Metsä Group is convinced of the importance of regenerative forestry to promote biodiversity in Northern forests. More broadly, this approach will also have positive impacts on critical topics such as climate change adaptation and safeguarding wood production. But while regenerative forestry is aligned with the objectives of the Nature Restoration Regulation, the latter is not without its challenges.
The need for a holistic and cost-efficient approach
The goals of the Nature Restoration Regulation align with the concept of regenerative forestry, which Metsä Group is developing, by ensuring that forest ecosystems are well managed. Regenerative forestry combines sustainable wood production, biodiversity protection, combating deforestation and preserving water quality on top of the other multiple uses of forests. However, restoration measures must take into account all aspect of a forest’s use – ecological, economic and social – while setting restoration targets, evaluating them against the realities of broader concerns such as the need for available renewable raw materials to replace fossil-based resources.
As mentioned by an EU official during a recent event* organised by Metsä, “it is actually about taking into account the fact that forests are a source of different services: forests are not just cubic meters of trees.” Another EU official added that “it is extremely important that we not put climate and biodiversity in opposition to economic and social development. These are absolutely interlinked."
Taking national realities into consideration
To be effective, any restoration policy must take into account the natural and ecological diversity of Europe’s forests. That is why a one-size-fits-all approach would simply not allow for effective results, meaning specific national restoration targets and objectives should be set. The need to consider national realities was echoed by an EU official who underlined that “we need to respect the Member State differences as we agree on the overall objective to promote biodiversity. It is up to each Member State to ensure that forest ecosystems are more resilient and that there is a balance to be found between protection and sustainable use, but while respecting the sustainability boundaries which we cannot negotiate, and the legal commitments of Member States. There is full acknowledgement that this needs to be an inclusive process for Member States to develop their own nature restoration plans." This will allow Member States that have done more to restore nature not to be penalised, establishing a level-playing field.
Strengthen the security of supply
As the EU puts is focus on its strategic autonomy, security of supply, and pushing for more use of renewable raw materials, restoration policies should not come as a restriction. By converting renewable wood into a wide range of products that replace fossil-based alternatives, the forestry industry helps avoid CO2 emissions, while well-managed and biodiverse forests serve as a significant carbon sink and more resilient forests to climate change. Furthermore, the climate benefits of sustainable forests management are multiple: in this process, less fossil energy is required when manufacturing wooden products compared to concrete, steel, aluminium and glass. As it was put by an EU official, this may require a shift of mindset: “We are always talking about burden sharing, as if investing in forest preservation were a cost without return. We are not doing this for the birds and the bees, it is the foundation of our economies. We are fully dependent on healthy ecosystems and need to look at this as an investment and not a cost.”
Metsä Group hopes to harmonise the different perspectives of stakeholders to safeguard the sustainable use of forests and find a holistic approach to ecosystem service as well as avoid conflicting legislation to support sustainable forest management systems. This can only be achieved through the collaboration of industry, civil society and government bodies.
*On November 8th, 2022, Metsä Group organised an event on “The role of regenerative forestry in safeguarding biodiversity.” The event was hosted by Members of the European Parliament Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) and Ville Niinistö (Greens, Finland) who also participated in the panel discussion. The panel discussion, moderated by Katrina Sichel, brought together experts from Metsä Group Sari Pajari-Sederholm, EVP Strategy and Timo Lehesvirta, Leading Nature Expert, as well as external speakers Markus Melin, Research Manager at the Natural Resources Institute Finland and Helena Braun, Member of the Cabinet of Frans Timmermans.