EU forest restoration policy coherence

EU policy actions that have an impact on forest landscapes are primarily associated with other foret-related policy areas. At the EU level, forest issues are torn between different sectoral interests whenever new targets evolve outside the forest sector. Here, we first provide an overview of some key EU sectoral policies and instruments that are directly and indirectly related to forest (biodiversity) restoration and that are therefore relevant to be coordinated with EU and national forest policy and forest management in a coherent way. These forestrelated policy areas often seek to influence forest management at the forest stand, management unit and landscape level in line with their sectoral perspectives. Second, based on an expert assessment, we provide results from a cross-sectoral forest restoration policy coherence assessment at EU level, confronting key EU forest restoration objectives and indicators with the overarching policy goals of related policy areas.

Our findings indicate that while numerous sectoral policies influence forest policy and management across different EU Member States (MS), the majority of instruments originates from nature conservation policy, where the EU and MS share legislative competence. Notably, the recently enacted Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) introduces strong, legally binding, and directly applicable provisions for forest management across MS.

Results from the expert assessment of cross-sectoral forest policy coherence indicate that forest restoration objectives and indicators generally align with climate policy, nature conservation policy, and water policy goals. However, trade-offs are perceived between restoration efforts and bio economy and energy policies, while rural development outcomes appear more mixed.

The successful implementation of the EU forest restoration policy in the coming years, particularly under the recently enacted NRR, will critically depend on leveraging synergies, addressing potential trade-offs across related policy areas, and effectively balancing the diverse interests of stakeholders involved in forest restoration policy and practice.