All posts filed under: forest protection

European NGOs Discuss the Future of the Bioeconomy

Published by jonas

In a session at the Forest Movement Europe (FME) meeting in Finland from 4–7 May 2026, around 40 campaigners from forest NGOs across Europe continued their exchange on the potential impacts of, and possible entry points for NGO engagement within, the forthcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Building on discussions from an online workshop in April, and with the aim of bridging the gap between abstract bioeconomy strategies and concrete political and economic realities, participants focused on identifying constructive approaches to engaging in the bioeconomy debate from a forest protection perspective. Working in smaller groups, they explored possible sustainable sources of income that could work at scale for people living in forested areas. The discussions highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges of developing rural economic models that are ecologically sustainable and socially viable. In the second part of the session, several speakers reflected on forest-related strategies within a bioeconomy that could support more sustainable wood use and forest management. Karin Nutti Pilflykt from the Saami Council spoke about Saami traditions, noting that the principle is to …

Biomass Suppliers or Living Forests? Rethinking the Bioeconomy

Published by jonas

On 21 April 2026, more than 50 NGO policy experts and campaigners from across Europe came together in an online workshop to discuss the opportunities and risks arising from the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy. The discussions focused particularly on forests and wood-based industries. The workshop opened with a critical reflection on the concept of the bioeconomy itself. Dr. Joachim Spangenberg (Friends of the Earth Germany) stressed that, despite its significant share of employment, the bioeconomy remains one of the less innovative and productive sectors of the EU economy. He also questioned whether fossil-based materials and energy systems could realistically be replaced on a large scale by biomass-based alternatives without exceeding ecological limits. Sydney Vennin from Fern then presented the latest developments surrounding the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Many participants expressed concern that the updated strategy largely reinforces existing structures: it promotes increased investment and deregulation to expand biomass production without addressing the need to reduce overall resource consumption. At the same time, participants also identified opportunities for positive change, including phasing out subsidies for forest bioenergy, …

EU Bioeconomy Strategy: Growth First, Planet Second?

Published by jonas

Now it is finally out! Commissioner Jessika Roswall did not miss the chance to personally present the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy last week at a press conference. It has become the expected document – steeped in the spirit of economic growth, so-called innovations of all kinds, and the dismantling of supposedly hindering regulations, but also with a touch of sustainability and planetary boundaries. Or, to quote the Commission: “Nature itself can become part of Europe’s competitiveness.” The publication of the strategy update represents the end of a process of discussions with NGO colleagues and exchange with staff from the Commission and Parliament. Above all, we contributed to the debate in cooperation with 60 fellow civil society organisations and developed frameworks for a responsible bioeconomy. Moments like this are a good opportunity to draw conclusions about whether one’s own commitment to the process ultimately justifies the outcome. More specifically, it can be checked whether any of our jointly formulated demands have been adequately addressed in the final version of the strategy. Concerning our first point – …

Building a Better Bioeconomy

Published by jonas

Reframing the EU Bioeconomy Strategy: Towards an Ecologically and Socially Sustainable Future At the end of 2025, the European Union will present its revised Bioeconomy Strategy – a step with far-reaching implications for rural communities, businesses, climate action, and forests both in Europe and globally. While a public consultation on the topic is currently underway, denkhausbremen and its project partner Fern organized the high-level event “Building a Better Bioeconomy” at the European Parliament on June 12, 2025, as part of a project funded by the European Environment Initiative (EURENI). The event was hosted by Members of the European Parliament Maria Ohisalo (Greens/EFA) and Michal Wiezik (Renew), with support from BirdLife Europe, Oxfam, and the European Environmental Bureau. The gathering brought together over 50 participants from rural areas, the business sector, forestry, and civil society from across Europe, alongside representatives from the European Commission and the European Parliament. The objective: to ensure that the new strategy paves the way for an ecologically and socially sustainable bioeconomy. The discussions quickly made one thing clear: the amount of …

When biocapitalism unpacks the chainsaw

Published by Peter

Environmental organizations warn against an expansion of the so-called bioeconomy at Forest Movement Europe gathering As always, it was a meeting in the forest for the forest. The annual top meeting of environmental organizations and forest activists, hosted this time by the Polish organization Workshop for All Beings in Białowieża in northeastern Poland, one focus was on a growing concern of the European environmental movement: The threat to forests posed by the bioeconomy. Apart from its roles in climate regulation, biodiversity, and water balance, the forest is expected to become a significant source of raw materials for the future economy. Wood is already used as an energy source, in the paper industry, and as a construction material. In the future, it could also replace oil, gas or coal in the production of cola bottles, tar for road surfaces, and serve as a raw material in the chemical industry. This potential expansion raises the possibility of extensive deforestation if the aspirations of the forestry industry and bioeconomy strategists come true. Consequently, denkhausbremen, along with project partners …

