Reforestation priorities for climate change mitigation: How the Recovery and Resilience Fund could be much more than “business as usual”?

About the Event: 

In order to tackle climate change and the need to rapidly absorb CO2 emissions, targeting carbon neutrality in 2050 (or even before), the EU set the ambitious goal of planting  3 billion trees  by 2030. A project that will be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) within the frame of the European Green Deal. 

Is this goal feasible? Is it worth it according to other EU strategies, action plans, and spending programs (such as Common Agricultural Policy, the Fork to Farm Strategy, the new Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and the Threatened Species Action Plans, the new European Forestry Strategy? And if so, how could we tackle land degradation and desertification issues within EU member states?

Context: 

This event is part of the Green European Foundations project Deforestation and Climate Change with the support of FREDA and the Green Institute Greece.  It follows three events held in March on productive reforestation, climate change, desertification, erosion and the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund, and the joint event on Agroforestry & Productive reforestation held in May.  

Speakers:  

Moderated by: Vula Tsetsi, Secretary-General of the Greens/EFA Group, European Parliament  

Dr. Rigas Tsiakiris Forest Ecologist, Scientific Committee of the Green Institute Greece  

‘’Productive reforestations for living rural landscapes” 

Presentation of the results of the 4 previous events and the new booklet published by GEF-FREDA-GIG that summarizes the outcomes of the 3 webinars on “Productive reforestations” with concrete proposals and policy recommendations for RRF. 

Dr. Panagiotis Panagos, Scientific/Research Officer, European Commission, Joint Research Centre Directorate D – Sustainable Resources

“Priorities for soil protection policies in EU”

The EU’s commitment to Zero Land Degradation by 2030 (Land Degradation Neutrality) should be addressed effectively and efficiently in the EU policy agenda and Member States due to climate emergency, agricultural intensification and population growth. The EU proposes the new Green Deal which should address  specific and concrete  actions for tackling the risk of land degradation and desertification especially in Mediterranean countries.

Kelsey Perlman, Forest and Climate Campaigner at FERN

Kelsey has worked on land-use and transport issues in European and international climate negotiations, looking specifically at problems linked to international aviation. At Fern she focuses on EU forest and climate policies, the negative emissions debate, and all things linked to Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry.

Matthias Schickhofer, Conservationist, book author, photographer

“Proforestation: Optimizing climate mitigation and biodiversity restoration potential of EU’s forests“

Dr. Thanasis Kizos Professor, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean

CAP payments & economic viability of traditional agroforestry systems in EU  – Video intervention

Practicalities: 

Where: Online platform – ZOOM  

Date and time: 29th June, 17:30 to 19:30 CET  

Audience: this webinar is open to the general public  

Registrations are now open <<<

*Registrations will close 29th June, 15:00 PM CET 

This event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Greek Green Institute & FREDA – Die Grüne Zukunftsakademieand with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this event.