eustafor.express

September 2018 - Number 71

Dear Reader,

The summer break is barely over but we have many policy developments and other news to share with you.

Following the official announcement by ÖBf in Sardinia last May, the video invitation to the next State Forest Conference can be viewed on EUSTAFOR’s newly established YouTube Channel. Please arrange your calendars so you can join us on 12-14 June 2019 in Austria.

You will read about ongoing work related to the bioeconomy strategy,  circular economy package and the CAP reform in the EU. Moreover, the European Commission is working intensively on the mid-term review of the EU Forest Strategy as well as the environmental policies relevant to forests. 

The EUSTAFOR Office continues its partnerships within the Brussels-based sector on issues such as guidance for the cascading use of biomass and on the practical implementation of the LULUCF regulation for primary wood producers and their down-stream value chains.

Last but not least, our Policy and Communications Advisor will be leaving EUSTAFOR at the beginning of October. We enjoyed having Salvatore Martire as part of our team and wish him much success with all his future endeavors.

Piotr Borkowski
Executive Director

Internal issues
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State Forest Conference 2019 - Video Announcement

The State Forest Conference 2019 (12-14 June, Austria) will be hosted by Österreichische Bundesforste

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EUSTAFOR Working groups at full speed

In the coming weeks, three EUSTAFOR working groups will meet in Brussels at the European Forestry House:

  • The renewed EUSTAFOR Communicators Network (CN) held a meeting on13 September 2018 from 9:30 to 17:00 (read more);
  • The Working Group on Climate Change will meet on 26 September 2018 (read more) back-to-back with the EUSTAFOR, EOS, CEPI & CEPF joint workshop on the practical consequences of the LULUCF Regulation (read more);
  • The Working Group on Bioeconomy will meet on 23 October 2018 back-to-back with the high level event "Sustainable & Circular Bioeconomy, the European Way,” which will take place on 22 October in Brussels (read more).
If you are interested in designating an expert to any of these groups please don’t hesitate to contact either the Chairs of these groups and/or office@eustafor.eu
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Upcoming staff changes at the executive offices

EUSTAFOR’s Policy and Communications Advisor, Salvatore Martire, has decided to move on and will be leaving EUSTAFOR as of the first week of October. His cooperation over the past two years resulted in the successful implementation of many actions in the various policy areas on which EUSTAFOR works. At the same time, he successfully advanced the association’s communication channels, significantly increasing EUSTAFOR’s visibility in the Brussels-based forestry sector. We enjoyed having Salvatore Martire as part of our team and wish him much success with all his future endeavors.

ASSOCIATE WELCOMe!

The EUSTAFOR Head Office is always keen to strengthen its bonds with our members through the Associate program. A 6-month stay in Brussels provides Associates with an insight into the workings of the European Union and the possibility to gain greater expertise in one or more policy areas which are of interest to the candidate.  For further information, please consult the Associate Role Description (LINK) or contact the Executive Director, Piotr Borkowski, at piotr.borkowski@eustafor.eu

EUSTAFOR becomes an Associated Member of the European Forest Institute

EUSTAFOR becomes an Associated Member of the European Forest Institute

On 3 September 2018 the Board of the European Forest Institute (EFI) approved EUSTAFOR’s application for Associated Membership. A decision to apply for  membership to EFI was taken by the Executive Committee.

Policy developments
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Towards a new Common Agricultural Policy

The European Commission’s proposal for a new Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 was published on 1 June 2018. In July EUSTAFOR developed a policy update on the CAP for its members which summarizes how the CAP is relevant to forestry.

The event “Which role for forests in the future Common Agricultural Policy?” (press release) was held in the European Parliament on 10 July 2018. It was hosted by MEP Jytte Guteland (Sweden, S&D) and MEP Herbert Dorfmann (Italy, EPP) within the framework of the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, in cooperation with EUSTAFOR and CEPF.

On 2 August 2018, EUSTAFOR submitted its feedback to the European Commission with regards to the Regulation Establishing CAP Strategic Plans.
LULUCF: practical consequences for the forest-based sector

Towards the implementation of the LULUCF regulation

EUSTAFOR, together with a number of organizations of the forest-based sector (EOS, CEPI and CEPF) and with the support of CEI-Bois, is organizing a joint workshop on the practical consequences of the recently adopted Regulation for the inclusion of Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) within the 2030 EU Climate and Energy framework. The event will be held on 25 September 2018 at the Tuscany Region EU Office in Brussels.

