We have officially launched the Manifesto for Europe’s Forests. Dozens of public institutions, protected area managers, NGOs, landowner associations, research institutes, trade unions from the forestry and rural sectors, professional associations, and civic initiatives have already added their signatures alongside ours. Our shared message is clear: Europe’s forests need dedicated and fair funding to support the green transition, biodiversity, the rural economy, and our collective well-being.
The launch of the Manifesto comes at a crucial moment: in less than a month, the European Commission will decide how to allocate EU funds in the next post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. Already, WWF-Romania and its partners have organized a landmark conference on this topic, putting on the public agenda the fact that forests can no longer be treated as a marginal chapter in Europe’s green policies. They must be recognized as a strategic sector, on the same level of importance as energy or agriculture.
Through the Manifesto, we are asking for:
- The creation of a dedicated European financial mechanism for forests;
- Investments in sustainable forest bioeconomies;
- Fair compensation schemes for landowners who manage their forests in nature-friendly ways.
Although forests cover almost half of the European Union’s territory, they currently receive only a tiny fraction of EU financial support. Continuing this underfunding risks compromising the achievement of environmental objectives, as well as Europe’s global competitiveness in key areas like the bioeconomy and green innovation. Furthermore, already vulnerable rural regions risk falling even further behind.
We call on the European Commission, national governments, and all relevant institutions: now is the time for action! It is time for forests to become the central pillar of green investments in Europe. By investing together in forests, we invest in a prosperous future for Europe.