national control over monitoring

Maa- ja metsätaloustuottajain Keskusliitto – Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, 7 Feb 2024

MTK wants national inventories to remain the primary data source and opposes reporting at the individual holding level. They call for a more flexible approach using guidelines instead of a mandatory regulation.
Maintaining national data systems would prevent increased administrative costs and protect private property information.
EU regulators would lose access to granular data needed for unified conservation strategies.

Finnish forest owners demand property rights in monitoring plan

Maa- ja metsätaloustuottajain Keskusliitto – Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, 3 May 2022

MTK insists the proposal must respect private property rights and avoid creating administrative burdens. They demand that forest owners be included in the legislative process to prevent strong resistance. Monitoring should remain large-scale to protect sensitive information.
This protects forest owners from new administrative costs and privacy intrusions.
EU regulators lose access to granular data required for tracking biodiversity.

BirdLife Europe demands mandatory action in forest monitoring law

Stichting BirdLife Europe, 7 Feb 2024

BirdLife requests mandatory forest plans and immediate reporting for old-growth areas. They suggest including indicators for naturalness and carbon removal capacity.
Consolidated data helps the organization monitor biodiversity commitments and conservation goals.
Biomass producers may lose forest classification and face higher transparency requirements.

Consultation response

Fern, 6 Feb 2024

To whom it may concern, We welcome the proposal of regulation on a monitoring framework for resilient European forests (forest monitoring law, FML). We see it as a building block in ensuring implementation of EU climate and biodiversity objectives as well as contributing to socio-economic…

Fern calls for unified EU forest monitoring and planning

Fern, 6 May 2022

Fern requests harmonised national inventories to ensure objective assessments of biodiversity and carbon. They demand clear indicators and thresholds to define sustainable management and increase transparency. Strategic plans are needed to address climate and biodiversity risks over the next decade.
Transparent data would stop NGOs from needing to manually reconstruct inaccessible databases.
Managers using clearcutting would lose the ability to label destructive practices as sustainable.

European Paper Industry urges focus on national forest inventories

Confederation of European Paper Industries, 5 Feb 2024

Use existing National Forest Inventories as the primary monitoring tool. Validate satellite imagery with ground data before public release to avoid misinterpretation. Oppose small-scale geo-referencing to protect forest owner privacy.
This prevents misleading data from triggering restrictive policies and maintains industry operational privacy.
Transparency groups lose access to immediate, granular data about specific forest sites.

DUH urges mandatory indicators for new EU forest monitoring law

Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V., 6 May 2022

DUH calls for mandatory indicators to be included in the law to measure climate and biodiversity goals. They want harmonized national definitions to ensure forest management practices are objectively assessed across the EU.
Harmonized data would help the group monitor the effects of management on biodiversity.
Forestry companies lose the ability to label intensive practices as sustainable without benchmarks.

Consultation response

Swedish Forest Industries Federation, 6 May 2022

The Swedish Forest Industries Federation (SFIF) welcomes the opportunity to provide input on this call for evidence. SFIF fully supports the view that better data and information enables better decision making. It is of crucial importance that the impact assessment clarifies a number of issues.…

Peasant farmer group ECVC demands human-rights based forest monitoring

European Coordination Via Campesina, 6 May 2022

Monitoring must include human rights indicators and involve local communities in data collection. Data must be transparent, open-source, and address gender gaps and tenure rights.
This would protect small-scale farmers' land rights and prevent industrial exploitation.
Industrial forestry companies would face increased oversight and restrictions on forest management.

Metsä Group calls for essential-only data in forest monitoring

Metsäliitto Cooperative, 7 Feb 2024

Metsä Group requests the Commission focus strictly on forest and land use data while excluding product and trade information. They advocate for prioritizing automated remote-sensing methods and avoiding overlapping bureaucratic systems. The organization also demands transparency regarding the new "forest unit" definition and protection of private property rights.
This would ensure a more predictable business environment while reducing administrative costs and protecting commercial data.
Regulatory bodies and transparency groups lose access to broader information regarding timber supply chains and trade.

Metsäliitto Cooperative urges national autonomy in EU forest monitoring

Metsäliitto Cooperative, 6 May 2022

Member States must decide the strategies and priorities for their forests. The Commission should prioritize existing national forest programs over new strategic plans. Property-level information should not be collected due to technical and privacy constraints.
The company avoids strict EU-wide management rules and maintains operational privacy.
Environmental groups lose access to granular data required for monitoring local ecosystems.

