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Stepping up EU Action against Deforestation and Forest Degradation

Environment

Deforestation is a major global problem, leading to biodiversity loss, climate change and poverty. The causes are multiple and complex, agricultural expansion for the production of commodities such as soy, beef, palm oil, coffee, and cocoa driving almost 80% of all deforestation. The objective of the initiative is to present an integrated EU approach to combat deforestation, protect forests and promote sustainable supply chains.

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Public consultation

ID: 2027

Lobbying Activity

21 responses

Consultation response

Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment), 15 Jan 2019

Global deforestation needs to be halted if we are to win the fight against climate change, and the EU needs to lead by example. It is good the EU acknowledges its consumption is a part of the deforestation problem and that stepping up action is needed. The overall objective of the roadmap is hence…

Consultation response

WWF European Policy Programme, 15 Jan 2019

WWF welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to step up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation as expressed in the roadmap, following numerous calls by NGOs, civil society organisations and clear demands by the European Parliament and EU Member States. Nevertheless, we are of…

Consultation response

ClientEarth AISBL, 11 Jan 2019

ClientEarth welcomes the Roadmap as an acknowledgement that the Commission needs to amplify its action to address deforestation and forest degradation. However, we are concerned about the proposed reliance on existing policies and tools to step up EU action, as the Roadmap does not expressly…

Consultation response

Stichting BirdLife Europe, 14 Jan 2019

BirdLife welcomes this vital initiative. Urgent EU action is essential to help keep natural and intact forests standing if global biodiversity objectives, Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement are to be met. The EU has a global responsibility to play a leadership role as one of the…

Fern urges mandatory regulation of EU forest risk imports

Fern, 15 Jan 2019

Fern calls for mandatory regulations on imports to replace ineffective voluntary schemes. They recommend laws that hold companies and banks accountable for forest destruction and human rights abuses.
Legal mandates would fulfill Fern’s mission of holding large companies strictly accountable.
Financial institutions and importers would face significantly higher compliance costs and liability.

Consultation response

Global Witness, 15 Jan 2019

Global Witness welcomes the road map and plans to publish a communication on stepping up EU Action Against Deforestation and Forest Degradation. However, we are concerned that the road map indicates that the long-awaited communication may not include the measures needed to make a difference as it…

Swedish Forest Industries urge focus on sustainable management

Swedish Forest Industries Federation, 10 Jan 2019

SFIF advocates for increased forest management instead of focus on reserves and formal protection. They suggest meeting land competition by supporting stakeholder cooperation to reach consensus on use. The initiative should promote wood products’ role in the circular bioeconomy.
Prioritizing management over protection ensures industry access to wood for production.
Conservationists lose if the EU favors production over creating strict forest reserves.

Consultation response

European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association, 15 Jan 2019

The European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) and its members are fully committed to ensure sustainable production and supply of natural rubber. This means looking after the people, communities and natural resources touched by natural rubber production and supply. Therefore,…

Feed manufacturers urge government cooperation to combat global deforestation

Fédération Européenne des Fabricants d'Aliments Composés, 11 Jan 2019

The federation advocates for industry cooperation to be replicated at the governmental level. They suggest updating data to recognize recent forest management improvements in producer countries.
This would shift the primary responsibility for forest protection toward national governments.
Campaigners lose if the EU ignores historical deforestation trends to benefit current exporters.

FEDIOL Urges EU to Use Updated Deforestation Data

The EU Vegetable Oil and Proteinmeal Industry, 14 Jan 2019

FEDIOL requests that the EU rely on an updated and accurate set of data. They advocate for building effective partnerships with producer countries to address deforestation on the ground. The federation regrets the use of outdated studies that disregard recent environmental efforts.
Accurate data would ensure a fair assessment of the industry's role in importing commodities.

Consultation response

European Producers Union of Renewable Ethanol, 14 Jan 2019

Feedback on the Commission’s roadmap ‘on stepping up EU Action against Deforestation and Forest Degradation’ ePURE, the association representing European producers of renewable ethanol from conventional and advanced feedstock, welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to step up EU Action…

Consultation response

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 15 Jan 2019

Protecting forests, and other carbon- and biodiversity- rich land presents a huge opportunity to deliver climate change mitigation and reduce biodiversity loss, which in turn delivers a host of critical ecosystem services that range from local benefits: pollination, local climate regulation…

Consultation response

Conservation International Europe, 11 Jan 2019

Conservation International (CI) welcomes the Roadmap that announces a communication on stepping up EU action on deforestation and forest degradation. CI also welcomes the recognition of the impact of EU consumption of agricultural commodities on forests in the world and the associated leverage to…

Consultation response

Both ENDS, 15 Jan 2019

The feedback in the ATTACHED DOCUMENT is jointly submitted by eight civil society and forest peoples’ organisations from Europe and tropical forest countries. A summary of key points is provided below. 1. NECESSITY AND MANDATE FOR LEGISLATIVE MEASURES While we support “a more coherent and…

Consultation response

Fair Trade Advocacy Office, 15 Jan 2019

We very much welcome the European Commission’s initiative to tackle the deforestation issue, and the related unsustainable production and trade of forest risk commodities. With regards to the problem analysis, we agree that the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are complex and…

Consultation response

FSC International Center GmbH (IC), 15 Jan 2019

I respond on behalf of FSC, the Forest Stewardship Council. FSC welcomes the decision of the Commission to develop an action plan focussing on both forest degradation and deforestation, which together, in particular in the tropics, are important sources of biodiversity loss and climate…

Consultation response

Oxfam-Wereldwinkels vzw, 15 Jan 2019

Various studies have shown the particular responsibility the EU has when it comes to countering this deforestation crisis. In the cocoa sector, for example, more than 60% of global cocoa goes through the EU. Therefore, the EU really holds a key position to push for change in this sector. The…

Consultation response

Kenneth Richter Consultancy, 15 Jan 2019

NRDC welcomes the EU’s initiative to tackle global deforestation and forest degradation. The world must take urgent action to halt the devastation of the world’s forest, which are vital for biodiversity, and are our best tool for removing heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The…

Consultation response

World Fair Trade Organization - Europe, 15 Jan 2019

The World Fair Trade Organization Europe welcomes the European Commission’s initiative on mitigating deforestation and forest degradation and current models of production and trade of Forest Risk Agricultural Commodities (FRAC) many of which are unsustainable and already identified as main causes…

Consultation response

APPA Biocarburantes, 11 Jan 2019

Como pone de manifiesto la hoja de ruta presentada por la Comisión Europea, la UE lleva ya más de diez años analizando el problema de la deforestación a nivel global a través de diversas Comunicaciones, Estrategias y Programas. Se han puesto en marcha paralelamente estos últimos años algunas…

Consultation response

Solum II Holding, 21 Dec 2018

The initiative is extremely relevant to fight climate change and to preserve biodiversity – good initiative! Try to make even more concrete initiatives; to create economic drivers to avoid deforestation due to the demand for biofuels, and to avoid monocultures due to agricultural needs. Try to…