Protect old-growth forests in Europe now

Abstract

Old-growth forests harbor high and unique biodiversity, store vast amounts of carbon, are important for water and nutrient cycling, and constitute a unique element of natural heritage. In the European Union, old-growth forest protection is now mandated by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. However, almost 3 years after the strategy’s adoption, stakeholders and policymakers are still discussing definitions and legislative mechanisms, while old-growth forests continue to decline at alarming rates. Many old-growth forests are logged before their identification and protection. In Sweden, for example, unprotected boreal oldgrowth forests have been cut at a rate that could lead to their disappearance within the next 50 years. Similarly, Romania harbors up to 738,000 ha of potential old-growth forest, but more than 90% of this area lacks strict protection. In Romania and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, logging continues across some of the continent’s few remaining large landscapes dominated by temperate old-growth forests. Even protected old-growth forests are often salvage logged after natural disturbances. In March, the European Commission suggested guidelines to map and protect old-growth forests by the end of 2029. However, these guidelines are neither binding nor prescriptive. Given current widespread logging of old-growth stands, the EU is on track to fail its 2030 goals.