The Future of Forests: European Foresters and the Nature Restoration Law

Monday, October 26 , 2026 43

On Friday, 23 October 2026, the Union of European Foresters (UEF) and the German Association of Professional Foresters (BDF) co-hosted a dedicated morning conference focused on the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRL). Held at the Haus der Landwirtschaft und Ernährungswirtschaft (HdLE) in Berlin, this seminar served as a vital forum for forestry experts, policymakers, and European institutional representatives to discuss the implementation challenges and pathways of the NRL.

The event was opened by the UEF President Tomasz Markiewicz who welcomed the participants and highlighted the critical intersection of European forestry and the newly binding environmental obligations under the NRL.

Martin Krüger (BDF Board) welcomed the participants from BDF side, who also gave a short overview of the local and regional perspective, emphasizing German forestry’s  position on the regulation.

Kathleen Schröter moderated the sessions, steering the dialogue between ecological ambitions and practical forest management.

Three targeted keynotes bridged the gap between national execution, European lawmaking, and practical forestry leadership:

• Stefanie von Scheliah-David (German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture - BMEL) analyzed the EU Nature Restoration Regulation from a land-use policy perspective, highlighting the benefits of targeted climate adaptation alongside operational risks like underfunding and a lack of local scientific consensus. Ultimately, she emphasized that the implementation of the new green law must remain flexible and include stakeholder dialogue so that strict preservation rules do not hinder practical, active forest management by local owners.
• Angelika Rubin (European Commission) outlined the structure and rollout of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), tracking the progress of Member States' National Restoration Plans following the September 2026 deadline. It detailed quantitative, time-bound targets for forest ecosystems—specifically emphasizing Article 4 habitat restoration and Article 12 biodiversity indicators—while introducing flexible dynamic conservation guidelines that prioritize long-term climate resilience over rigid preservation.
• Anne-Sophie Knop (BDF Board) examined the practical challenges of forest restoration under a changing climate, illustrating the dilemma foresters face through a specific example of oak-hornbeam habitats—whether to pursue active oak planting or rely on natural regeneration in the absence of environmental certainty. Ultimately, she called on policymakers to empower local foresters by granting them room for professional judgment on the ground, creating collaborative frameworks for shared decision-making, and securing reliable, long-term funding.

Following the keynotes, the floor was opened to Voices from the Member Associations, allowing field forestry representatives from various European countries to share brief 5-minute operational statements, localized concerns, and grassroots strategies.

A panel discussion followed the presentations, drawing attention to the tension points and synergies of the NRL. The panel featured balanced representation across policy, administration, and on-the-ground management: Marten Gustafsson (UEF); Stefanie von Scheliah-David (BMEL); Angelika Rubin (European Commission) and Axel Miske (German Forest Council - DFWR).

Closing remarks of the seminar were made by Francois Xavier-Nicot (UEF), who reinforced that the ultimate success of the Nature Restoration Law depends entirely on collaborative, site-specific management strategies championed by professional foresters.

UEF Presidency