Bændasamtökin áttu tvo áheyrnarfulltrúa á fundi í Finnlandi.
Skandinavíuþjóðirnar eiga mikið undir timburiðnaði, mis mikið þó. Þessar frændþjóðir okkar halda úti hagsmunasamtökum; Norrænu fjölskylduskógarnir (NFS), í frjálslegri þýðingu. Þau eru með starfsstöð í Brussel og árlegir aðalfundir eru haldnir með bróðurlegri skiptingu milli landanna. Síðustu ár hafa þau boðið fulltrúum skógarbænda á Íslandi að sitja fundi og kynnast fólkinu og samtökunum. Rætt hefur verið um hvort íslenskir skógarbændur væru gjaldgengir aðilar að samtökunum. Bæði hefur það verði rætt meðal Íslendinga um hvort það væri mögulegt, æskilegt og hvað það hefði í för með sér. Einnig kemur umræðan reglulega komið upp innan norrænu samtakanna sjálfra og þau gera sér grein fyrir mikilvægi samstöðunnar þrátt fyrir að Ísland komist ekki í hálfkvist við hinar þjóðirnar
Nú í september síðast liðnum fóru tveir fulltrúar á vegum Búgreinadeildar BÍ til Finnlands á aðalfund NFS. Íslensku fulltrúarnir voru Dagbjartur Bjarnason, stjórnarmaður deildarinnar og Hlynur Gauti Sigurðsson, starfsmaður. Hér á eftir verið greint frá því helsta sem fór fram í ferðinni, hvernig tengslin styrkjast og hvað fór fram á aðalfundinum í landi jólasveinsins.
Í hópi Norðurlandaþjóða eru Íslendingar yfirleitt fremur bláeygðir út í mál timburiðnaðar. Það er ekkert skrítið. Á meðan þær hafa í aldaraðir byggt hús og jafnvel háhýsi út timbri úr þeirra eigin heimaræktuðu skógum hafa Íslendingar lagt megin áherslur á ósjálfbæran innflutning steinefna til húsbygginga. Við erum eftirbátar þeirra, um það verður ekki spurt en Íslensku sendiboðarnir tveir voru allavega komnir á fundinn og til að hlusta og blanda geði.
Ferðalagið
Finnska borgin Oulu er við Helsingjabotn, þ.e. nyrstu hluti Eystrasaltsins, og deilir hnattrænni breiddargráðu með Reyðarfirði og Stykkishólmi. Á flugvellinum í Oulu hittust fundarmenn í rjómablíðu, sunnudaginn 8. september, fyrir utan tvo Dani sem höfðu ákveðið að keyra. Það fór reyndar þannig að þau sameinuðust ekki hópnum fyrr en að morgni þriðjudags, sem var hinn eiginleg fundardagur en líka dagur heimferðar. En allt í góðu. Föruneytið var skipað einum Dana (hann kom með flugi), tveimur Íslendingum, þremur Norðmönnum, fjórum Finnum, sjö Svíum og starfsmanni NFS, Ungverja búsettum í Brussel.
Strax við upphaf ferðar var komin seinkun sem varð þess valdandi að á fyrsta skoðunarstað var ekki farið út úr rútunni heldur einungis horft út um gluggann. Það var áhugaverður barna- og unglingaskóli í smábænum Pudasjarvi þar sem byggingar voru sérstaklega vistvænt hannaðar og skóastarfið tók mið af því. Skólasvæðið er um einn hektari og var byggt fyrir átta árum. Þessi nálgun á námið skilar sér í meiri vellíðan og betri námsárangri. Og talandi um uppbyggjandi leik og starf fyrir krakka þá eru Finnar nýlega búnir að kynna skemmtilegan tölvuleik sem heitir Pocket Forest, gefið út af Koko games.
Á leiðinni á náttstað á hótel Iso-Syöte, mátti víða sjá hreindýr inni í víðfeðmum barrskóginum. Íslendingar furðuðu sig á því hvað lítið væri um hefðbundið landbúnaðarland á þessum slóðum. Það kemur víst til út af rótgrónum búskaparháttum. Leið okkar lá við jaðar Lapplands, ekki langt frá heimili jólasveinsins í Rovaniemi þar sem er fyrst og fremst stundaður hjarðbúskapur með hreindýr. Svo virtist sem hreindýrin nutu þess að spígspora þurrum fótum innan um stæðileg furutrén, en manni sýndist að án trjánna hefði landið verið ein stór mýri.
Við sólarupprás morguninn eftir sáum við döggina læðast yfir viði vaxnar hæðir og spegilslétt vötn allt um kring. Stórfengleg sýn. Að hugsa sér, að svona gæti það litið út alla Skógarströndina við Breiðafjörð.
Að loknu morgunkaffinu var farið á fyrsta skipulagða viðkomustað dagsins; Pölkky Oy sögunarmyllan í sveitarfélaginu Taivalkoski. Marko Määttä, framleiðslustjóri, fór yfir svæðið með okkur. Vinnsluálmurnar voru risastórar, vélarnar voru tæknilegar og öll gólf voru með ólíkindum þrifaleg. Að jafnaði skilar vinnslan 85 metrum af flettum borðviði á mínútu. Það virtist því sem flokkunin færi fram bæði vélrænt og sjónrænt því vaktmenn fylgdust vel með öllu. Uppistaða hráefnisins var skógarfura 80% og rauðgreni 20%. Vinnslusvæðið er á um 100 hekturum og þjónustusvæðið er í um 150 kílómetra radíus. Til samanburðar er bein lína frá Siglufirði til Víkur í Mýrdal 300 kílómetrar. Í Pölkky starfa 80 manns í allt og unnið er á tveimur vöktum á sólarhring. Þegar eftir því var spurt sagði hæstráðandi að það væri ekkert útilokað að þeir réðu Íslending til starfa yrði eftir því leitað.
Á hótel Kiannon Kuohut í sveitarfélaginu Suomussalmi var næst fyrirlestur frá einu finnsku landshlutabundu félagi skógarbænda en umfang þess er ögn landminna en Ísland. Síðustu ár hefur starfið gengið þungt og hafa bændur selt jarðir sínar til stórfyrirtækja. Harry Savonen, framsögumaður og reyndur Ponse harvester verktaki, sagði að meðalaldur skógarbænda væri 63 ár og 75% lands væri í ríkiseigu. Samstöðumátturinn er aftur að koma saman enda mikið í húfu fyrir bændur.
