News
Bookmark this page, to keep up to date with the latest developments regarding the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other important information about forests in general.
July 2025
Europe’s Wildfire Crisis Demands Urgent Shift
Europe is facing a worsening wildfire emergency, with nearly 300,000 hectares already burned in 2025, more than double last year’s toll, according to a new paper by WWF and BirdLife Europe. The groups warn that Europe’s current reliance on reactive firefighting is failing, as over 95% of blazes are sparked by human activity and the costs reach an estimate of €13-21 billion. Beyond the economic hit, megafires devastate ecosystems, communities, and release massive carbon emissions. WWF calls for a fundamental shift toward prevention, urging governments to restore biodiverse landscapes, promote resilient tree species such as cork and holm oak over fire-prone pines, and involve local communities in land management. The report argues that only a proactive, nature-based approach can break the cycle of Europe’s escalating “megafire” crisis.
EU Parliament Vote Sparks Concerns Over EUDR’s Future
On July 9, 2025, the European Parliament adopted an objection to the European Commission’s country benchmarking system under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), proposing a new “insignificant or negligible risk” category not present in the original law. WWF emphasized that the move is irresponsible, warning it could delay implementation, saddle businesses with uncertainty, and undermine the EU’s ability to confront deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human rights abuses at a critical moment when intact forests are vital climate defenses.
June 2025
WWF Urges Stability Amid Threats to EUDR’s Integrity
On June 23, 2025, WWF urged EU legislators to resist attempts to weaken the EU Deforestation Regulation, which has entered into force and is due to apply from late 2025 with benchmarking already agreed. Proposals from Austria and Luxembourg to introduce “insignificant risk” exemptions and push for delays, even after formal adoption, would undermine due diligence, transparency, and traceability, and likely stoke delays and complexity for companies complying with the regulation.
May 2025
WWF strongly condemns proposals by Austria and Luxembourg to “simplify” the Deforestation Law
On May 26, 2025, WWF condemned proposals by Austria and Luxembourg’s agriculture ministers to “simplify” the EU Deforestation Regulation, accusing them of effectively attempting to dismantle the law before it takes effect. The push to create a “no risk” category for EU producers ignores persistent threats such as forest degradation and illegal logging and could erase core pillars like supply-chain traceability, all at a time when tropical forest loss is soaring.
January 2025
Alarm Raised Over Finland and Sweden’s Forest Protections
On January 23, 2025, WWF released a report warning that Finland and Sweden are failing to safeguard Europe’s remaining primary and old-growth forests, instead exploiting regulatory loopholes to allow logging in high-conservation-value areas. With the European Commission set to host a workshop in Helsinki, WWF called on both governments to uphold EU Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy commitments, map and protect critical forests, including privately owned lands, and warned that continued degradation would erode both climate goals and public trust in EU leadership.