EUSTAFOR Statement on the European Commission’s Nature Credits Initiative

EUSTAFOR welcomes the recognition of nature and forests as a vital asset to Europe’s competitiveness and the intent to incentivise nature-positive actions through a market-based approach.

EUSTAFOR represents state forest organisations managing more than 30% of Europe’s forests accounting for 55.5 million hectares; its members provide, with the combined expertise of 130.000 employees, the daily management of state forests in Europe based on high-quality forest management standards. Therefore, we underline that the primary producers and public land managers should have a central position in the development of such scheme.

We celebrate being accepted in the Nature Credits expert group where EUSTAFOR wishes to positively contribute to the European Commission’s ambition to develop a credible and high-integrity nature credit system that mobilises private finance for biodiversity and nature restoration. However, to succeed, the system must be inclusive, equitable, and based on realistic forest management contexts, including the existing national legislation provisions.

For that we recommend considering the following aspects when developing the new Nature Credits proposal:

• Recognise multifunctionality and already implemented nature positive, ecosystem services provision and climate prevention and adaptation as eligible for crediting.
• Ensure the full inclusion of state/public forest owners as both beneficiaries and active stakeholders.
• The Nature Credit scheme should build on already existing certification systems and include those in regional and national levels.
• Clarify governance structures and formally include forestry bodies.
• Simplify certification processes, set up guarantees and science-based safety mechanisms.
• Impact and investment should be at a local level respecting Member States and regional realities.
• Guarantee financial and institutional support for public forest managers.
• Clarify carbon and biodiversity markets interrelation

You can read the full statement document HERE

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