State of Europe’s Forests 2020

Submitted by: Two Sides Nordics April 14, 2021

If managed sustainably, forests play an indispensable role in climate and biodiversity protection. They protect soils and water resources, provide livelihoods, and contribute to the wellbeing of rural and urban communities.

European forests are multifunctional, providing a range of ecosystem services, including the production of renewable materials that are able to substitute for alternatives with a higher environmental footprint, thus also contributing to climate neutrality and overall sustainability.

Since the 1990s, FOREST EUROPE has been providing an intergovernmental platform for promoting sustainable management of forests in the pan-European region, and, in cooperation with numerous partners, has been monitoring its implementation using an internationally agreed upon set of criteria and indicators.

The fifth edition of the State of Europe’s Forests report has recently been launched.

You can read the full report here.

The pulp and paper industry depends on forests to provide a reliable supply of wood fibre, the key raw material for its products. Well-managed forests bring multiple benefits for society, such as livelihoods, ecosystem services and biodiversity. European forests, from where the region’s paper mills source over 90% of their wood fibre, have been growing by an area equivalent to 1,500 football pitches every day. Over 60% of this area is certified to FSC® or PEFC™ standards, thanks in part to the support of the print and paper industry.

Find out more about paper production and sustainable forests here.