Að lokum var straujað í átt til Rússnesku landamæranna með örstuttu stuttu túristastoppi hjá elstu sjoppu Finnlands; Jalavan Kauppa, þar sem skoðaðir voru innanstokks munir frá gamla tímanum. Ferðinni var heitið að Raate road safninu, þar sem frægasta orrusta finnska vetrarstríðsins átti sér stað árið 1939. Okkur var boðið upp á kaffi og finnskan kleinuhring (Munkki) þegar við komum. Hvort sem illska Sovétmanna fól í sér óttablendna undirgefni við herra Stalín eða harðræðið foringjans gagnvart þegnunum, þá er stórmerkilegt að fámennt herlið Finna hafi stráfellt óvininn eins og raun bar vitni. Einungis finnsku megin við landamærin er sögu stríðsins haldið á lofti, en ekki minnst á það austan megin. Alger þöggun. Það verður þó ekki þagað um það að hópurinn lét taka mynd af sér skammt frá landamærunum.
Fundurinn
Að morgni þriðjudags hófst formlegur fundur. Þó NFS kljáist fyrst og fremst við Evrópusambandið eiga þjóðirnar sjálfar við ýmsar grýlur að glíma heima fyrir. Daginn áður höfðu fulltrúar hvers lands haldið stuttan annál í rútunni. Þar var sagt frá helstu verkefnum og áskorunum. Líkt og á Íslandi er hávær umræða um líffjölbreytni, uppkaup lands og viðskiptakerfi með kolefniseiningar. Það er skemmtileg tvíræðni að umræðan um líffjölbreytnina á Norðurlöndum snýr að verndun auðugs skógvistkerfis á meðan nýskógrækt sé ógn við líffjölbreytileika á Íslandi.
Að loknum umræðum um ársreikninga var vikið að öðrum málum fundarins. >Á árinu ætla samtökin að skipuleggja herferð sem er ætlað að útskýra gildi Family forest og ætlað að ná til valdhafa í sem víðustum skilningi. >Málefni norðurslóða, sama og hreindýrahalds voru sérstaklega rædd á fundinum. Breyttur heimur og menningarminnstur hefur keðjuverkandi áhrif meðal annars á venjur og þróun skógræktar á svæðinu. >Að lokum fóru Finnar yfir það helsta sem hefði áunnist í stjórnartíð þeirra á árinu og færðu loks Dönum að taka við stjórninni fram að næsta fundi að ári. Eitt af þeim verkefnum sem Dönum var falið var að vinna náið með Íslendingum um hvort og þá með hvaða hætti þeir vildu eiga aðild að NFS. Þetta þótti skemmtilegt á fundinum og höfðu Danir orð á því að með þessu yrðu þeir ekki lengur minnsta skógarþjóðin í samtökunum og hlökkuðu til að taka upp frekara samtal.
Störf hagsmunasamtaka skipta máli. Að baki hvers lands í NFS eru félög skógarbænda. Í hverju félagi skógarbænda er fólk sem hefur hag af sterku Norðurlandasamtarfi. Það getur einnig átt við um Ísland. En nú er spurningin hvað lítil deild skógarbænda innan raða BÍ vill gera hvað varðar aðild að NFS.
Myndband úr ferðinni má sjá á Youtube síðu Bændasamtaka Íslands.
Hlynur Gauti Sigurðsson
Höfundur er starfsmaður búgreinadeildar skógarbænda.
Myndband þar sem fulltrúar hvers lands segja frá helstu málum heimafyrir og hve mikilvægt starf NFS er þeim.
Myndband: Hlynur Gauti
Hlynur og Dagbjartur skammt frá landamærum Finnlands við Rússland. Mynd tekin á Raate Road.
Hópmynd á planinu á viðarFinnslunni í Pöllky
Hópmynd skammt frá landamærum Rússlands
Myndir af vettvangi, teknar af Dagbjarti og Hlyni
Mynd af Marko þegar hann felur Danmörku, sem verða við stjórnartaumana 2025, að vinna að inngöngu Íslands í NFS.
Fréttin birtis fyrst í Bændablaðinu.
Ítarefni
Nöfn Þátttakenda
Participants Rådsmöte 8-10 September 2024 (Finland)
Finland
Juha Marttila,
President, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
Marko Mäki-Hakola,
Forest Director, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
Mikko Tiirola,
Chairman of the Forestry Council, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
Maria Pohjala,
Senior Adviser EU and International Affairs, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
Aino Kurtti,
Field Manager, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
Mats Nylund,
Centralförbundsordförande/President, Svenska lantbruksproducenternas centralförbund (SLC)
Sweden
Paul Christensson,
Chairperson Federation of Swedish Family Forest Owners (LRF)
Magnus Kindbom,
Director Forest Department, Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF)
Mia Crawford,
Forest Director EU and International Affairs, Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF)
Jenny Noel,
EU Coordinator, Södra
Sofia Lindblad,
Head of Unit, Communications, Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF)
Stig Högberg,
Chairman of Norra Skog
Sven Erik Hammar, President of the Confederation of European private forest owners (CEPF)
Denmark
Peter Arnold Busck,
Chairperson, Danish Forest Association (Dansk Skovforening)
Niels Otto Lundstedt,
Vice Chairperson, Danish Forest Association (Dansk Skovforening)
Marie-Louise Bretner,
Senior Policy Advisor, Danish Forest Association (Dansk Skovforening)
Anders Frandsen,
Director, Danish Forest Association (Dansk Skovforening)
Steen Riber,
Division Director, HedeDanmark
Norway
Heidi Hemstad,
Chairperson, Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation (Norges Skogeierforbund)
Per Skorge,
Director, Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation (Norges Skogeierforbund)
Ellen Alfsen,
Director Communication and Policy, Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation (Norges Skogeierforbund)
Iceland
Hlynur Sigurdsson,
Manager at Icelandic Forest farmer
Dagbjartur Bjarnason,
Board member of Icelandic Forest farmer
Belgium
Dániel Komlós,
Policy Advisor of Nordic Family Forestry Bureau (NSF) and Confederation of European
Dagskrá
Program Rådsmöte Nordic Family Forestry 2024
8-10 September, Oulu-Raattentie-Suomussalmi, Finland
Arrival:
There is a direct flight from Helsinki to Oulu airport from where we will start and end the meeting.
Hotel:
MTK has taken care of the bookings for the hotels. Bookings can be paid at the hotels by each organisation.
Registration:
Registrations through this link by 25 June 2024 (COB).
Meeting Day 1
Sunday 8th September
Meeting at the Oulu airport at 5 pm.
· A quick stop to see a wooden school in Pudasjärvi.
