Green MEPs demand stronger forest legislation
Green MEP’s (from the left) Pär Holmgren, Maria Ohisalo and Nicolae Ştefănuţă
Green MEPs held a press meeting on forest-related EU-legislation in Strasbourg. The MEPs emphasized the need for stronger legislation on forests. The on-going legislative files, Forest Monitoring Law and Update of the Standing Forestry Committee, are aiming at better understanding and better data on the health and state of our forests, as well as updating the EU forest governance structure to respond to new policy objectives. The MEPs impressed their disappointment on the co-rapporteurs draft reports on the files as they aim at watering down the legislation altogether.
The MEP's stressed the importance of not diluting the proposals for the Forest Monitoring Law and the Standing Forestry Committee, and highlighted the need for better harmonized information on forests to prepare for future challenges and risks. The Forest Monitoring Law is seen as an essential tool for implementing Green Deal legislation and it provides an opportunity to ensure that forest owners are compensated for the ecosystem services they provide, particularly regarding carbon sinks.
MEPs emphasized that a strong Forest Monitoring Law poses no risks or costs for forest owners but will provide crucial data to respond to growing threats such as droughts, wildfires, wind damage, invasive pests like the bark beetle, and human-driven environmental degradation.
The MEPs also noted that European forests are becoming increasingly monocultural and fragile, weakening their resilience and ultimately threatening European security. Given these challenges, accurate and timely data is essential for enabling swift action in response to changing conditions.
Pär Holmgren, Greens/EFA MEP from Sweden, comments:
“We are in a climate emergency, and the need for nature restoration and nature-based solutions — alongside mitigation efforts — is crucial and urgent. The Forest Monitoring Law is a tool for nature restoration within the EU Green Deal and provides an opportunity to ensure that forest owners are compensated for their ecosystem services and their role in providing carbon sinks. It is essential that the law is not watered down.”
Nicolae Ştefănuţă, Greens/EFA MEP from Romania, comments:
“Healthy forests are one of our best defenses against climate change and biodiversity loss. Without reliable data, we cannot protect them. Good data leads to good decisions, while inaccurate monitoring risks policy failures, environmental destruction, and higher long-term costs. A strong Forest Monitoring Law is not a bureaucratic exercise—it’s a vital step to avoid long-term costs for foresters, landowners, and citizens alike.”
Maria Ohisalo, Greens/EFA MEP from Finland, comments:
“Whereas forest monitoring is essential in achieving the EU's environmental objectives and climate targets, including protecting the remaining old-growth and primary forests, that we only have 3 % left in Europe, the update of the EU Standing Forestry Committee is needed to grasp all aspects of forest policy, also in the field of biodiversity and climate.”
Schedule:
The co-rapporteurs published draft reports on the Forest Monitoring Law (FML) (Renew, Sweden and S&D, France) and the update of the Standing Forestry Committee (SFC) (Renew, Sweden and EPP, Finland) last week.
The political groups in the European Parliament are currently starting their work on these important legislative files, which will be negotiated jointly in the Environment Committee and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
Shadow negotiations are planned to take place in March and vote in a joint ENVI/AGRI committee meeting in the beginning of June.
The plenary vote is foreseen in July 2025.