Implementing the new EU forest strategy in France
28.2.2023
Priority question for written answer P-000671/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Philippe Lamberts (Verts/ALE)
The EU forest strategy states that clear-cutting ‘should only be used in duly justified cases’ and that monocultures should be discouraged.
However, felling to ‘transform’ forests, whereby biodiverse forests are sometimes clear-cut to make way for monocultural plantations, is not regulated in France. For example, the bois du Chat (Corrèze) – a forest in a Natura 2000 area – may soon be clear-cut and replaced by a plantation. This is not an isolated case, but part of a wider trend.
More broadly, France has still not delivered on its commitment – set out in its roadmap on adapting forests to climate change – to require all French private forest management plans to include a section on biodiversity by 2021.
Given that there are no national provisions for the implementation of the broad outlines of the EU forest strategy:
- 1.Will the Commission ask France to comply with the commitment made in its roadmap as part of the (ongoing) review of regional forestry management plans?
- 2.How will it ensure that Natura 2000 areas are protected?
Submitted: 28.2.2023