· Driving to the hotel in Iso-Syöte.
· Dinner at 8.30 pm at the hotel.
Meeting Day 2
Monday 9th September
· Breakfast at the hotel
· Leaving the hotel at 8 am for field visits.
Field visits:
· Pölkky sawmill – sustainable wood sourcing in the northern Finland
· Lunch at the hotel (Kiannon kuohut) at 12 pm with the local Forest Management Association representatives
· Visits at the World War II battlefields (Raate Road) at 2.30-5.30 pm
· Dinner at the hotel at 7.30 pm
· During driving:
o NSF Country Reports and results of the EU elections (10 minutes each); document: Country Reports
o Brussels Updates, NSF Policy Advisor Dániel Komlós; document: EU report.
Meeting day 3
Tuesday 10th September
· Breakfast at the hotel
· Official NSF meeting starts at 8 am at the hotel (Kiannon Kuohut, in the meeting room called “Sorsakorva”)
Draft Meeting Program:
8-9.15 am
1. Opening of the meeting 8-8.10
Juha Marttila, President of the Finnish Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners MTK
2. Presentation of participants 8.10-8.15
Document: Participant list
3. Election of the NSF board 8.15-8.20
Document: NSF budget
4. Wrapping up of the Finnish Presidency 8.20 - 8.50
Presentation about achievements and challenges of the Finnish Presidency. Discussions related to the NSF Biodiversity Report that was developed during the Finnish Presidency. Document: PP presentation.
Presentation by Marko Mäki-Hakola, Forest Director MTK and Maria Pohjala, Senior Policy Adviser EU, and International Forest Affairs.
4.a. Approval of NSF Biodiversity Report. Document: NSF Biodiversity Report.
4.b. Wrapping up of the EU elections’ results and exchange of views on forest policies in EU. Presentation by Marko Mäki-Hakola, Forest Director MTK and Maria Pohjala, Senior Policy Adviser EU, and International Forest Affairs. Document: Country reports.
6. Presentation of the Danish Presidency 8.50 – 9.15
Incoming Presidency presents the Working Plan 2024-2025 as well as tentative budget for 2025. Anders Frandsen, Director, Danish Forest Association. Document: NSF Working Plan 2024-2025 and budget.
Coffee Break 9.15-9.30
7. NSF EU communications campaign 9.30-10.00
LRF presents the tentative plan and budget for an NSF communications campaign. Document: PP presentation.
8. Discussions on northern topics (Saami, reindeer herding, FSC, old-growth forests etc.) 10.00-11.30
Overview by Aino Kurtti, MTK Advisor on northern topics followed by comments from Norway and Sweden. Document: NSF country reports/reports on northern topics.
9. AOB
Lunch 11.30-12.15pm
Leaving for the airport 12.15 pm
Arriving to the Oulu airport 3.30 pm
Ræður landsfulltrúa -National update
Noregur, Ellen Alfsen
Country report from Norway
Political debate on forestry
The relationship between sustainable forestry, forest conservation and safeguarding biodiversity has been debated a lot in the Parliament.
There have been several proposals in the Storting to limit or stop logging in old forests, limit or stop logging during the breeding season and ban clear cutting.
Norwegian Forest Owners' Association has spent a lot of time on these issues. To meet some of the requirements, we have, among other things, joined forces with environmental organizations and proposed an incentive scheme for continuous cover forestry.
The Norwegian Forest Owners' Association will make an extra effort to raise our issues in the public debate. A separate project has been established and a project manager with a broad background from media is hired. The project will focus on five selected fields in the run-up to the parliamentary election in September 2025.
Ecosystem services: Sales of carbon credits
The Norwegian Forest Owners' Association is working on developing a product for the sale of carbon credits. The idea is to sell carbon credits by postponing logging in an area. The concept is based on EU's framework for certification of carbon removals.
As a research partner in the project, NIBIO has presented a model based on previous research and NCX's model for deferred logging. The model calculates the probability of logging on the property, as well as the risk of leaks, standing volume and other factors, to generate marketable carbon credits in the event of a one-year postponement of harvesting. To test the model, the administration has initiated a collaboration with 8 forest owners of different sizes and with different operations on the property.
Another relevant measure may be the restoration of peatlands, but the knowledge base about the climate effect of the measure is currently too poor. A project has therefore been established by NIBIO, in which the Norwegian Forest Owners' Association and NORSKOG are partners, with the aim of analyzing the effects and give a better knowledge base for developing this product.
Norway's relationship with the EU
There is a lot of debate about Norway's relationship with the EU. It attracted a lot of attention that the EU's Commissioner for Energy announced and set a deadline for when Norway had to introduce the Renewable Energy Directive. Norway has introduced the first Renewable Energy Directive but has not followed up on the revisions in 2018 and 2023. The Renewable Energy Directive creates major challenges for Norway, especially because it sets the stage for a "fast track" for solar power and wind power. Opposition to wind power in particular has been very vocal in Norway. There is also a great deal of disagreement between the two parties in government (the Labour Party and the Centre Party) on implementing EU legislation.
Climate cooperation with EU also creates problems for Norway. Norway has entered into a separate climate agreement with EU and follows EU climate legislation. The LULUCF sector has created problems for Norway, and for the current period (2020-2025) it is likely that we will have calculated emissions of about 6.7 million CO2 equivalents per year. The calculated emissions stand in contrast to that the forest every year has a big net zink of about 20 million CO2 equivalents. That cover up ca 40% of Norway’s emissions in total pr year. The government has received support from the Storting to buy climate credits of NOK 3 billion to cover for this. However, it is likely that Norway will have a surplus next period. It is highly uncertain whether it is possible to see the two periods as a whole, which would be an advantage for Norway.
So far, the Government has made it clear that a deficit in the LULUCF sector should not have consequences for the individual forest owner and the level of fellings in Norway.
White paper on EEA agreement
A committee has looked at Norway's relationship with the EU and made various proposals for how the interaction between Norway and the EU should take place. Among other things, the committee has made proposals for how Norway can follow up the legislation proposed by the European Commission in a faster and better way. There are many improvements that can be made, including faster translation of documents into Norwegian, and the introduction of a "neighboring country check", as Denmark has.
Nordic topics
The government has an ongoing consultation on the law regarding reindeer herding. There are not many problems between reindeer owners and forest owners. There may be more challenges between farmers and reindeer owners. One question in the consultation is compensation for grazing damages. For damages, you must try to find the reindeer owner and ask for compensation directly from the owner. If it is not possible to identify the reindeer owner, you can ask compensation from the Siida. Siidaen is a group of reindeer owners working together in the same area. The members of the Siida will have a common responsibility for the damages made by the animals, if it is not possible to identify which animal(s) has made the damages.
