EU Forest Strategy for 2030

The EU Forest Strategy for 2030¹ builds on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It contributes directly to achieving the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. It recognises forests as a critical asset for biodiversity protection, climate mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable economic development.

The Strategy highlights the multifunctional role of forests and the importance of foresters and the entire forest-based value chain in supporting a sustainable, climate-neutral economy and in maintaining vibrant, resilient rural areas. It sets out a long-term vision and concrete actions to increase forest coverage and quality, while strengthening forest protection, restoration, and resilience.

A central objective of the Strategy is to adapt Europe’s forests to climate change, including increasing exposure to extreme weather events and growing uncertainty. Strengthening forest resilience is identified as a prerequisite for forests to continue delivering their environmental, economic, and social functions, and for safeguarding livelihoods and prosperity in rural communities.

The LULUCF Regulation is covered in full in Section I (Climate Action). Its relevance to nature and biodiversity is noted here:

While primarily a climate instrument, the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation is also a biodiversity-related framework. It governs the management and protection of land-based ecosystems that are central to biodiversity conservation. By setting binding rules for accounting for greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests, cropland, grassland, and wetlands, the Regulation incentivises sustainable land management, forest protection, and ecosystem restoration, helping to prevent land degradation and biodiversity loss.

The European Union supports the transition towards sustainable land management and carbon farming through a combination of public funding, regulatory incentives, and private investment². Financial support is provided through instruments such as the Common Agricultural Policy, the LIFE Programme³, Horizon Europe⁴ (including the Soil Mission⁵), and the Cohesion Fund⁶, which together promote climate- and biodiversity-friendly land-use practices. Revised EU State aid rules further enable Member States to support sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.