The European Green Deal package on Nature adopted on 17 November 2021 marks a milestone in the effort to stop deforestation and make soils healthy for people, nature and climate. Healthy soils are key for climate neutrality, a clean and circular economy, reversing biodiversity loss, providing healthy food, safeguarding human health, and halting desertification and land degradation. The new EU Soil Strategy for 2030 will promote the protection, restoration and sustainable use of soils. Deforestation and forest degradation are central drivers of global warming and biodiversity loss. The new Deforestation Regulation will guarantee that products placed on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation and forest degradation, it will also reduce carbon emissions, and address illegal activities harming forests.
Publication date: 13/12/2021