The FSC certification in Norway will be revised. This will be a process governed by the International FSC. This revision will also include FPIC (Free Prior Informed Consent) from Sami representatives before logging. This may be a challenge in the future.
It has been a high level of conflict between parts of the Sami people and the Government, due to established windmill production, especially in the Fosen area in Trøndelag. The Sami representatives claims that the windmill area destroys the grazing area of the reindeers. The conflict ended in the High Court of Norway, who judged in favor of the reindeer owners. The establishment of the windmill area was breaking the human rights of the Sami people, said the High Court of Norway.
Reference: HR-2021-1975-S, 11. oktober 2021.
The conflicts between reindeer grazing and other activities may create problems in the future, because the reindeer grazing area make up about 40% of the Norwegian land area.
There has also been a case in the High Court of Norway about who has the owner rights to the area of Karasjok, one of the cities in Finnmark. In 2006, Finnmarkseiendommen (FEFO) was established, FEFO has the ownership to all the area formerly owned by the Norwegian state or the Norwegian State Forest.
In 2019, a Commission concluded that the area around Karasjok should be owned by the locals in Karasjok instead of FEFO. Some representatives of the Sami people also claimed that the area should be owned by the Sami people only. The High Court of Norway concluded that the area should be owned by FEFO. Reference HR-2024-982-S, 31 May 2024
Bark beetle attack
In some parts of Norway there are a lot of trees dying because of drought. Especially in the southern part of Norway, the region called Innlandet and areas around Oslo are affected.
Forest Owners are encouraged to keep a close look on their forest, and to fell mature, healthy trees in exposed areas to avoid more damages next year.
Statistics 2023:
Standing volume in Norway is now 1,005 billion m3. It is the first time we have passed on billon m3. Standing volume has increased 10 percent the last 10 years.
Standing productive volume is 880 mill. m3.
Annual fellings 11 mill. m3.
Export: 4 mill m3
Danmörk, Peter Arnold Busck
Theme of the past year: Land use, Land use Changes and Forestry – in Denmark
Denmark's 42,954 km2 land area, the effects of intensive land use (nitrogen emissions), Agriculture's CO2 emissions and recommendations for handling the decline in biodiversity and Denmark's international biodiversity obligations have been topics in the past year.
Various political announcements about the expansion of renewable energy, the need for more protected nature, afforestation and Denmark's general projection of other land needs is estimated to take up an area corresponding to 130-140 percent of Denmark's total land area.
Land scarcity, land prioritization, synergy in land use, have been buzz words in the NGO world and have also found their way into the political system.
Agreement on a green DenmarkThe Danish Government has negotiated with Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Danish Industry and Denmark's Nature Conservation Association on
· a CO2-tax on emissions from agricultural land (fertilizer) and animal husbandry.
· reduction of nitrogen leak into the aquatic environment and as well as
· support schemes for technology improvement
In this connection, the Danish Forestry Association provided input for a model for a national afforestation scheme (strengthen CO2 uptake and reduce nitrogen leak), where we propose that afforestation projects be required to be a minimum of 50 ha and that the payment in the grant model be based on synergies and should consist of the following three main components:
• Compensation for loss of land value
• Cost of planting
• Payment for ecosystem services and synergy effects
The negotiations culminated in an agreement in June (Aftale om et Grønt Danmark). The main points in the agreement are:
· A CO2 tax will be introduced on agricultural biological processes. It will be DKK 120 per ton of CO2 from 2030 and will rise to DKK 300 in 2035.
· National scheme will be established to support afforestation of 250,000 hectares of agricultural land by 2045.
· Support to the permanent fallowing of 140,000 hectares of low-lying farmland (peat land) by 2030
· Land acquisition with a view to reducing nitrogen leaking to the aquatic environment.
Approximately DKK 40 billion is set aside to implement the land changes.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has upon agreement pledge DKK 10 billion for converting land in Denmark to give space to more nature and biodiversity and for agricultural production based on modern technologies.
Afforestation
• DKK 22 billion are to be set aside for private afforestation until 2045. The subsidy rate is fixed at DKK 75.500 per hectare.
• Farmers will be able to apply for a supplement of DKK 15.500 per hectare if the afforestation is left untouched with a ban on the sale of wood. The objective is that 80.000 hectares - well over a third of the total area of new forest are to be untouched.
• The afforestation scheme is to be targeted at areas with a need for nitrogen leak-reduction, so that the afforestation will benefit the water environment.
• The afforestation scheme will be revisited in 2027 at the latest (corresponding with finishing a national mapping of strategic ground water resources – drinking water).
Political negotiations start in OctoberThe government is a majority government consisting of the Social Democrats, the Liberals and the Moderates. The government parties reach across the middle in Danish politics and can adopt the negotiation result alone but are expected to invite the other parties to negotiations when the parliament opens in October.
Report on biodiversity needs in a Danish contextAs input to the land use debate and to Denmark's obligations to protect nature and ensure biodiversity according to the Kunming-Montreal agreement, the University of Copenhagen – financial supported by several foundations - published a report entitled “More, Better, Greater nature in Denmark” The University of Copenhagen's conclusion is that there is a need for large contiguous natural areas in Denmark to ensure biodiversity and that it is decisive which locations are set aside for nature and biodiversity.
The report's main scenario points to 149 large contiguous areas that, according to Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at Copenhagen University, will ensure that all registered Danish species are represented at least three times. The areas pointed out in the report include a total of 220,000 ha that is nature today, 220,000 ha of agricultural land and 235,000 ha of cultivated forests that would have to be taken out of production in order to realize the 149 large contiguous natural areas. This corresponds to 8% of Denmark's agricultural area and 43% of cultivated forests.
The Danish government is currently “only” working to create large contiguous natural areas in Denmark's national parks and in our nature-national parks that are all primarily located on publicly owned land - mainly state forests.
Report on financing biodiversity As a follow-up to the report from the University of Copenhagen, the Biodiversity Council (the Biodiversity Council is an independent expert body whose task is to advise the government and the Danish Parliament on measures that can turn the loss of biodiversity into progress.) came up with a report on the financing of biodiversity.
