News

Comment now: Four EU public consultations relevant to forests

Public consultations are important for incorporating public input into EU policymaking. Currently four consultations relevant to forests are underway, and Fern encourages ForestWatch readers to register their views.

1. Consultati...

10/03/2016

Dutch struggle over biomass is heating up

Since last year, the Dutch government has come under fire over its climate and energy policy. The main issue: a total phase out of coal and biomass co-firing.

In June 2015, a Dutch court ordered the state to reduce CO2 emissions...

08/03/2016

BLOG: Despite reservations, we should stick with EUTR to tackle illegal timber trade

Last week, UK newspaper the Guardian published a scathing article about a core EU regulation to prevent the trade in illegal timber, citing incomplete implementation and ‘no clear evidence’ that the EUTR is having any real effect...

24/02/2016

EU Commission investigates state aid to Drax

The European Commission opened an investigation into a UK request to grant public support to Drax to convert a coal-fired power installation to biomass combustion. This is a second Commission investigation after it looked into...

15/02/2016

Dutch Parliament suspends biomass subsidies

The Dutch Parliament is challenging the wisdom of burning biomass for energy, voting on 2 February in favour of a resolution to suspend subsidies for biomass co-firing until a political agreement is reached regarding a total...

15/02/2016

NGOs call on EU to scrap bioenergy from Renewable Energy policy

The World Rainforest Movement and BiofuelWatch have called on the EU to scrap bio-energy subsidies, starting with the upcoming Renewable Energy Directive. In their eyes, incentivising large-scale bioenergy production is anything...

15/02/2016

Does EU have plan to tackle its deforestation footprint?

The EU has launched a study to assess how it should tackle its contribution to deforestation. Previous studies showed that between 1990 and 2008, the EU imported 36 per cent of all traded crops associated with deforestation.

This...

15/02/2016

Forest priorities of the Dutch Presidency

The Netherlands holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2016; in that role, the Dutch intend to “focus on the essentials”, promoting growth and creating jobs through innovation and...

15/02/2016

Forests and flood prevention: could the CAP do more?

Recent heavy rain and flooding in communities across Western Europe has prompted increased interest in the role that forests play as natural sponges – and what the EU can do to mitigate the impact of high rainfall.

Recent studies...

15/02/2016

Republic of Congo and CAR sign Joint CAFI Declaration

The Central African Republic (CAR) and the Republic of Congo are the first Congo Basin countries to sign the joint Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) declaration.

Launched in September 2015, CAFI aims to reduce...

15/02/2016