NABU urges ambitious EU-wide forest health monitoring

Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V., 30 Jan 2024

NABU supports the ambitious implementation of an EU-wide forest observation framework with open access to detailed data. They demand harmonized monitoring systems that include specific requirements for evaluating biodiversity across all member states.
Harmonized data helps the organization monitor forest biodiversity and advocate for conservation goals.
Businesses involved in illegal logging or eco-dumping will face stronger enforcement and competition.

ECOS urges mandatory national planning for EU forest monitoring

Environmental Coalition on Standards, 7 Feb 2024

Member States should be required to develop mandatory integrated long-term forest plans. The law must serve as a comprehensive shop for all forest monitoring indicators.
Enhanced data collection strengthens the case for higher environmental standards and restoration.
The bioenergy sector faces reduced wood supply as policies prioritize material use over burning.

Stora Enso Urges Ground-Based Verification for EU Forest Monitoring

Stora Enso Oyj, 5 Feb 2024

Stora Enso wants satellite data cross-checked with ground observations to ensure accuracy. They recommend aligning terminology with existing inventories and adding forest regeneration indicators.
Accurate data prevents sustainable timber harvests from being wrongly interpreted as forest damage.
Forest owners risk unfair scrutiny if uncalibrated satellite readings provide inaccurate information.

Stora Enso Urges Harmonised EU-Wide Forest Monitoring and Data

Stora Enso Oyj, 6 May 2022

Stora Enso advocates for user-friendly interfaces that connect forest observation data into one system. They recommend combining satellite imagery with ground-based measures and laser scanning for better accuracy. The framework should monitor forest regeneration and biodiversity indicators tailored to local regions.
Harmonised data would lower the administrative effort required to manage their global forest holdings.
Small private forest owners may struggle to meet reporting requirements due to limited resources.

European Landowners urge more clarity on forest monitoring proposal

European Landowners' Organization asbl, 7 Feb 2024

The ELO demands clearer rules on data collection and stronger roles for existing national forest authorities. They argue that leaving details to secondary legislation undermines the legitimacy of the current proposal.
Greater clarity would help landowners avoid administrative burdens and protect sensitive proprietary information about their lands.
Environmental groups may see delayed action as forest planning is paused for further legal clarifications.

Forest owners demand data privacy in EU monitoring proposal

Conféderation Européenne des Propriétaires Forestiers, 7 Feb 2024

The organization wants the proposal refined to ensure coherence and clear objectives for data collection. They demand protection for sensitive business information and private property rights regarding open access. They also reject using delegated acts to change crucial parts of the law.
This would protect private property rights and prevent expensive administrative duplication for owners.
The public and researchers lose access to transparent information about forest management.

European Forest Owners demand monitoring respects national competencies

Conféderation Européenne des Propriétaires Forestiers, 6 May 2022

The framework must build on national inventories and respect member state powers over forest management. They demand a financial impact assessment and clear objectives for new reporting.
This approach prevents new administrative costs and protects proprietary data from open-access requirements.
EU regulators lose the ability to mandate harmonized standards or intervene in local forest management.

Planet Labs urges inclusion of private satellite data

Planet Labs Germany, 2 Feb 2024

Planet Labs requests the inclusion of private satellite data to complement Copernicus datasets. They advocate for monthly forest reporting to identify critical events like illegal logging and pest calamities.
This proposal would ensure commercial providers' data is integrated into EU environmental monitoring procurement.

Planet Labs Germany urges high-resolution satellite forest monitoring

Planet Labs Germany, 6 May 2022

Planet Labs recommends integrating commercial satellite data with Copernicus to ensure high-resolution, daily monitoring of forests. They argue that frequent reporting is necessary to detect illegal logging and climate damage.
The framework would secure a major institutional role for Planet Labs' proprietary constellations.
Illegal loggers lose their anonymity as high-frequency imaging exposes unauthorized forest changes.

FAM urges EU to avoid duplicating forest monitoring systems

FAM, 6 May 2022

FAM recommends building upon existing national inventories instead of creating a redundant reporting system. They oppose harmonizing data collection methods and stress the importance of addressing GDPR compliance.
Avoiding method harmonization prevents inefficiencies and ensures higher precision in data for forest management.
Individual forest owners risk privacy breaches through comprehensive monitoring systems that may violate GDPR.

