Tag Archives: Brussels

High level event in EU Parliament: EU’s Old Growth and Primary Forests Under Siege

Members of the European Parliament join NGO’s EuroNatur, Client Earth and Agent Green as well as the Director of DG Environment of the EU Commission to discuss status and future of EU’s last old growth and primary forests – September 24, Brussels

Most of the old-growth and primary forest remains in the temperate climate zone of the EU are located in the Carpathians – mainly in Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
A new inventory of Romania’s old- growth and primary forests, commissioned by EuroNatur Foundation, has revealed a huge extent of close-to-nature forests – and their threat from logging.

These forests are an outstanding biological treasure and capture huge amounts of carbon. The IPBES „Global Assessment“ report (May 2019) made clear that the global protection and restoration of na- tural ecosystems is equally important to tackling the climate crisis. However, logging of the EU’s last intact natural forest ecosystems proceeds at a rapid pace, including within Natura 2000 sites.

The European Court of Justice (2018) stopped logging activities in Polands Bialowieza Natura 2000 site due to the legal breaches of the EU‘s Habitat and Birds Directives. But what will happen to the rest of the EU‘s natural forests in Natura 2000 sites? Will the EU fulfil its own environmental responsibilities and act to protect our last old-growth and primary forests?

Therefore, we kindly invite you to join the high level event on September 24 with Members of the European Parliament, the Director of DG Environment of the EU Commission and NGO experts to contribute to the discussion about the future of Europe’s most valuable forests.

Please note that you need to register, if you do not have an access badge (see details below).

Thank you for sharing this information!

 

Activists urge EU Commission to save Romania’s Virgin Forests

EuroNatur and Agent Green: EU’s biggest nature crisis in Romania requires immediate action

A giant life-sized virgin forest tree being cut down has been etched into the pavement outside the EU Commission building in Brussels. Along with several banners calling on the EU to act now to protect Romania’s virgin forests, activists from EuroNatur Foundation and Romanian NGO Agent Green have brought the issue of the logging of Romania’s ancient forests to Brussels. Huge banners have been unravelled drawing a lot of attention to the ongoing destruction of the EU’s last large tracts of virgin forests in Romania.

“This is a wake-up call about the tragic environmental crisis that is destroying Romania’s virgin forests. Their loss through logging is one of the biggest nature emergencies in the EU today. Thousands of hectares of irreplaceable forests are being destroyed or degraded every year. Most of these precious forests are in Natura 2000 sites, where they are supposed to be protected. We call on the EU Commission to take action, now!“, Gabriel Paun, president of Agent Green, said

Romania hosts the largest remains of virgin forests within the EU, with estimates between 100,000 and 200,000 hectares. These unique forests are progressively falling victim to greed, corruption and negligence of nature conservation laws. Even in national parks and Natura 2000 sites, where deterioration of the natural habitats and species should be prohibited, logging of old growth and virgin forests is omnipresent.

“If the breach of EU legislation in Romania is allowed to continue without any sanctions, the whole Natura 2000 system is weakened. Thus the EU needs to stop looking the other way and start taking action! This is why we have come to Brussels today“, Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director of EuroNatur, said.

Romania will hold the EU-presidency in 2019, but authorities and the government do not show any ambition to implement national and EU environmental legislation properly.

Background information:
The creative and peaceful protest was part of a day of action in Brussels called “Spotlight on Vanishing Virgin Forests of Romania“. NGOs EuroNatur und Agent Green wanted to both inform the public and raise awareness with EU institutions about the logging in Romania, a drama that doesn’t get the attention it needs.

The day of action also includes these events:
– Expert conference “Europe‘s last virgin forests”, hosted by MEPs Thomas Waitz and Benedek Javor. European Parliament, Room number ASP5E1. Nov 8, 15 – 17pm. (Please note: participants need to register in advance at thomas.waitz-office@ep.europa.eu).
– Film screening “Out of Control”, a video series about scandalous logging in Romania’s national parks, with discussion. Kamilou in Mundo B (Rue d’Edimbourg, 26, 1050 Bruxelles), Nov 8, 19 – 21pm. Entry: free.

Contact information:
EuroNatur: Anja Arning, E-Mail: anja.arning(at)euronatur.org, Tel.: +49 (0)7732 – 92 72 13

Brussels / EU-Quarter / EU-Commission: Protest action by EuroNatur and Agent Green – EU must take action to save virgin forests of Romania. (c) Lode Saidane
(c) Lode Saidane

Brussels / EU-Quarter / EU-Commission: Protest action by EuroNatur and Agent Green – EU must take action to save virgin forests of Romania.

Spotlight on Vanishing Virgin Forests of Romania – Brussels, Nov. 8, 2018

The largest tracts of virgin forests within the EU are found in Romania. But due to industrial logging, corruption and corporate greed, this most valuable European natural heritage is rapidly vanishing. Forest destruction even occurs within national parks and Natura 2000 sites.

However, very few people are aware of this major nature crisis. Therefore, EuroNatur Foundation and Romanian environmental organisation Agent Green will come to Brussels to raise the alarm and deliver first hand evidence of the logging of virgin forests to both the European institutions and the public.

On November 8, 2018, EuroNatur and AgentGreen will create a “spotlight on vanishing virgin forests of Romania” in Brussels with the following events: 

Banner action in front of the European Commission building: Schuman square / roundabout, 8:00 – 9:00am.

Film screening “Out of Control” (video series about scandalous logging in Romania’s national parks) – and discussion. Kamilou in Mundo B (Rue d’Edimbourg, 26,
1050 Bruxelles), 19:00 – 21:00pm. Entry: free.

Please join us in Brussels in support of Europe’s last virgin forests and share!

And there will also be an expert conference “Europe‘s last virgin forests”, hosted by MEPs Thomas Waitz and Benedek Javor, in European Parliament, Room number ASP5E1. 15:00 – 17:00pm.  (Please note: participants need to register in advance: thomas.waitz-office@ep.europa.eu); deadline: November 2, 2018). Here you can download the invitation poster.