News & media

European Forest Owners’ Manifesto: Caring for European Forests!

European Forest Owners’ Manifesto is published on 05 December 2023. It encapsulates our achievements, vision, and commitments, but at the same time it puts forth key requests for consideration in the upcoming European mandate.

Joint Statement on the Council Conclusions on the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

On 17 March, Member States adopted their position on the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. CEPF, together with Copa and Cogeca welcome the Council Conclusions, which underline the strategic role of forest owners in contributing to Europe’s strategic autonomy by providing sustainably sourced homegrown renewable materials for a widening range of use in the bioeconomy, ensured through the management of healthy and resilient forests. European forest owners especially welcome Member State’s explicit call for a predictable coherent policy framework around the European bioeconomy, where the “efficient implementation of the sustainability criteria for biomass set out in current Union legislation” is central for primary producing sectors.

CEPF's reply to the Commission's call for feedback on the carbon farming methodologies

CEPF welcomes the progress on the afforestation methodology under CRCF but highlights persistent challenges, including disproportionate monitoring burdens, restrictive eligibility criteria, and the need for clearer safeguards against changing legislation, calling for a more practical and inclusive framework for European forest owners.

burned forest landscape

Managed forests, lower wildfire risks - Turning proven knowledge into operational practices

Wildfire risks are rising across Europe. CEPF position paper calls for a unified yet flexible EU approach built on active Sustainable Forest Management. By reducing fuel loads, strengthening forest-based bioeconomy, aligning policies, and enhancing preparedness and coordination, Europe can turn proven knowledge into real action on the ground and build landscapes that are more resilient to wildfire.

Implementation Dialogue

EC Implementation Dialogue on the Nitrates, Water Framework, and Nature Directives

CEPF joined Commissioners Roswall and Hansen at a high-level event, making the case that fit-for-purpose nature protection legislation and active forest management should go hand in hand.

bioeconomy

CEPF Reflections on the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy

CEPF welcomes the adoption of Commission’s communication the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy, which is regarded as an important step in the right direction. Looking to the further formulation of the EU’s bioeconomy policy framework, European forest owners call on the EU co legislators to:
•Recognize and strengthen the role of family forest owners as central actors in Europe’s bioeconomy and forest based value chains
•Signal strong political commitment to increasing the production of domestic, sustainably sourced renewable biomass, which is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy
•Prioritize locally adapted Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) as the guiding principle, supported by continued cooperation with Forest Europe
•Shift climate policy emphasis from “sink-only” to “sink-substitution”, with clear recognition in future LULUCF revisions beyond 2030