9.6.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 150/207
(5)
Biodiversity is essential for the resilience of ecosystems and their services both at local and at global level.
Over half of the global gross domestic product depends on nature and the services it provides.
Three major economic sectors – construction, agriculture, and food and drink – all highly depend on nature.
Biodiversity loss threatens sustainable water cycles and food systems, putting food security and nutrition at risk.
More than 75 % of global food crop types rely on animal pollination.
Furthermore, several industrial sectors rely on genetic diversity and ecosystem services as critical inputs for production, in particular for medicines, including antimicrobials.
(6)
Climate change, biodiversity loss and deforestation are concerns of the highest global importance, affecting the survival of humanity and sustained living conditions on Earth.
The acceleration of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, paired with tangible examples of their devastating effects on nature, human living conditions and local economies, have led to the recognition of the green transition as the defining objective of our time and a matter of gender equality and of intergenerational equity.
(7)
Environmental human rights defenders, who strive to protect and promote human rights relating to the environment, including access to clean water, air, and land are often the target of persecution and lethal attacks.
Those attacks disproportionately affect indigenous peoples.
According to 2020 reports, more than two thirds of victims of those attacks were working to defend the world’s forests from deforestation and industrial development.
(8)
Union consumption is a considerable driver of deforestation and forest degradation on a global scale.
The impact assessment of this Regulation estimated that without appropriate regulatory intervention, the Union’s consumption and production of six commodities (cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, soya and wood) alone would rise to approximately 248 000 hectares of deforestation annually by 2030.
(9)
As regards the situation of forests within the Union, the State of Europe’s Forests 2020 report states that, between 1990 and 2020, the area of forests in Europe has increased by 9 %, carbon stored in the biomass has grown by 50 % and wood supply has risen by 40 %.
Primary and naturally regenerating forests are at risk, inter alia, from intensive management, and their unique biodiversity and structural features are in danger.
Furthermore, the European Environment Agency has noted that less than 5 % of European forest areas are now considered to be undisturbed or natural, whereas 10 % of European forest areas have been classified as intensively managed.
Forest ecosystems have to cope with multiple pressures caused by climate change, ranging from extreme weather patterns to pests, and with human-related activities that negatively affect ecosystems and habitats.
In particular, intensively managed even-aged forests through clear-cutting and deadwood removal can have a severe impact on whole habitats.
(10)
In 2019, the Commission adopted several initiatives to address the global environmental crises, including specific actions on deforestation.
In its communication of 23 July 2019 on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests (‘Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests’), the Commission identified as a priority the reduction of the Union consumption footprint on land and encouraged the consumption of products from deforestation-free supply chains in the Union.
In its communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal, the Commission set out a new growth strategy that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy built on sustainable and rule-based free trade, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050, where economic growth is decoupled from resource use and no person or place is left behind.
It aims to protect, conserve and enhance the Union’s natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens and future generations from environment-related risks and impacts.
Furthermore, the European Green Deal aims to provide citizens and future generations with, inter alia, fresh air, clean water, healthy soil and biodiversity.
To that end, the communication of the Commission of 20 May 2020 on a EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives (the ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030’) the communication of the Commission of 20 May 2020 on a Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system (the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy), the communication of the Commission of 16 July 2021 on a new EU Forest Strategy for 2030, the communication of the Commission of 12 May 2021 on the Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All, EU Action Plan: ‘Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’ and other relevant strategies, such as the communication of the Commission of 30 June 2021 on a long-term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas – Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040, developed under the European Green Deal, further highlight the importance of action on forest protection and resilience.
In particular, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems.
Finally, the communication of the Commission of