Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission
7.10.2022
Enhancing the adaptation and resilience of EU forests to climate change is indeed a key objective of the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030[1], and also of the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change[2].
The Commission intends to publish the guidelines on biodiversity-friendly afforestation, reforestation and tree planting before the end of 2022. These non-binding guidelines will, among other things, contain general recommendations on land where to plant and what species to choose, considering climate change projections and the need to maximise the chances of survival of planted trees.
The actual survival and growth chances of planted trees will depend on the conditions and applicable rules at local level, and on the aftercare that will be ensured in the first months and years after planting (e.g., for watering or sheltering from game).
In the framework of the at least three billion trees pledge, one of the conditions for reporting planted trees to the EU counter is that they are planted with the objective of not being harvested for several decades.