Explainers

Explainer

How to generate income from forests?

Wood still funds most European forestry, but diverse ecosystem services need stronger financial support through policy, markets and incentives.

Forests and people

A close-up of dark brown mushrooms growing on a mossy tree stump in the foreground, with a blurred group of people walking through a lush green forest in the background.

Explainer

What tools are available to comply with the EUDR?

Discover what free and/or open-source tools are available to supply chain actors to comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation.

Sustainable economy

Explainer

¿Qué herramientas existen para cumplir con el EUDR?

Descubra qué herramientas gratuitas y de código abierto están disponibles para los actores de la cadena de suministro ante el EUDR.

Sustainable economy

Explainer series

Forest questions

Frequently asked questions about forests and why they matter

An extreme close-up of a vibrant green leaf, highlighting the intricate, symmetrical pattern of yellow veins and the detailed cellular texture of the blade.

Explainer series

What is?

Going beyond a definition, explore our concise insights into key forest-related topics.

A peaceful woodland path leading through a diverse, healthy green forest.

All explainers

Explainer

How did EU-27 forests develop, and why do they differ from those of the past?

Trends in forest cover change have reversed in Europe, however, and the forest area has been expanding during the 20th and 21st century.

Resilient forests

Changes in area, growing stock per hectare, net annual increment per hectare, age and annual wood removals per hectare in European forests. Data are indexed to the year 1990 (i.e. 1990=1).

Explainer

How have forest resources in the European Union developed?

Deforestation is still ongoing at global level. However, forest resources in the EU 27 have expanded continuously since the 1950s.

Sustainable economy

Changes in Forest Area, Growing Stock per Hectare, Net Annual Increment and Annual Wood Removals per Hectare in European Forests 1950-2020.

Explainer

How has the forest-based carbon sink and stock evolved in the European Union?

Contrary to the ongoing deforestation at global level, forest area and growing stock in the EU 27 have expanded continuously since the 1950s.

Resilient forests

graph shows Annual CO2 Removals by Forest Land and Harvested Wood Products 1990-2020 in the EU (in Mt CO2/year, data from the 2022 EU submission to the UNFCCC).

Explainer

How can a forest-based bioeconomy support biodiversity and climate neutrality?

Forests and forestry play a key role in climate change mitigation.

Sustainable economy

Intricate, overlapping light-colored wooden beams forming a dense, woven architectural ceiling structure.

Explainer

How does forest management and the use of wood contribute to economic prosperity and employment?

A look into the various roles of forest management and use of wood.

Forests and people

Explainer

How can trees and forests support sustainable and climate friendly cities?

Forests and trees support climate-smart cities through renewable bio-based products and ecosystem services that boost resilience and well-being.

Cities

Explainer

How can forests improve human health and wellbeing?

Read about the diverse effects of forests on our health and well-being.

Forests and people

Bare feet of small child standing barefoot outdoors in nature

Explainer

To manage or not to manage – how can we support forests to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts?

Forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle that can help to mitigate climate change.

Resilient forests

Explainer

How does forest management affect biodiversity?

Forest management practices influence forest structure and biodiversity in many different ways.

Resilient forests

Explainer

What role do forests play in the water cycle?

Forests play an essential role in the stable provision of clean, fresh water and many other water-related ecosystem services.

Resilient forests