EUSTAFOR Comments to the draft final report on ‘Informing strategic green infrastructure and restoration planning through mapping and assessment methods based on spatial and technical data’

EUSTAFOR Comments to the green infrastructure report

EUSTAFOR has submitted its feedback to the draft report ‘Informing strategic green infrastructure and restoration planning through mapping and assessment methods based on spatial and technical data,’by the EEA, the JRC and DG Environment, because this document is relevant in the context of Natura 2000 and, more generally, to the EU Environmental policy developments.

A bottom-up approach to the use of forest biomass

A bottom-up approach to the use of forest biomass

Bioenergy Europe, CEPF, COPA & COGECA, EOS, EUSTAFOR, UEF, and USSE have developed a joint statement on the upcoming EU Non-Binding Guidance on the Cascading Use of Biomass.

Commission updates Key Concepts for Article 7(4) of Directive 2009/147/EC

Commission updates Key Concepts for Article 7(4) of Directive 2009/147/EC

During the 10th NADEG meeting held on 22–23 May 2018 the need to refresh the information on trends of huntable birds was discussed. Although already comprehensive, the data is to be further reviewed and updated in the future to take into account the most recent data in all Member States and to remove some discrepancies between those. 

EU consults the Roadmap for a Strategy for long-term reductions of greenhouse gas emissions

EU consults the Roadmap for a Strategy for long-term reductions of greenhouse gas emissions

The European Commission (DG CLIMA) has undertaken the task of developing a Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The strategy will address the policy aspects that will enable the Union to fulfil its obligations under the Paris agreement and its objectives under the Energy Union, on a path towards reaping the economic and societal benefits of the ongoing global low-carbon transition. On 10 August, EUSTAFOR gave its feedback to the Strategy’s roadmap (link). A public consultation on the strategy is currently open (link).

EUSTAFOR FEEDBACK TO THE ROADMAP "EVALUATION OF THE EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY TO 2020"

EUSTAFOR FEEDBACK TO THE ROADMAP "EVALUATION OF THE EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY TO 2020"

The European Commission has made public the roadmap for the Evaluation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, to which EUSTAFOR has submitted its feedback.

Other news
What a tree can do?

What a tree can do?

New poster by CEI-Bois, CEPI, CEPF and EUSTAFOR explains the bioeconomy potential of a tree.

Wild Boar in Europe: Trends and Challenges

Wild Boar in Europe: Trends and Challenges

A Meeting to discuss the current situation of wild boar in Europe was organized by the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) on 26 June 2018 in the European Parliament in Brussels within the framework of the EP Intergroup on “Biodiversity, Hunting and Countryside.” The event was hosted by MEP Renata Briano (IT/S&D).

24th session of COFO and the 6th World Forest Week, 16-20 July 2018, FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy

24th session of COFO and the 6th World Forest Week, 16-20 July 2018, FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy

“Forests and the Sustainable Development Goals – from aspiration to action” was the leitmotiv of the 24th session of COFO and the 6th World Forest Week. 

In short
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Brexit: Coillte plans to stockpile timber in UK warehouses

The state forestry group Coillte is seeking additional warehousing capacity in the UK so that it can stockpile three months’ worth of timber products as a contingency measure against a hard Brexit. (Irish time)

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A forest-based circular bioeconomy for southern Europe: visions, opportunities and challenges

A new synthesis report coordinated by the European Forest Institute explores the potential for a circular bioeconomy tailored to southern specificities, where increased reliance on renewable, biological resources is combined with increased resource efficiency and circular material loops.

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Rosewood: Enhancing sustainable wood mobilization through inter-regional knowledge transfer

ROSEWOOD is a European Horizon 2020 project dedicated to Sustainable Wood Mobilization. ROSEWOOD aims at building a trans-European network among stakeholders of the forestry value chain for the transfer of best practices and innovations in sustainable wood mobilization.

Forests among top issues at UN High Level Political Forum on SDGs

The United Nations held the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on the Sustainable Development Goals. An article by IUCN highlights how the role of restoration of deforested and degraded forest landscapes in the achievement of the SDGs, particularly SDG 15, has been emphasized in HLPF preparatory events and voluntary commitments from UN member states.

Upcoming events
LULUCF: practical consequences for the forest-based sector 25/09/2018
WG CLIMATE CHANGE MEETING 26/09/2018
EFI ANNUAL CONFERENCE 26-28/09/2018
LATEST Documents
Joint statement on the EU non-binding guidance on the cascading use of biomass 17/09/2018
Policy update on the Common agricultural policy 12/07/2018
WHAT A TREE CAN DO? 18/07/2018
Eustafor trees
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+32 (0)2 239 23 00
office@eustafor.eu
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