16 April 2026 15:04 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission highlights sustainable forest management and bioeconomy

Key points

Forests provide jobs, materials and ecosystem services
EU funding and strategies support sustainable management and bioeconomy

TL;DR

European Commission notes forests cover 40% of European territory and provide jobs, bio-based materials, ecosystem services and recreation.
European Commission notes the forestry sector provided 3.6 million jobs in the EU in 2022 and that forest ownership includes about 16 million private owners alongside public forests.
European Commission notes reduced annual carbon uptake due to ageing stands, increased harvest partly from salvage logging, and climate-related factors including pests, and calls for active sustainable forest management (SFM).
European Commission reports CAP Strategic Plans allocated approximately EUR 4.2 billion for 2023-2027 to over 180 forestry-specific interventions in 23 Member States; announces participation in the Forest Europe Ministerial Conference in Stockholm in June and adoption of a new Bioeconomy Strategy and integrated wildfire management strategy.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Opening speech by Commissioner Hansen at the 20 Years Anniversary Conference of the European State Forest Association Brussels, 16 April 2026 I am pleased to be here today with you to celebrate our beautiful European forests. For the past 20 years, I see EUSTAFOR's valuable work in actively contributing to forest-relevant policy developments and implementation, and advancing the discussion on sustainable forest management principles. During my first year of the mandate, I visited all 27 Member States, and in some of them their forests. I saw the ecosystems built around wood. n Finland I visited a biomill, I saw wood-based textiles, chemicals, packaging materials. I learnt about biogenic carbon capturing. In Germany I visited a sawmill. In Sweden, I visited a forest and saw how interlinked forestry and farming are in many regions. Forests that cover 40% of the European territory play an important role in our economy: replacing fossil-based materials by bio-based ones, providing ecosystem services & recreation, tourism, biomass for bioenergy and bioeconomy. And all of this clearly acquires even greater importance in the light of the latest geopolitical developments. Thanks to a long-term focus on active forest management, Europe's standing stock of wood has increased continuously since the 1950s. This is really impressive and it was possible thanks to the forest owners, who have invested both money and many working hours into their forests. In 2022, the sector provided 3.6 million jobs in the European Union. And I see the diversified structure of the forest ownership, with a mix of 16 million private owners and publicly owned and managed forests, as an asset, serving different purposes for farmers, contractors, and the processing industry. For many farmers, forestry and bioeconomy mean important complementary income sources, allowing also some important farm investments. I have met farmers who have shown me their milking robots, made possible by their forestry activities. The expansion of the forested area is ongoing in most Member States. But at the same time, there are significant regional differences as well as challenges. In recent years, we have observed that the annual carbon uptake in the forested area has been reduced. This is due to several interacting factors: many forest stands are aging, harvest has increased partly because of salvage logging after disturbances, and in addition, due to climate-related factors – including pests. As someone who grew up in a farm, surrounded by trees, I am convinced of one thing: This shows that an active and sustainable forest management is needed to make our forests fit for the future. Sustainably managed forests, under the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) principles, are key to maintain the production potential and to be able to harvest raw material but also to continue to produce public goods. A “sustainable method” continuously needs to evolve, to integrate new technologies and new knowledge. Forest Europe is an important platform for this purpose. I am glad to announce that I will participate in the Forest Europe Ministerial Conference in June this year in Stockholm and I am looking forward to the discussions which will take place there. Under the current programming period 2023-2027, approximately EUR 4.2 billion have been allocated through the CAP Strategic Plans to over 180 forestry-specific interventions, planned in 23 Member States. We support, for example, investments, forest infrastructures, afforestation, agroforestry, prevention and restoration of natural disasters but also training, advice and support for innovation. We recently adopted a new strategy on the integrated wildfire management, providing guidance on how to better prevent, prepare for, respond and recover from wildfires. In this, CAP support plays a key role with its preventive and restorative interventions. The CAP will continue supporting forest holders and sustainable forest management also in the next programming period, 2028-2034. At the end of last year, we also adopted a new Bioeconomy Strategy. With Commissioner Roswall in lead, we worked closely together on this important strategy. It sets out the main pillars of action for the coming years to promote the sustainable use of forestry biomass, notably to substitute fossil- based materials. This will help to create jobs, income and growth in rural areas. It is now the time to invest and to scale up. The Strategy identifies lead markets which can create value and opportunities for forestry-based biomass. Bio-based construction is of course directly linked to wood. But also, bio-based plastics, textiles and packaging materials create new opportunities for lignin, cellulose and the general valorisation of forest residues. I am convinced that with the right policies and cooperation, we can unlock the full potential of our forests for both the economy and the environment. To conclude, I would like to sincerely congratulate Eustafor on your 20-year anniversary. Forests mean economy, social welfare, pure nature. All aspects of sustainability are equally important. And here the role of State owned and managed forests is crucial – you are guardians of a large share of the European territory. I wish you successful next 20 years ahead of us in managing our forests. You can count on my support in this journey. SPEECH/26/835

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