This sectoral brief examines how EU policy and practice can steer forestry toward a nature-positive economy. It was developed under the EU research project GoNaturePositive!

Forests at a Crossroads: Current Status and Trends

EU forests today cover 39 % of the Union’s land area, up from 34 % in 2000, driven by natural expansion and targeted afforestation. However, only 4 % remain untouched while 8 % are plantations; the rest are managed semi-naturally. Ownership splits roughly 60 % private versus 40 % public holdings. Employment in forestry has declined by 16 % since 2000, to 476 300 workers in 2022, and gross value added fell from 0.21 % to 0.17 % of EU GDP over the same period.

Challenges and Nature-Positive Opportunities

European forests face mounting threats – climate-driven fires, drought, pests, and storms – that undermine their role as carbon sinks and biodiversity havens. Yet nature-positive approaches exist: closer-to-nature forestry, mixed-species stands, natural regeneration, and agroforestry can enhance resilience. Payments for ecosystem services, promotion of non-timber forest products, and multi-use management (timber, recreation, conservation) offer pathways to balance ecological, economic, and social functions.

Policy Levers for a Nature-Positive Forestry

Global frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal GBF and the Paris Agreement set broad goals, while EU instruments – European Green Deal, EU Nature Restoration Regulation, EU Forest Strategy for 2030, and the EU Deforestation Regulation – provide targeted tools. These range from legally binding restoration targets and biodiversity-friendly afforestation guidelines to due-diligence rules for supply chains. However, inconsistent application, voluntary measures, and conflicting budget priorities challenge their impact.

Leading by Example: Private and Public Initiatives

Certifications from FSC and PEFC cover over 430 million hectares globally, driving sustainable sourcing and governance models. The WOWnature initiative in northern Italy – transforming Vaia-storm–damaged land into resilient native forests – demonstrates how public-private collaboration can scale reforestation, integrate local communities, and align with EU targets for 3 billion new trees by 2030.