EUSTAFOR Demands Protection of Data Ownership in Forest Monitoring

European State Forest Association, 7 Feb 2024

EUSTAFOR urges the Commission to respect Member State data ownership and use established international monitoring systems. They recommend using implementing regulations instead of delegated acts to ensure expert involvement throughout the process.
Restricting map resolution protects commercial operations from public interference and maintains national control.
The public loses access to granular data on selective cutting and forest disturbances.

European state foresters demand monitoring rely on national data

European State Forest Association, 6 May 2022

The association requests using existing national systems and field-level data collection. They insist that reported data must be verified by national authorities and forest managers.
This approach protects existing national monitoring investments and ensures state foresters retain authority.
Relying on national agreements could delay a uniform, real-time European forest monitoring system.

Consultation response

Luonnonvarakeskus, 6 May 2022

We thank for the opportunity to respond to the online consultation and want to raise the following points: 1) The Section ”Practical need for EU action” mentions the need “to reward foresters and land managers who implement land management schemes…”. However, it is unrealistic to assume that…

Consultation response

Union de la Coopération Forestière Française, 3 May 2022

L'Union de la Coopération Forestière Française estime utile et pertinente de disposer à l'échelle européenne d'informations harmonisées, régulièrement mises à jour et accessibles à tous sur la santé et la diversité des forêts européennes. Nous nous interrogeons cependant sur : - la nature, le…

Consultation response

Federation of Swedish Family Forest Owners, 7 Feb 2024

Nordic countries have a long history of collecting forest information. For more than 100 years Nordic countries have been collecting forest data that has strategically guided and helped optimize our forest management at local and national level. The Alliance of Nordic Family Forestry (NSF), which…

France Nature Environnement demands exhaustive forest monitoring data

France Nature Environnement, 5 Feb 2024

The organization proposes integrating exhaustive indicators like soil health, biodiversity, and carbon stocks. They also request mapping forest restoration needs and tracking socio-economic data.
Public data access simplifies administrative procedures and strengthens their capacity to monitor environmental policies.
Industrial biomass operators lose the ability to use wood from sensitive primary forests.

Consultation response

Skydda Skogen, 7 Feb 2024

Protect the Forest would like to underline the urgent need for strengthened forest-related legislation across the EU and thus welcomes the Commission's proposed Forest Monitoring Framework (FML). The Commission has produced a somewhat strong proposal, which needs further improvement. The main…

Consultation response

Skydda Skogen, 6 May 2022

Trots en del insatser och vissa förbättringar så fortsätter den biologiska mångfalden i EU att minska. Även i Sverige ser vi nedåtgående trender; Skogsstyrelsen skriver: “Utvecklingen i miljön är negativ”. Många studier ger en dyster bild av tillståndet för Europas skogar. Den överväldigande…

Consultation response

European Organisation of the Sawmill industry, 5 May 2022

Extract: The European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry supports the creation of an European forest monitoring system as tool swiftly react to ever-growing pressure from climate change on Europe's forests and provide additional knowledge to Members States in prepare their own strategic plans.…

Consultation response

LandForst Betriebe Österreich / Association of Austrian Land and Forest Owners, 26 Jan 2024

Die Land&Forst Betriebe Österreich bedanken sich für die Möglichkeit Stellung zu nehmen. Mit Sorge beobachten wir den Prozess rund um ein EU Gesetz zu Waldmonitoring und die damit einhergehende massive Beschneidung von Datenschutzrechten. Während wir resiliente Wälder für die nachhaltige Erbringung…

WECF urges gender equality inclusion in forest monitoring framework

Women Engage for a Common Future, 4 May 2022

WECF requests a focus on gender equality that accounts for the specific needs of marginalized women. They demand accessible information for local communities and a ban on corporate carbon offsetting schemes.
This inclusion would empower marginalized women to influence forest policy and protect their livelihoods.
Extractive industries would face higher hurdles to project approvals and greenwashing attempts.

FSC urges inclusion of certification data in forest monitoring

FSC International Center GmbH (IC), 26 Apr 2022

FSC requests a standardized geospatial dataset for all EU forests. They suggest the framework track whether forests are certified and which scheme is used.
Including these details would give FSC certification more visibility and official recognition in EU data.