The Biodiversity Council recommends that a Biodiversity Act be adopted with fixed targets a la the Climate Act, and that a review be made of all sector legislation and subsidy schemes with a view to removing legislation and incentives that harm biodiversity
The Biodiversity Council points out that financing biodiversity efforts, without any real effect on biodiversity, only increases the need for financing. The Biodiversity Council suggests building on the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive ('Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive', CSRD) and requiring everyone in the public and private sector to document their negative impacts on biodiversity. The Biodiversity Council recommends preparing a comprehensive plan for future land use in Denmark
The Biodiversity Council assesses that the private sector can contribute most effectively to mateine/enhance biodiversity by supporting biodiversity projects with an emphasis on creating large, high-quality, continuous areas that permanently protect Danish biodiversity in a representative manner.
The Biodiversity Council assesses that biodiversity credits (a counterpart to CO2 credits), which can be traded freely, are not a suitable tool to close the funding gap and secure biodiversity, as the biodiversity effect is too uncertain.
The government has previously announced that they are going to put forward a biodiversity act in the coming assembly.
The Danish Forestry Association faces a working year where afforestation finally seems to be picking up speed, but also with many NGO-wishes for the existing forest.
Finnland, Marko Mäki-Hakola
Update 2024 – Finland
Forest policy
The new national forest programme to 2035 (the National Forest Strategy 2035) was adopted in December 2022. The new strategy emphasises the competitiveness for forest sector, active and sustainable use of forests, forest biodiversity and resilience as well as strengthening the knowledge-based management. The key projects implementing the strategy are based on the growth of forests, biodiversity and renewal and competitiveness of the forest sector.
The new aid scheme for sustainable forestry (METKA) became operative from the beginning of 2024. The aid scheme includes support for management of young stands and early tending of seedling stands, remedial fertilisation of forest, planning of peatland forest management, and construction and improvement of forest roads. Aid may also be granted for forest nature management projects and environmental aid contracts. Due to government cuts on budget, changes to METKA-scheme are already proposed, including reduced grants and the possibility to suspend the approval of grant applications.
Although the programme of the government gives a strong support for the forest sector’s development, the concrete measures are yet to be seen. The decrease in the public spending and government’s budget has hit not only the METKA-scheme, but also implementation of the national forest programme, forest research and advice services for forest owners (Forest Centre).
Preparations for the implementation of the deforestation regulation (EUDR) are underway. The intention is to follow already existing procedures, notifications, and data-sources to avoid additional bureaucracy. Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) has been selected to be the competent authority. In standing timber sales, the wood buyer is considered the operator to whom the regulation's obligations apply. However, much is still open as no guidelines have been received from the Commission.
On Thursday 15 August, an environmental incident was discovered at a Stora Enso harvesting site in Kainuu, Finland, and the incident is being investigated as an aggravated nature conservation offence. This single incident (in Finland 100000 wood sales every year) has been major national news for weeks. Practically forestry machinery has crossed a river where there is a population of the highly endangered freshwater pearl mussel. This was clearly against legislation, but still the demands by some organisations have been to publish new legislation. The environmental minister Kai Mykkänen has insisted that forest companies should leave at least a 50-meter buffer zone next to rivers and streams. MTK has concerns that these buffer zones would be paid by forest owners. Therefore, MTK came out with a proposal that buffer zones would be a part of competitive bidding in the forest management associations. This puts the pressure for forest industry to compensate costs.
Wood Market
The World economy has been somewhat unstable but fortunately there has also been positive signals for a better economic situation. The Finnish industry is depending on the export and there has been some positive signals for increasing export volumes. The forest industry's production has been improving from the beginning of the year because of the new industry capacities and better demand in the market. However, some production limitations may be used in mechanical and pulp industries at the end of the year.
Forest industry’s profits have gone up during the first half year mainly in chemical forest industry, but mechanical forest industry has an opposite development. The new large-scale capacities have started to produce pulp and carton board. However, there was a gas explosion in Kemi which shut down production for several months.
The higher capacity of chemical industry has affected the wood market. The purchase volumes for roundwood have increased from last year and the prices have risen significantly for saw log, pulp wood and energy wood.
MTK has developed its own member mobile application linked to the Forest Management Association digital services (OmaMetsä). MTK member application gives an easy way to read the news and find training opportunities for the members. The digital service of Forestry Management Association combines the wood market information and forest resource data in a modern way.
Biodiversity
The update of Finland’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan has been discussed for years already but no political decisions have been made. There is a similar situation with the process regarding the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in Finland and the preparation of the related National Pledge. In the coming years the focus will be on the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law and the National Restoration Plan. Thus, it’s unclear whether Finland will submit the voluntary National Pledge to the Commission or not.
The implementation of the voluntary-based METSO (forest protection) and Helmi programmes (restoration and nature management in different ecosystems) has continued successfully despite the challenges of securing adequate funding from the state budget. To increase the role of private funding in biodiversity protection voluntary ecological compensation / offsetting and nature value markets are widely discussed in Finland.
MTK’s and SLC’s Biodiversity Road Map was published in February 2024. The Road Map includes analyses based on research information as well as a mission, goals and measures defined by MTK and SLC. The Road Map forms the basis for MTK’s advocacy work in biodiversity policy from now on.
Climate
The latest surveys show that Finland will come short on 2025 LULUCF targets. This has resulted in a domestic debate, how this will affect national climate policy. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is preparing a short programme how to enhance the sinks so that 2030 targets and the national climate neutrality target in 2035 could be met.
One of the alternatives is to open a limited quota for LULUCF-sector to supply enhancement of sinks to fuel blender’s obligation. The current idea is to open the quota of 100 000t, which could be counted with a factor of 0.5 towards blending obligation. That would mean a domestic market of a maximum of 200 000t for practices executed in the LULUCF sector. The blender would buy the CDR’s from the supplier on a market basis.
The Renewable Energy Directive’s national implementation is reaching its end. Many requirements can be met with the already existing regulation and the process does not result in updating any national regulations.
EU elections results
Finland has 15 MEPS in the European Parliament. The number increased by one since 2019.
1. Mika Aaltola (EPP)
2. Li Andersson (Left)
3. Eero Heinäluoma (S&D)
4. Henna Virkkunen (EPP), who is named as a Finnish Commissioner candidate
5. Elsi Katainen (RE)
6. Ville Niinistö (Greens)
7. Merja Kyllönen (Left)
8. Pekka Toveri (EPP)
9. Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR)
10. Maria Guzenina (S&D)
11. Aura Salla (EPP)
12. Anna-Maja Henriksson (EPP)
13. Katri Kulmuni (RE)
14. Jussi Saramo (Left)
15. Maria Ohisalo (Greens)
Some general remarks from the EP elections:
Left Alliance party leader Li Andersson made history on attracting more votes than any other Finnish candidate has ever received in a European election. Her party gained over ten percentage points over the previous Euro election five years ago. No pre-election poll predicted such a significant result for the party.
