Forest frameworks must balance trade and biodiversity

Future European forest frameworks must balance the demands of the timber and wood products industries with protecting biodiversity, a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) has said.

Increasing pressure on forests across a wider area will necessitate this move, with the need to optimise the use of Europe’s forests, while simultaneously preserving biodiversity, paramount.

This, said the report, means more research is needed to monitor and assess the state of Europe’s forests.

“In many respects, forests still remain a mystery,” it said. “Despite a number of ongoing initiatives, a systematic and harmonised Europe-wide monitoring and assessment of forests is not available.

“There is still much research to be done before we can fully understand what is happening.”

Other areas for Europe-wide improvement include greater co-operation between EEA member countries, better understanding and safeguarding of naturally occurring forest substrates such as deadwood and work to improve forest fire-fighting techniques, according to the EEA.