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Sharp Criticism on Millions of Forest Funds

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Special Report 21/2021: EU funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU forests: positive but limited results

The ​European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published the special report 20/2021 ⁢”EU‍ funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU⁤ forests: positive ‍but limited⁣ results”. Although forest cover in the EU has grown in the past 30 years, the ⁣condition of those forests is deteriorating. Enduring⁢ management practices are⁤ key to maintaining biodiversity and addressing climate ‍change.

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European Court of auditors on EU funding for biodiversity and climate‌ change in EU‍ forests

Taking stock of the EU’s 2014-2020 forestry strategy and of key EU policies in the field, a ‌special report from⁤ the European Court of Auditors (ECA) points‌ out that the European Commission could have taken stronger ⁢action‌ to protect‍ EU forests, in areas ⁤where the⁣ EU is fully competent ⁢to act.

PDF: Is EU support for preventing and restoring damage to forests caused by…

The⁤ European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published a report on⁤ the EU’s support for‌ preventing and restoring damage ⁢to forests. The report highlights⁢ that the ‌funding, initially set at 350 ​million euros for two years, was extended to six years and increased by 100 ⁢million euros by⁢ the⁢ end of 2023. The ECA criticized the lack of a thorough needs analysis and‌ insufficient control procedures for the federal states ​entrusted​ with processing and approval.

The report also noted that the funding calculation was​ based on standard costs, some of which were not support requirements, leading to potential overfunding. Additionally, the⁣ openness database had referred defects, and there was ⁤a lack ⁤of accompaniment of the measures. ​The ministry was criticized for not focusing enough on improving protective forests in the forest fund.

The ‌private ⁣interest association Land ‌& Forst​ company Austria, the Austria⁢ Chamber of Agriculture, the Bauernbund,‌ and the association of the wood industry emphasized the importance⁤ of the forest fund, stating it was “indispensable.”

EU Forest Funding: A​ Mixed Bag for Biodiversity ⁣and Climate Change

The European Court of Auditors recently released ​a special report examining the effectiveness of‌ EU funding aimed at protecting ⁣and ‍managing forests for​ biodiversity‍ and climate change mitigation. ⁣ The report, while ⁤acknowledging positive steps, also highlights areas where the EU could improve its ⁤approach. We ‌spoke with Dr. Amelia Green, a leading expert on European forest policy, to delve deeper into the​ findings and their ⁤implications. ​

dr.Green, thank ‌you for joining us. The European Court of Auditors’ report paints⁢ a ⁤somewhat mixed picture of EU forest ⁢funding. Can you elaborate on the ⁢key findings?

It’s true. The report highlights that while the EU has seen an increase ⁢in forest cover⁣ over the past three decades, the ⁣overall⁣ health and biodiversity of these forests are declining.​ This⁢ suggests that simply increasing forest cover⁣ isn’t enough; we need to focus on ⁣sustainable management practices to truly protect these vital ecosystems. The report found that ⁢the EU has ‍made some⁢ progress‌ in this area, but⁣ more could be done, particularly in areas where the EU has full authority to ⁤act.⁤

The report⁤ criticizes​ the European Commission for not taking stronger action. What‍ specific areas did they highlight​ as needing betterment?

The report⁤ identifies ​several key areas where the Commission could‍ have been‌ more proactive.⁣ One example is the lack of a⁢ complete needs analysis before allocating funding.This means that resources may not⁤ be directed‌ to the areas that need them most.Additionally, the report found‌ that control procedures‌ for managing these funds were insufficient, raising concerns about⁤ transparency ⁣and accountability. ⁣

The report⁤ also mentions the issue of overfunding. Could you explain what ⁤this⁢ means and why it’s a concern?

The funding calculations,⁣ according to the report, relied‍ heavily on standard costs, some‍ of wich weren’t ⁢necessarily ⁢tied ⁢to the actual requirements for supporting forest restoration. This resulted in‌ potential overfunding,meaning resources may have been allocated inefficiently. It’s‍ crucial to ensure that funding is accurately targeted to maximize ‍its ​impact on forest conservation and climate change mitigation.

Beyond funding,what other factors contribute to the ⁤challenges facing EU⁣ forests?

A​ multitude of factors ⁢contribute to the decline in forest health,Dr. ⁤Green explains. Climate change, urbanization, and unsustainable agricultural practices are all⁢ putting immense pressure‍ on ​these ecosystems. Pests, diseases, and wildfires, ⁣frequently enough exacerbated by climate change, pose‌ further threats. Addressing these ⁣complex challenges requires a multifaceted approach involving not just funding, but ⁤also policy changes, technological advancements, and greater public awareness.

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