The National Coalition Party Kokoomus was the best-supported in Finland's European election, but the Left Alliance increased its support by the most.
The Finns Party fell short of their previous European election results, receiving only under eight percent of the vote. Their support has roughly halved compared to the 2019 Euro elections. The party is now down to one seat in the European Parliament from three. The result was unexpected.
Many newly elected Finnish MEPs have a lot of experience working in powerful positions on a national level. Therefore, it might be expected that they also get influential duties in the EP.
Many long-term MEPs (Petri Sarvamaa, Mauri Pekkarinen, Nils Torvalds) who have worked with forest-related files in the EP have left Parliament. Still, there are a few MEPs that have indicated their interest and balanced understanding in forestry (Elsi Katainen, Katri Kulmuni, Pekka Toveri, Henna Virkkunen, Eero Heinäluoma). Henna Virkkunen has been named as a Finnish candidate to become a commissioner. Her substitute as a MEP would then be Sirpa Pietikäinen who does not support MTK’s lines in forest-related topics.
Finnish MEPs have secured some good seats in the committees that are relevant to forestry:
1. ComENVI: Katri Kulmuni (RE)
2. ComITRE: Henna Virkkunen (EPP), Eero Heinäluoma (S&D), Ville Niinistö (Greens), Jussi Saramo (The Left)
3. ComAGRI: Pekka Toveri (EPP), Elsi Katainen (RE)
Svíþjóð, Magnus Kindbom
Update from Sweden since the last Rådsmöte
It is now half time in the current Swedish political mandate. So far, that government have issued limited concrete forest policy measures, most are yet to come. Many different government investigations and committees are due to deliver on their tasks later this year or in the first half next year.
The most pressing issue for many family forest owners is the implementation of the Swedish protection of species act. The trend that more and more disputes must be settled in court sadly continues. Family forest owners are among those suffering the most, not only economically but also emotionally. For fuller report on the pressing issues of family forestry in the North, including reindeer herding and species protection see annex 1.
The year was also marked by election to the European parliament. For the first time since Sweden joined EU forest-issues became key topics for the political debates leading up to the election. This has resulted in increased number of Swedish members of European parliament actively taking seats in committees that will deal with forest-related policies (ENVI, AGRI and ITRE). The past year we have also welcomed the president of the EU Commission and several of her cabinet members out in the Swedish forests. A majority of these visits have been to Swedish forest industries, but a handful have also included visits in the forests meeting forest owners. For fuller report on the LRF*s analysis of the election on European parliament see, annex 2.
However, looking back at the past year perhaps the most significant development in Sweden was that we finally joined NATO. As a result, we see increased cooperation, not only on defense and military, but also crises preparedness and self-sufficiency on strategic resources, including food and timber. The Nordic cooperation in general has also been strengthen during this year since Sweden has had the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The current government is prioritizing cooperation in our own region and is reevaluating international cooperation in many other parts of the world.
Climate change is still a priority within the government but perhaps not as high as it used to be. This is an area were the current government and the Swedish democrats that the government has an cooperation agreement with are struggling to agree on the level of ambition. In December 2023 the government issued its Climate Action Plan. It was widely debated when is came since it foresees great challenges to meet national targets on climate, in particular targets with transportation and infrastructure. Instead, the focus has shifted within the government to focus on meeting EU-targets on climate change.
In terms of our own internal cooperation within the Federation of Swedish Family Forest Owners that past year has also meant renewing our vows! A new agreement among the Federation of Farmers and the Forest Associations (Norra skog, Mellanskog and Södra) was signed towards the end of 2023. We now stand stronger together!
Species protection – Open deep wounds among family forest owners
Today, the regulation on species protection is the main reason why forestry is stopped in Sweden. The current implementation of the Swedish Species Protection Regulation is the biggest threat to property rights in the forest. When applying for felling, the Swedish Forest Agency may require extensive documentation on what animals and plants are present in the forest. This can be costly for small forest owners, who sometimes must hire expensive experts to fulfil the requirements. In addition, no compensation is automatically paid if the forest owner is prevented from harvesting the forest due to a species protection ban. Instead, landowners have to go through three different court instances and, as a last resort, they may have to sue the state in order to receive a ruling allowing for compensation.
The Federation of Swedish Family Forest Owners are working hard to influence the government and national authorities for change in the regulation but also in the practical implementation. We have issued a joint report ‘Species protection and the forest’ which outlines the economic and social consequences of the current species protection regulation for Sweden's forest owners. We also work proactively to push for solutions for the government and national authorities to take action on. So far, it has been limited action but recently the government decided to set up and internal investigate to seek legal advice on how to make changes to the current regulation. While the Federation welcomes that the government finally tackles this issue, we are quite skeptical that we will see the outcome we are hoping for. The mandate and the persons involved are not to our favor. It is heavily leaning on a previous legal investigation and court rulings that the Federation do not support. Moreover, since this is an internal investigation it is not as open as normal investigations issued by government. The deadline for giving the advice to the government is set for the end of this year.
The Environmental Objectives Committee – Increased political divide
The parliament Environmental Objectives Committee has over the last year been working on proposing a comprehensive strategy with interim targets, instruments and measures that describe how Sweden will achieve its commitments within the EU Green Deal and international commitments for nature conservation and biodiversity. A particular emphasis is put on the uptake and emissions of greenhouse gases in the land use sector (LULUCF), nature restoration and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Chair of the Committee issued a draft proposal in July which is very substantial (28 different documents that together contains 1 557 pages!) and contains far reaching proposals for the forest sector and in particular family forest owners. For example it propose that a ban on forestry is introduced in the Swedish Environmental Code (miljöbalken) for primary and natural forests. It is estimated that the ban would mean immediate, strict protection of 960,000 hectares of productive forests, of which 410,000 hectares belong to private forest owners. This is forests that have already been inventoried and hence the known. In addition, the amendment is estimated to affect a further 570 000 hectares of not yet inventoried forests. Hence, in total, just over 1 500 000 hectares could be affected by just this proposal and there are many more that also severely restrict active forest management. Several political parties are critical to many of these proposals and the Chair of the Environmental Objective Committee has requested more time to reach agreement on these proposals. The original deadline for submitting the final report to the government was set to beginning of December 2024 but now the Chair has asked for pushing the deadline forward to the end of February 2025.
New forest investigation – Is good intentions enough?