The forest in the bio-capitalism

Published by Peter

By Peter Gerhardt The forest has always been more than the sum of its trees. It is familiar with being a place of longing and a habitat, to deliver firewood and construction material and at the same time to fulfill all the important ecological functions. Our requirements have already put this ecosystem under tremendous pressure and in many places around the world have contributed to the fact that the forests are exhausted or have been destroyed. Regardless, now the forest should also protect humanity from a possible climate collapse and serve as a raw material storage for the economy of the future – the so-called bioeconomy. This cannot go well. But let’s start at the beginning. At this year’s UN climate summit in Glasgow, the political leaders surpassed themselves in a kind of outbidding competition to determine which country wants to save most of their forests from deforestation in the name of climate protection. At the same time, generous reforestation initiatives were promised. A total of 137 governments, whose nations are home to over 90% …

Biomass: EU asks – denkhausbremen replies

Published by michael.gerhardt

Statement on survey by the European Commission for European biomass policy from 2020 The current European biomass policy has serious consequences for the environment. The European energy companies are on a global shopping spree for timber. The electricity suppliers are burning this wood in their power plants and receiving public money according to EU rules. This leads to forest destruction and is harmful for the global climate. denkhausbremen did research on the impact of the EU biomass policy in 2015 in the southern United States and France and is currently working with its partners against the clearcut policy of those power companies ( www.denkhausbremen.de/kahlschlag-fuer-e-on-und-rwe ). Now the EU is revising its biomass strategy after 2020 and has implemented a stakeholder consultation which ends on the 10th of May. This is the statement of denkhausbremen: The current EU Biomass policy is causing the destruction of biodiverse wetland forests in the southern US-states. Research has already documented the chain of custody from clearcuts in the southern US states such as North Carolina to the European power plants. …

Barking up the wrong tree: Energy giants are on a worldwide shopping tour for wood in order to produce ”green” electricity

Published by Peter

Humanity has got an energy problem. Fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are finite and burn-ing them causes climate change. Nuclear energy is dangerous and produces radioactive waste. Renewable energies such as sun, wind or biomass are thus to provide us with green energy in the future. That’s old news. Political efforts are made to induce the necessary energy transformation with quotas and sub-sidies. The EU wants biomass to play a major role in the renewable energies for the future. Renewables are expected to account for 20% of energy consumption by 2020, goals for 2030 are negotiated right now. As for the EU, biomass would primarily mean wood. The European hunger for wood has fatal consequences: forests are clear-cut and fertile farmland and precious ecosystems are destroyed for industrial wood plantations. And it’s not a no solution for climate change. Even the US government noted in June this year that energy from wood is by no means climate-neutral. Facing climate change and a new situation for energy policy, the energy giants’ coal-fired power …

Unipers wood burning in Provence power station destroys forests!

Published by michael.gerhardt

Press release from Denkhaus Bremen, SOS Foret du Sud, Rettet den Regenwald and the Association of Critical Shareholders: Unipers wood burning in Provence power station destroys forests! (Essen, 8 June 2017) French and German environmentalists criticize the Group’s biomass strategy at the first Shareholders’ Meeting of the E.ON spin-off Uniper, which takes place on Thursday (8 June 17) in Essen. Uniper is currently equipping block 4 of the Provence coal-fired power station in Gardanne, southern France, on wood burning and is now in the trial phase. From the point of view of environmental organizations, forests in France and overseas are at risk. “Combustion of wood for electricity production on an industrial scale puts a considerable strain on the atmosphere by emissions of CO2 and increases the pressure on forests. The most stupid solution to our energy problems is the conversion of ancient coal-fired power plants to wood firing, “says Peter Gerhardt of Denkhaus Bremen. Uniper plans to burn over 800,000 tonnes of wood annually in Gardanne. “The energy giant must immediately stop this madness!” Nicholas …

“Paper Saving – Packaging in Focus” Conference

Published by Peter

Jan. 22 to 23, 2019 in Bremen, Germany denkhausbremen and the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) invite you to attend the “Paper Saving – Packaging in Focus” Conference from January 22-23, 2019 in Bremen, Germany. Paper packaging is the main driver of the persistently high paper consumption in Germany and around the world. The majority is used to support the booming online retail sector. In 2017, almost half of German paper consumption was for packaging (9.9 million tonnes). The paper that provides this packaging has negative impacts on sustainability and social justice, including forest loss, climate change, and human rights abuses. To discuss this issue, denkhausbremen and the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) have organised the “Paper Saving – Packaging in Focus” Conference to bring together leaders from NGOs, manufacturers, and retailers. The participants will work out solutions and strategies for the responsible use of paper packaging. 1. Dialogue with the Industry Tuesday January 22, 2019, 11.30am – 5.30pm House of Science, Sandstraße 4/5, 28195 Bremen Daniel Müsgens: Paper packaging – trends and developments Olaf Dechow: Sustainable …