The European Commission should allocate dedicated funds for forest conservation in the next European Financial Framework that it will present by July 1, 2025, was one of the ideas that stood out last week during the debates organized at the Bálványos Summer University and the Student Camp in Băile Tușnad.
During the discussions on the topic „Can we leave Europe's forests in the hands of Politicians?”, WWF-Romania explained the necessity and opportunity of establishing a dedicated fund for forests or, at least, a dedicated allocation for forest conservation within a biodiversity fund at the European level.
Current European funding mechanisms are not designed to stimulate the protection of high conservation value forests, such as those in Romania. These forests are largely excluded from public policies, financial planning and investment schemes that could finance their sustainable conservation. Funding for the protection of high conservation value forests has been primarily limited to resources provided by national government budgets or philanthropic donations, leaving communities to rely mainly on the prospect of tourism revenue.
“It is not possible to expect Member States, which receive a national allocation through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), primarily based on agricultural parameters, to set ambitious objectives for forest conservation. One cannot adequately cover the complexity of costs associated with protecting high conservation value forests from a budget calculated based on corn production or, for that matter, the legitimate needs of young farmers.”
Unfortunately, so far forest conservation has remained mostly (un)funded through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or other European funds. For example, since Romania's accession to the European Union, European funds have never been used to compensate forest owners for implementing conservation measures imposed by the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.
This is why the coming months are essential for Member States, especially for those in Central and Eastern Europe, which are richer in forests and biodiversity, to cooperate and jointly support this solution. Effective and inclusive forest conservation is only possible if these efforts are reflected in the future European Union budget for 2027-2034.
Competent authorities now need to advocate for an independent allocation of resources based on performance indicators, aimed at achieving the objectives set in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, rather than for a mixed budget with general environmental and climate objectives. This is especially relevant given that Romania, as part of the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, has committed to expanding its network of protected natural areas to 30% of the national territory and ensuring that the area of forests under strict protection will increase at least threefold to restore and conserve biodiversity values essential to society.
Support for Communities
EU funds dedicated to forests should provide support for ambitious national plans for forest restoration, monitoring and protection. The funds must be allocated for the actual implementation of restoration activities, for compensating forest owners because of economic restrictions resulting from the protection regime, and to ensure a fair transition for forest dependent communities.
Simply compensating forest owners is not enough. A broader effort is needed to ensure a fair transition for forest dependent communities that are disadvantaged by restrictions on using natural resources. These communities require investments in alternative economic development opportunities to reduce pressure on protected natural resources and to ensure a just transition and a decent, satisfactory livelihood.
These financial mechanisms are essential to make sure that forestry and biodiversity protection laws can be implemented sustainably and that private forest owners do not end up fooling themselves.
Competent Authorities have to act from the bottom up now, in a transparent and participatory process, to ensure a fair allocation of EU funds for the restoration, monitoring and protection of Europe's forests.