In the beginning of the year the Swedish government decided to start an investigation that will address several areas of Swedish forestry practices and review of specific parts of the Swedish Forest Act. Göran Örlander, professor emeritus with long experience in Swedish forestry from SLU, the Swedish Forest Agency and Södra was appointed to lead the work. Some of the tasks include:
- propose socio-economically efficient measures to strengthen incentives for long-term sustainable and competitive forestry, and to strengthen the freedom to operate and the willingness to invest inthe forestry sector;
- propose socio-economically efficient measures for how forest policy can be developed to meet policy developments in the EU and propose a developed working method for Sweden's continued work within the EU on forest-related issues;
- develop a position on whether it is appropriate to replace the current inspection system, which is based on a felling notification, with another system for inspection, e.g. a system based on self-monitoring;
- consider alternatives to the current system as regards the duty to consult under Chapter 12 6 of the Environmental Code;
- analyse and, if necessary, propose measures to ensure that the knowledge requirement and the burden of proof rule in the Environmental Code do not lead to disproportionate costs for the landowner;
- propose updated specifications and indicators for national environmental objectives linked to forests to improve measurability and monitorability.
The Federation welcomes this investigation and is working closely with the leading investigator Göran Ölander and his secretariat. However, the Federation would have preferred a joint investigation on this and the species protection together. The deadline for the first report is due by the end of this year.
Internal developments with the Federation of Swedish Family Forest Owners
The Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF) and the three Swedish Forest Associations (Norra skog, Mellanskog och Södra) have revised their cooperation agreement. At the operational level this has resulted in that the operational unit of the Federation of Swedish Family Forest Owners is now fully integrated unit in the department of policy and entrepreneurship at the Federation of Swedish Farmers.
The CEO of Södra, Lotta Lyrå, was appointed the Chair of the Swedish Forestry Industries fostering even closer cooperation among the Federation of Swedish Family Forestry and the Swedish Forest Industries. Lennart Nilsson, Board member of the Federation of Swedish Farmers was elected president of Cogeca in early 2024. Palle Borgström, President of the Federation of Swedish Farmers continues as Vice-president of Copa. Sven Erik Hammar, board member of Mellanskog, also continues as Chair of CEPF.
The Swedish Forest Associations and LRF have prolonged its outreach campaigns Skogslandslaget – “National team in forestry”. The purpose of the campaign is to highlight how Sweden's individual forest owners manage their forests responsibly with great benefit to the climate and biodiversity. Based of the positive experience of working with outreach campaigns the Federation is now seeking opportunities to extend this way of working with specific target groups in Brussels.
Ísland, Hlynur Gauti Sigurðsson
Update 2024 - Iceland
Brief forest saga
Before the old days, Iceland was full of large sequoia, Douglas, beech, and oak. …Then Ice ages came.
When Norwegians came first to visit, Iceland was full of graceful birch and rowan, down from the coastline up to the glaziers. …Then they colonised.
Century ago, farmers worried, all the soil was going to blow to the sea, the surface was fragile.
In July 1907, the state's Sandblast organization was founded, to overcome heavy sandstorms. The same year the Icelandic forest service was established, first and foremost to protect birch remain
…from livestock grassing.
Thankfully, in the early 19s, we got a Danish connoisseur to guide us
to try productive specie.
…first in small garden scale, later in forest plantations.
Late last century, the government encouraged and financed farmers to plant trees. Farmers are now the largest forest developer in Iceland, … at least in area perspective.
Three years ago, Icelanders got their first tree up to 30 meters hight, …Sitka spruce.
We can see now, with our own eyes, broadleaf grow comparable to tees In Sweden and Finland, …at similar latitude.
UPDATE 2024- Iceland
Thees forwards “brief forest saga” tells us we, Icelanders, lost our opportunity to develop proper forest resource for our nation today. But now, it looks like we can change forestry to better. The reforestation sector is quite different from we are used to. There comes in hand, the man made “Climate crisis” which has now developed a market with carbon credits.
Statistics
Icelanders are soon 400.000 individuals on a 100.000 km2 island. 60% of the land is above 400-meter hight over sea level, which is often difficult area for reforestation. Theoretically, around 40.000 km2 is appropriated for forest. Which is the same size as Denmark.
Only half % of Iceland has real forest cover, and most of it is still young. Shrub layer of downy birch cover around 2%. Annually, around 6 million seedlings are planted, which might cover 24 km2. By that force, technically, Iceland’s lowland could be covered in forest after 15 ages.
CO2 market
The idea of carbon sequestration with forest is enormous topic in Iceland. Climate actions can strengthen the forest factor, since obvious scarcity of trees. But it can also be weakness, if we over see our goals with dollar symbols in our eyes. The gap between the rich and the poor might get bigger. There for, by understandable policies and public awareness, carbon market can be an effective way to implement most, if not all, the sustainable goals of United nations. It is important to work with all stakeholders, even the public.
Recently, an area on the border of a village in the north, was cultivated for seedlings. The inhabitants were startled and even angry because they did not want their berry land used for forestry and it was vandalism to the nature, right in their backyard.
Few years back we came up with the firm Kolefnisbrú (English: Carbon bridge). It has been relatively slow progress, ups and downs. Today we are on an up-swing. Both, among farmers and government, discussions seem to be getting serious.
On the 4.th of October Kolefnisbrúin is holding a seminar, mainly aimed for buyers of carbon credits.
Timber quality
Young forest has been neglected in maintaining for long. It will damage the wood quality. The government emphasises heavily on seedlings, which is good, but later they will discover what had been done… or not done.
It is said that money is borrowed from the future. But why can’t the money be spent on the right places, for example of the farmer, who makes his forest more profitable by maintaining it properly. Forestry is a long-term process, it takes generations.
Certification
Icelandic wood is finally on the market. A Norwegian company, Treteknisk, is helping out with CE certification. At the same time, the Icelandic Forest Service is developing FSC in Icelandic forestry.
Insurance
Insurance companies in Iceland are not willing to make insurance for forests. It goes the same for all agriculture sectors.
NFS membership
Icelandic forest farmers are eager to strengthen the bounds to Northern countries. Being a member in NFS is important and forest farmers declared, in last general meeting in February, to start some negotiations. The next step for us Icelanders, is to see under what conditions Icelandic Forest Farmers can join the membership of NFS.
Working Plan of the Nordic Forestry Alliance for 2024-2025
The Danish Forest Association will take on the NSF presidency in September 2024. The Danish presidency will coincide with the start of a new term for EU-Parliament and European Commission. Additionally, Denmark will reside as chairman of the European Council in the second half of 2025.
