The EU Forest Strategy for 2030 is a key pillar of the European Green Deal and directly supports the EU Biodiversity Strategy. It aims to improve both the quality and quantity of forests in the EU and to strengthen their resilience, multifunctionality and protection. The strategy places forests at the heart of the EU's efforts to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and rural development challenges.
The Strategy commits the EU to planting at least 3 billion additional trees by 2030, with full respect for ecological principles: planting "the right tree in the right place for the right purpose." This includes reforestation, afforestation, and supporting natural regeneration where possible.
Strict protection of primary and old-growth forests is also a priority. In 2023, the European Commission issued guidelines for identifying, mapping, and protecting such forests, which are now estimated to cover just 3% of the EU's forest area. The same year, biodiversity-friendly afforestation and tree planting guidelines were published.
The strategy also promotes "closer-to-nature" forestry practices and calls for a shift away from intensive forest exploitation. New Guidelines for sustainable forest management were published in July 2023, including support for payment schemes for forest ecosystem services, such as biodiversity protection, carbon sequestration, and water regulation. These aim to reward forest owners and managers who protect and enhance forest functions beyond timber production.
In June 2025, the Council of the EU backed a legislative proposal to establish a new EU forest monitoring framework, aimed at improving harmonised data collection, forest inventories, and reporting across Member States. This will be essential to assess climate resilience, biodiversity condition, and the sustainability of forest management across the EU.
Forests play a crucial role in climate adaptation and mitigation, including wildfire resilience. EU funding has supported a range of projects focused on early detection, prevention, and control of forest fires, particularly in Southern Europe where risks are growing due to climate change.
The strategy also maintains a strong socio-economic focus, recognising the importance of forests for rural livelihoods, jobs, recreation, tourism, and non-timber forest products. It supports innovation, skills development, and sustainable wood value chains.
Woodlands are important habitats for many rare butterflies, such as this open conifer forest in Switzerland, a habitat for Boloria thore
However, implementation faces a number of challenges:
The EU Forest Strategy's success will depend on consistent enforcement, adequate funding, and genuine political will at national level to shift away from business-as-usual forest exploitation.
More information on the Forest Strategy: EU Forest Strategy for 2030 - European Commission.
Thor's Fritillary Boloria thore