The Swedish Forest Industries Federation, supporting the European Commission’s aspiration to enhance the availability of forest data within the EU, has expressed its apprehensions regarding the recently presented proposal of a new monitoring system for the Union’s forests. While the intention to improve knowledge about Europe’s forests and facilitate access to comparable data is commendable, the proposal seems to fall short of its purpose, especially for countries already engaged in international data exchange initiatives and compliant with existing EU legislation concerning mandatory monitoring.
Viveka Beckeman, Director General of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation, acknowledges the objective of the Forest Monitoring Law as an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of Europe’s forests and the diverse services they offer. However, many Member States, including those in the Nordics and Central Europe, have well-established surveillance systems with extensive datasets. For instance, Sweden’s National Forest Inventory has been monitoring forests for a century.
While welcoming the utilization of satellite monitoring to improve access to real-time data on natural disturbances, Beckeman finds it challenging to discern a clear purpose for all of the proposed indicators. The proposal’s heavy emphasis on satellite and geographic information appears contradictory to the longstanding efficient inventory systems, which rely on aggregated data samples from monitoring sites. Moreover, it shifts focus away from the need for qualitative data across all Member States, instead favoring the creation of digital mapping layers and simplified indicators.
In Sweden, ongoing national research projects prioritize the use of digitalization in promoting sustainable development in forestry, including methods that enhance measurement accuracy and research on biodiversity. These efforts highlight the potential of viable forests with greater biodiversity.
As negotiations proceed, the Swedish Forest Industries Federation urges the European Parliament and member states to diligently evaluate the relevance, measurability, and significance of the proposed indicators for various societal goals, particularly for those countries already equipped with effective inventory systems. By doing so, a comprehensive and reliable monitoring system can be developed to support sustainable forest management practices across Europe.
The Swedish Forest Industries Federation supports the goal of greater knowledge and access to forest data but emphasizes the importance of evaluating the proposed indicators to ensure their suitability and coherence with existing systems. By considering the needs and capabilities of member states, Europe can strive towards an effective forest monitoring system that aligns with broader environmental and societal objectives.
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