Member states seek flexibility on forest emissions

EU member states are seeking further leeway to increase harvesting in their forests under a draft law that aims to balance carbon emissions and removals in the sector.

A proposal drawn up by Estonia, the current holder of the rotating EU Council presidency, would allow each member state to increase emissions from managed forest lands up to a fixed amount.

But the flexibility would only be available if removals by carbon sinks exceed emissions in the whole EU across all land categories covered by the proposed Regulation on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).