The Danish Forest Association will focus on the major agendas of the incoming Commission. It is likely that the Commission will strengthen EU’s focus on self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on resources (energy, consumption etc) from abroad. Covid-19 showed EU that we had become too heavily reliant on overseas production and global trade and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affirmed this. Simultaneously, the sway towards the right at the election for the European Parliament will probably accentuate this political agenda even further.
Whereas the past five years had significant focus on nature and biodiversity under the framework of the Green Deal, we anticipate that bioeconomy, rural jobs, self-sufficiency will weigh in on the Commissions balance in the next five years.
Furthermore, several legislative initiatives with great impact on forestry have been passed in early summer 2024. Amongst others Nature Restoration Law was passed in early June, rendering forest owners with an abundance of questions unanswered. Also, the revision of LULUCF Regulation is expected to strain resources in NSF for the coming years.
Contact persons of NSF Chairmanship (2024-2025):
Anders Frandsen, Director, af@danskskovforening.dk, and
Marie-Louise Bretner, Senior Policy Advisor (mlb@danskskovforening.dk)
Contact person at NSF Brussels Office:
Dániel Komlós, Policy Advisor (daniel.komlos@cepf-eu.org )
Main priorities of NSF 2024-2025
1. Next EU Commission and the new European Parliament – leading persons: Daniel Komlós and Forest Directors
The incumbent Commission’s mandate terminates in October 2024. NSF aims that the next Commission will change its perspective on Nordic sustainable forest management, as we have seen dwindling focus during Ursula von der Leyen’s first Commission. The focus of NSF advocacy should be shifting the narrative around European forest management towards presenting the role of sustainably managed multifunctional forests which are the prerequisite of the forest-based circular bioeconomy. In this narrative, the model of Nordic family forest management should be highlighted and positioned as a best practice, based on ownership rights and the trust from the broad society in Nordic countries.
NSF advocacy actions:
a) Mapping representatives by monitoring developments in the nomination of EC staff and allocation of Committee seats in the EP in the key areas for Nordic family forestry
b) Using and promoting the NSF Manifesto as background material (and handout material) at meetings with the EU institutions
c) Using the NSF Biodiversity Document (pending Rådsmöte approval) as background material (and handout material) at meetings with the EU institutions
d) VD-meetings with relevant representatives and stakeholders on the topic of next EU Commission and the EU elections
e) Possible development of further short handout documents that summarise NSF position on a topic or EU policy dossier to support advocacy
f) Actively communicating NSF messages and arranging meetings with EU institution personnel under the NSF EU Transparency Register Number (033976691788-31)
g) Preparing an analysis of the von der Leyen’s political guidelines and /or Commission’s future guidelines?
h) Possible communications campaign – to be discussed and decided in Rådsmöte (LRF coordinates in Rådsmöte)
2. Forest-related EU policy developments
Name of dossier | Timeline, current development | NSF action | Priority level | Leading person in Näringspolitiska Group |
Forest Monitoring (proposal for a regulation) | Published in November 2023, proceeding in Council WP under the HU Presidency | § Joint analysis of the Commission’s proposal and provide amendments to EU policymakers (both Council and EU Parliament § Update and communicate NSF position according to developments | high | Mia Crawford |
LULUCF Regulation | Revision ongoing by EC, call for feedback announced | § Formulation of NSF position § NSF discussions (online/in person) with the Commission ahead of the publication of the future climate laws | high | Dániel Komlós |
EU Bioeconomy Strategy | Revision by EC scheduled for 2025 | § Mapping relevant EC services, liaising with incumbents (DG RTD, GROW&AGRI) § Formulating NSF vision with coordination with Brussels-based umbrella organisations of primary producers § Reach out to Ministers ahead of relevant agenda point (AgriFish, Competitiveness and other Council formations) | high | Jenny Noel, Dániel Komlós |
Carbon Removal Certification Framework (regulation) | Trilogues concluded in March 2024, awaiting Council approval. EC expert group is discussing certification methodologies (to be framed in DAs in 2025) | § Following the EC CRCF Expert Group, liaise with stakeholders § Liaise EC services (CLIMA C3) § Liaise with technical coordinator Asger Olesen § VD Meeting with relevant PEFC representatives § Work through CEPF actions | medium | Dániel Komlós |
Soil Monitoring Directive | EP approval was April 2024, trilogues started | § Following and sharing information through our contacts | medium/ (tbd) | Maria Pohjala |
EU Taxonomy Regulation | Possible EC work on EC delegated act for biodiversity and ecosystem protection | § Updating NSF position upon any development on new DA § Liaison with Taxonomy Platform 2.0 stakeholders (e.x. LUKE from the Nordics) | Medium (as long as no concreter EC action is taken) | Maria Pohjala |
3. Nordic topics outside of EU Scope
Topic | Timeline, current development | NSF Action | Priority | Leading person in Näringspolitiska Group |
Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Council | Mulit-annual working plan, to be decided in dec. 24
| Follow-up forestry in MR-FJLS and other relevant activities | Medium | Ellen Alfsen, Mia Crawford |
SNS (Nordic forest research) |
|
| Medium | all |
Discussions with other forest friends outside the EU (IFFA, Baltics, southern Europe) |
|
| Medium | all |
4. Communication and Outreach
§ NSF Website: refreshing content, update on regular basis (statements, media content etc.)
§ Skogsträff-Metsätreffit: networking with Nordic regional offices in Brussels
§ Nordic APA breakfasts side-by-side with NSF Policy Group Meetings (to be organised late Sept.-early October 2024)
Meetings of NSF during 2024-2025
NSF Presidium
· 15-16 January 2025, Copenhagen
NSF Council meeting “Rådsmøde”
· Denmark, September 9-11th 2025 (Tbc)
NSF Executive Group “VD-gruppen”:
· Twice in Brussels during mandate
§ 1st meeting in person the week of November 25th (Tbc)
§ 1st online end of September (Tbc)
· Twice online via MS Teams
· Ad hoc basis, depending on policy developments.
NSF Policy Group “Näringspolitiska”:
· For 2024, dates to be proposed on August 20th online meeting.
· 2-3 meetings in person, ad-hoc online meetings in between
NSF Debrief on EP Election (online), September 6th
NSF APA event in October 2024, EFH, Brussels (TBC)
NSF Debrief on NRL implementation, spring 2025.
NSF Update:
· Abolish former setting with wide audience.
· Setting: Brussels Office and NSF member organisations’ management and experts
· To consider the focus to a given topic, depending on policy developments
· Timing: every 3 months, online
Comments