Consultation response

European Association of Remote Sensing Companies, 7 Feb 2024

Focused on innovation, the European Association of Remote Sensing Companies, (EARSC) is a trade association with more than 140 company members from all over Europe. EARSC represents the Earth Observation (EO) industry. Please find attached our feedback.

Consultation response

European Agroforestry Federation, 4 Feb 2024

The European Agroforestry Federation (www.euraf.net) is an NGO, which aims to promote the adoption of agroforestry practices across Europe by developing awareness, education, research, policy making and investments which foster the use of trees on farms. It has a network of 31 affiliated entities…

Consultation response

European Agroforestry Federation, 28 Apr 2022

The European Agroforestry Federation (https://euraf.isa.utl.pt/) links organisations campaigning for agroforestry in 20 Member States (so far). Agroforestry is the integration of trees, crops and/or livestock on the same area of land. Trees can be inside parcels or on the boundaries (hedges). The…

Finnish Bioenergy Association labels forest monitoring proposal "unsubstantiated"

Bioenergia ry - Bioenergy Association of Finland, 7 Feb 2024

The association opposes redundant regulations and warns that remote sensing cannot replace accurate field inventories. They request that data on bioenergy use be aggregated to avoid excessive detail.
Aggregating data would reduce the technical and administrative burden on bioenergy companies.
Regulators lose the ability to track wood use at a detailed user level.

Consultation response

Sustainable Biomass Program, 5 May 2022

See attached file.

Consultation response

Biom Association, 7 Feb 2024

The forest cover in Croatia is in increase for decades but that does not reflects the state of the forests in Croatia. The current definition of forest is misleading, as it can include land that is or has recently been used for agriculture, as well as non-native plantations and even tree-less areas…

Consultation response

Luleå tekniska universitet, 5 May 2022

We object to the initiative presented by the European Commission on monitoring of forests in the EU and strategic EU planning of management of forests within the EU.  One main objection we have is that we are worried that satellite surveillance at the supra-state level, combined with supra-state…

Consultation response

Südtiroler Bauernbund, 7 Feb 2024

With this regulation, the EU is setting standards for the collection of forest areas and forest data. Instead of leaving the survey to the member states and merely requiring them to submit the necessary data, a complex and complicated system is being created that will lead to considerable costs for…

Consultation response

Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot, 6 May 2022

We welcome the European Commission’s (EC) initiative of an EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans. EU forests are in a poor state. In the case of Poland, 28% of Natura 2000 forest habitats are deteriorating and 48% are in an unfavourable state, with forestry being the biggest…

Consultation response

UNION DE SELVICULTORES DEL SUR DE EUROPA, AEIE, 6 May 2022

La Unión de Selvicultores del Sur de Europa (USSE) agradece la oportunidad de participar en esta consulta sobre esta iniciativa de desarrollar un marco de observación forestal a escala de la UE para garantizar un sistema coordinado de seguimiento, recopilación de datos y presentación de informes…

Consultation response

Butterfly Conservation Europe, 27 Apr 2022

BCE welcome the proposal to develop an EU Forest Monitoring Framework, within the context of the EU Forest Strategy, the EU Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the climate situation. Butterfly Conservation Europe has expertise on the importance of forests and woodlands for…

Consultation response

Saami Council Headquarters, 7 Feb 2024

Saami Council, (SC) supports and welcomes the EU´s forest monitoring legislation (FML) proposal. However, SC expresses deep concern regarding the omission of Indigenous Peoples rights in the proposal. SC urges the integration of Indigenous knowledge, and the recognition of Indigenous rights to be…

Consultation response

Sdružení vlastníků obecních, soukromých a církevních lesů v ČR (zkr. SVOL), 7 Feb 2024

Sdružení vlastníků obecních, soukromých a církevních lesů v ČR (zkr. SVOL) má vážné obavy a pochybnosti o přesných cílech a přidané hodnotě navrhovaného celoevropského systému monitorování lesů. Zásadně nesouhlasíme se zdůvodněním navrhovaného systému tím, že existuje obecný nedostatek kvalitních a…

Consultation response

Wild Europe Stichting, 7 Feb 2024

We welcome the new EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans. We have worked with others on assessing this Framework including the Forest Friends coalition coordinated by FERN. Rather than reiterate the many good representations already made, we focus here on a few additional issues…

