Ref. Ares(2022)5578775 - 04/08/2022
From:
Sil ia Melegari
Cc:
Natu e Resto at o Law a tool for making European forests resil ent to climate change healthy and productive
Date:
a d 12 av l 2022 10 42:00
Attachments:
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Dear
Thank you kindly for your e-mail and request for a meeting with Executive Vice-President Timmermans. Due to very heavy agenda constraints in the coming weeks regrettably EVP Timmermans cannot accommodate your meeting request for
now and he passes on his regrets.
We would be pleased to propose you instead a meeting (video-call) with Ms Helena Braun responsible member in the Cabinet who will be accompanied by a member from the Cabinet of Commissioner Sinkevicius and a member from the
Cabinet of Commissioner Breton on 10 May 16 00. Would it be that also suitable on your side? If not please kindly feel free to propose some suitable on your side options.
Kindly thank you in advance for your understanding and looking forward to your feedback.
Best regards
Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans
European Green Deal
European Commission
ec.europa.eu
From: CEI-BOIS |
Sent: Thursday April 7 2022 12 36 PM
To: CAB TIMMERMANS
@ec.europa.eu>
Cc:
Subject: Nature Restoration Law a tool for making European forests resilient to climate change healthy and productive
Nature Restoration Law: a tool for making European forests resilient to climate change, healthy and productive
Dear Executive Vice President
Dear Mr Timmermans
In the near future the European Commission is expected to publish a new legislative proposal on nature restoration. In this framework the European woodworking industries and the European pulp and paper industries urge the
European Commission to
launch an accurate assessment of the impact this new proposal will have on the raw material supply for the European forest-based industries and list feasible measures to avoid shortage of wood raw
materials for our sector.
The European wood processing industries are heavily dependent on European raw material supply in absence of any available alternative to European timber quality (for economic logistic and technical properties). At the same time
the sector offers a unique example of an integrated industrial ecosystem where materials by-products and residues are supplied across the various parts of the value chain to make the most efficient use of resources including
through recycling. This is one of the strengths of the forest-based industries which contributes to developing a resilient circular and bio-based EU economy. At the same time none of the European Green Deal initiatives – which
strongly affect the use of forest resources - have so far assessed their possible implications on the European forestry value chain in particular the supply of logs which is the first essential step.
The European forest-based industries (including furniture and bioenergy) represent around 420.000 enterprises with a total turnover of over 520 billion euros and support almost 4 million green jobs in communities across Europe.
These are jobs that often represent a critical source of employment in rural and northern communities where there are few other industries. European wood and wood products are globally recognised as coming from forests that are
responsibly and sustainably managed. Furthermore the forestry sector can play a key role in the EU s transition to a green climate-neutral and competitive circular bioeconomy currently wood is the best example of a sustainable
environmentally friendly material. The European forest-based industries are also recognised as innovators and leaders in the global timber industry.
Healthy resilient and productive European forests are essential for our sector. Although the area of forests in Europe has increased by 9% over the last 30 years climate change already directly and indirectly affects the growth and
productivity of our forests through changes in temperature rainfall weather and other factors. In addition elevated levels of carbon dioxide have an effect on tree growth. These changes influence complex forest ecosystems in many
ways and have a big impact on raw material supply. Additionally climate change alters the frequency and intensity of forest disturbances such as insect outbreaks invasive species wildfires and storms. These disturbances can reduce
forest productivity and change the distribution of tree species.
The Nature Restoration Law should be a tool that favours exchange of knowledge guidance and best practices among Member States in order to tackle the impact of climate change on our forest resources and ensure our forests will
continue to provide economic environmental and social benefits. The existence of local wood processing industries also plays an important role when natural disturbances take place. Between 2017 and 2019 over 270 million m3 of
drought-weakened standing forests in Central Europe have been felled by windstorms and spruce bark beetles. Several lumber companies in the region added sawmill capacity and/or built greenfield sawmills playing an essential role
in reducing the risk of further bark beetle propagation. From this we can conclude that
government, regional and local communities, forest owners and local wood processing industries need to be fully involved in the
identification of acceptable solutions for reducing future forest losses and aiding recovery from natural hazards.
We are firmly of the view that we can further restore our forests whilst ensuring the continuity of sustainable wood raw material supply in part by sharing existing best practices more widely amongst Member States.
However given the situation outlined above we would like to request a meeting to discuss how we can best instigate an impact assessment that will ensure that the Nature Restoration Law does not directly or inadvertently reduce
the availability of wood raw materials on the European market in such a way as to undermine the European forest-based industries ability to help deliver a net zero EU by 2050.
Yours Sincerely
__________________________________________________
European Confederation of Woodworking Industries
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