Publications

Reports

Financing continuous cover forestry: case studies from Finland, France, Ireland and Latvia

Over the last few years, Fern has devoted itself to listening to foresters across Europe, with the aim of learning from their on the ground experience and ensuring EU decision-makers hear their voices. Throughout this time,...

11/04/2024

Reports

What does the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Regulation mean for people and forests?

The EU Critical Raw Materials Regulation (CRMR) sets out a range of measures to increase production of Critical Raw Materials (CRM), reduce the EU’s dependency on imports, and the environmental and social impacts of their...

02/04/2024

Reports

An analysis of BECCS industries' methodology for certifying industrial carbon removals

Fern commissioned EU bioenergy and forest policy expert Duncan Brack to analyse Drax and Exergi’s proposed methodology, and he identified severe shortcomings. This analysis of Drax and Exergi’s proposal highlights the problems with relying on the very companies that would benefit from the building and operating industrial removals projects to create EU methodologies. 

26/03/2024

Reports

Creating a forest and rights observatory: a Brazilian case study

The European Union and Member States have taken a pioneering role in adopting Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) laws, such as the June 2023 adoption of the Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). The...

15/03/2024

Reports

EU 2040 climate target - what does it mean for forests?

In February 2024, the European Commission issued its 2040 climate target Communication, which proposes to reduce net greenhouse gases (GHG) by 90 per cent compared to 1990 levels.

Several elements of the Communication will have...

22/02/2024

NGO Statements

How could European forests best benefit from the EU Forest Monitoring Law?

For decades, intensive forestry practices have meant that healthy biodiverse forests across the European Union (EU) have been replaced with trees that resemble crops. Intensive forest management not only degrades ecosystems, but...

05/02/2024

Reports

Assessment of the EU Sustainable Cocoa Initiative

Looking back on the journey and to the road ahead

This report sheds light on the achievements and challenges in the implementation of the European Union Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, which aims to deliver on European Green Deal...

31/01/2024

Reports

How to achieve zero deforestation in the cattle sector

Best practices in Brazil and the new EU regulation on deforestation-free products

18/12/2023

Briefing Notes

At the crossroads? A brief analysis of the European wood pellets market in 2022 and 2023

The European wood pellets market has been the world's largest for more than 15 years, driven by EU renewable energy policies authorising EU Member States to subsidise energy companies burning wood and the purchase of wood pellets...

27/11/2023

Forest governance, Briefing Notes

What impact will the EUDR have on VPAs and FLEGT Licensing?

This year the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has entered into implementation. One of the commodities included within the legislation is timber.  

As mentioned within the EUDR, this legislation should build upon the positive...

21/11/2023