Consultation response

Państwowe Gospodarstwo Leśne Lasy Państwowe, 7 Feb 2024

The Polish State Forests appreciate the European Commission's initiative to enhance the sustainability and resilience of forests across the European Union through the New EU Forest Strategy 2030. We support the ambition in the strategy to promote the multifunctional role of forests. At the same…

Consultation response

Latvijas Ornitoloģijas biedrība, 5 Feb 2024

Latvian Ornithological Society strongly supports the need for EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans and thanks EC for the current proposal. The forests of Latvia are under pressure from intensive clearcut-based forest management, leading to habitat loss and fragmentation,…

Consultation response

Deutsche Säge- und Holzindustrie Bundesverband e.V. (DeSH), 6 May 2022

Der Deutsche Säge- und Holzindustrie Bundesverband e.V. (DeSH) begrüßt die Schaffung einer verbesserten Datengrundlage in Wäldern innerhalb der EU grundsätzlich, wie sie aus dem „Neuen EU-Rahmen für die Waldüberwachung und Strategiepläne“ hervorgehen soll. Entscheidend für den hinreichenden Nutzen…

Consultation response

CEEweb for Biodiversity, 6 May 2022

CEEweb for Biodiversity welcomes the initiative to propose an EU-wide Framework for Forest monitoring and Strategic Plans. While it’s general knowledge that forests are crucial for biodiversity and climate, not enough has been done so far to harmonise the collection of information about their…

Consultation response

Fertő tó Barátai Egyesület, 6 May 2022

The monitoring of our forests must be improved in each biogeographical region. We must assess the distance of each management unit to its potential natural status. This would correspond to the maximum values (e.g. carbon stocks and biodiversity) found in natural forests in similar ecoregions. The…

Consultation response

Państwowe Gospodarstwo Leśne Lasy Państwowe, 6 May 2022

[Full document attached] Z przedłożonej przez KE mapy drogowej do planowanej inicjatywy wynika, że celem tego przedsięwzięcia będzie centralizacja procesów decyzyjnych, mających bezpośredni wpływ na leśnictwo poszczególnych krajów. Art. 192 ust. TFUE, zasada pomocniczości oraz motywowanie…

Consultation response

Forestiers Privés de France, 5 May 2022

La proposition peut être intéressante à conditions qu’elle prenne en compte certains éléments déjà existants et ne viennent pas complexifier le rapportage déjà existant. Je fais dans le fichier joint des observations et remarques sur les points suivants : - Un cadre stable et à long terme - Prise…

Consultation response

, 5 May 2022

Hinsichtlich der Thematik: Wälder in der EU – neuer EU Rahmen für die Waldüberwachung und Strategiepläne verweisen wir auf wesentliche Punkte mit der Bitte um Berücksichtigung. 1. Stabiler und langfristiger Rahmen Der Aufbau auf der Erfahrung von Forest Focus ist für den Erfolg unerlässlich. Um…

Consultation response

Kungl. Skogs- och Lantbruksakademien, 4 May 2022

The Royal Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the call for evidence for an impact assessment on a new EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans. • Strategic forest planning is a national competence and therefore KSLA has doubts regarding…

Consultation response

Hungarian Habitat Protection Society, 27 Apr 2022

Javaslat a Natura 2000 hálózatába tartozó erdők szigorúbb védelmére Az Európai Unió erdeinek mintegy 23%-át kitevő, a Natura 2000 hálózatába tartozó erdőterületek megóvását a 92/43/EK Élőhelyvédelmi irányelv, illetve a 79/409/EK Madárvédelmi irányelv rendelkezései, illetve ezen rendelkezések…

Consultation response

Bifurcated Carrots, 10 Apr 2022

This initiative is not consistent with what is needed to repair the natural system and rewild nature in the forests of Europe. The idea of ecosystem services is severely flawed, and only serves to make the owners of these services richer at the expense of nature. To selectively view parts of…

Consultation response

Senior Corporate Silver Spoon, Environment & Nature Association/Ezüstkanál Nyugdíjas Társasági, Környezet- és természetvédelmi Egyesület, 9 Apr 2022

Dear European Commission, Dear DG, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, We have thanked you for sending this Call for Opinions to our Association. After reading the Call for Opinions we provide the following brief professional feedback to the European Commission, to Ms Ursula von der Leyen President of the…