European Forestry Pulse #64 🌲

Hello,

On March 27, FOREST EUROPE will release the State of Europe's Forests 2025 report.

This is the single most important document in European forestry this year.

Every major forest policy debate will reference it. Industry associations fighting EUDR simplification will cite it. Researchers studying forest management trends will use it as a baseline.

If you care about European forests, block your calendar.

Here's what's moving European forestry this week:

FOREST EUROPE announced the launch of its flagship report: the State of Europe's Forests 2025 (SoEF 2025). A webinar on March 27, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET, will present the findings.

The State of Europe's Forests is the most comprehensive overview of forests across the pan-European region. It covers forest condition, trends, and contributions to sustainable development. FOREST EUROPE publishes it periodically. It's the reference document for evidence-based forest policy.

Think of it as the census for European forests. How much forest do we have? Is it growing or shrinking? How healthy is it? How much wood do we harvest? How much carbon do forests store? What are the trends?

The timing couldn't be more significant. This report drops in the middle of three major policy debates:

EUDR implementation. The deforestation regulation deadline is December 30, 2026. The Commission is already adjusting the product list through delegated acts (EFP #63). SoEF data on European deforestation rates — which are near zero in most countries — will fuel industry arguments for proportionate enforcement.

Nature Restoration Law. EU member states are developing national restoration plans. SoEF data on biodiversity, protected areas, and forest condition will shape what "restoration" means in practice.

The "how much forest is protected?" debate. Different organisations quote different numbers. Some say 25% of European forests are protected. Others say it's far less. SoEF 2025 will provide the official baseline. That number matters because it determines whether governments need to protect more — or have already met their targets.

The previous SoEF report was published in 2020. Five years of data brings significant updates:

These aren't academic questions. Every answer has policy and business consequences.

Mark March 27 in your calendar. The webinar runs from 10:00 to 12:00 CET. Register on the FOREST EUROPE website.

Read the report when it drops. Even if you only read the executive summary, you'll have better data than most people in any forestry policy meeting.

Use the numbers. When someone claims European forests are "disappearing" or "under threat," SoEF gives you verified continental data to respond. Facts beat emotions. This report provides the facts. Source: FOREST EUROPE — SoEF 2025 Launch Event | March 27, 2026, 10:00–12:00 CET

Södra has agreed to sell its 25% ownership stake in Sunpine AB to VAROPreem. Fellow shareholders Sveaskog AB and Lawter B.V. are also selling their stakes in the transaction.

What is Sunpine? A Swedish company that produces tall oil-based biofuels from crude tall oil — a by-product of the pulp process. It converts waste from pulp production into renewable diesel and other products.

Why Södra is selling: After posting a 1.29 billion SEK operating loss in 2025 (EFP #62), Södra is restructuring. Selling non-core assets is part of getting back to basics. The cooperative serves 52,000 Swedish family forest owners. Biofuel production sits outside that core mission.

The takeaway: When a major cooperative sells investments after heavy losses, it signals focus. Södra is cutting what it can to protect what matters — its forest owner members. Source: Fordaq | Bioenergy International

Forward contracts for carbon credits grew 58% in value during 2025, reaching $5.8 billion. The surge was driven mainly by engineered carbon removals. A record $9 billion in funding was announced for nature-based solutions.

The source: Abatable's 2026 carbon market overview, which analyses demand, supply, and pricing across the voluntary carbon market.

What's moving: Forward prices for both nature-based and engineered removals are rising through to 2030. The report says newer, higher-integrity nature-based credits will need higher prices to cover financing costs as supply shifts to stricter methodologies.

The European angle: European forest carbon owners exploring forward contracts should note two things. First, demand is growing. Second, buyers increasingly want higher-integrity projects. European forest credits already trade at premiums over global averages. That gap could widen.

The takeaway: The voluntary carbon market is maturing. Forward contracting is replacing spot buying. If you're developing a forest carbon project, think about locking in future revenue through forward deals. Source: Abatable — Carbon Market Dimensions 2026 via Jen Stebbing climate newsletter, February 20, 2026

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy uses PEFC-certified wood as a core part of its construction and sustainability strategy. Italian forests are supplying the certified timber.

Why it matters: The Olympics are the world's biggest stage. Millions of viewers see timber structures built with certified wood. That's visibility money can't buy.

The certification signal: When a global event mandates certified wood, it raises the bar for every project. Architects, engineers, and procurement teams see certification as the standard — not an extra.

The Italian angle: Italy's forests are often overlooked in European forestry discussions. This event puts Italian certified forestry in the spotlight. It demonstrates that Southern European forests can supply premium, traceable timber.

The takeaway: If you sell PEFC-certified timber, this is a marketing story. Reference it. The Olympics just validated your certification choice on the world stage. Source: PEFC — Certified Wood at 2026 Winter Olympics

Swedish technology company Triona has built a web-based platform that maps all protected and voluntarily set-aside forest areas in Sweden. The data is now accessible to politicians, researchers, and the public.

Why it matters: The debate about how much forest is "protected" has been one of the most contested in European forestry. Different definitions give different answers. This platform aims to provide transparent, aggregated data in one place.

Who benefits: Forest industry associations can reference it in policy discussions. Researchers get a single data source. Politicians get facts instead of competing claims.

The European signal: If this works in Sweden, other countries will want similar tools. Transparent forest data platforms could become standard across Europe — especially as the Nature Restoration Law requires member states to report on forest condition.

The takeaway: Data wins arguments. This platform gives Swedish forestry a tool to back its claims with verifiable numbers. Watch for similar initiatives elsewhere. Source: Triona

The International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT) is launching a strategic study on certified tropical timber in China. The goal: understand what Chinese buyers expect and how to promote certification in that market.

The European connection: As EUDR reshapes tropical timber supply chains, producers need new markets alongside Europe. China is the world's largest importer of tropical timber. But Chinese buyers have different expectations around certification than European buyers.

Why it matters: If certified tropical timber producers can sell to both Europe (EUDR-compliant) and China (certification-aware), they diversify risk. ATIBT's study aims to map that opportunity.

The broader picture: The EUDR pushes tropical producers toward traceability and certification. China pulls in a different direction — price and volume matter more. This study explores whether those two worlds can meet. ATIBT is launching this via a public call for tenders, which also signals fresh funding for deeper China–certification market work.

The takeaway: If you trade in tropical timber or connect producers with European markets, this study will provide market intelligence you can't get elsewhere. Source: ATIBT Flash News

Register for the SoEF 2025 launch webinar.

March 27. 10:00–12:00 CET. Free.

This report will be cited in every European forest policy debate for the next five years. You want to hear the findings first-hand — not through someone else's summary.

Five minutes to register. Two hours to learn. Years of better-informed decisions.

Visit the FOREST EUROPE website or search "State of Europe's Forests 2025 webinar" to register.

When the report drops, read at least the executive summary. Then use the numbers next time someone at a public meeting claims European forests are "under threat." SoEF data is your strongest response.

European forestry needs better communication and smarter capital. We deliver both.

Communication: Content strategy, trade publication articles, stakeholder messaging, staff training. Three languages: EN | DE | HU.

Intelligence: EUDR compliance, timber market analysis, carbon market monitoring, forest investment due diligence.

The Forestry Communication Playbook: A complete guide to building your organisation's communication strategy. Coming soon.

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Until Tuesday! (or tomorrow…)

Wish you all the best: Peter

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