A message prepared by a consortium led by Milieu Consulting SRL analyses the key challenges and barriers hindering tree planting initiatives in the European Union as part of the EU's commitment to plant three billion trees by 2030 additional trees. This ambitious target, part of the EU's biodiversity and forest strategies, aims to combat climate change and restore Europe's natural capital.

Main challenges and barriers: The survey and interviews with stakeholders identified several broad barriers:

• Funding: Lack of sufficient and long-term funding is the most common obstacle, especially for maintenance and monitoring. Access to existing resources (e.g. Common Agricultural Policy – CAP) is often difficult for local governments’ administrative capacity. Carbon credits are promising, but tree planting organisations often do not benefit directly from them, which limits reinvestment.
• Land need and land use conflicts: In the EU there is intense competition for land between forestry, agriculture, urban planning and infrastructure, leading to high costs and regulatory barriers. Changing the classification of agricultural land to forest brings legal complications. Urban forestry faces limited space and local resistance.
• Compliance with ecological conditions: The EU commitment requires planting the “right tree in the right place for the right purpose” and adhering to the “do no significant harm” (DNSH) principle. The challenge is availability of high-quality native seedlings and the selection of species resistant to climate change (e.g. drought), as well as the lack of expertise and clear technical guidelines.
• Political support, cooperation and communication: The success of initiatives depends on political support, which is affected by fragmented structures and conflicting interests. Lack of coordination between levels of governance and actors prevents coherent strategies. There is also a persistent lack of awareness about the benefits of planting trees and about the commitment itself.
• Legal framework and legislation: Complicated and time-consuming national permitting systems slow down afforestation. Legislative changes are needed to simplify processes, for example by liberalizing land use requalification.
• Consistency with nature conservation objectives: Implementation of national forest plans and conservation objectives is often inconsistent and incomplete, leading to regional differences in progress.

Recommendations and solutions: Overcoming these challenges requires a comprehensive and integrated approach.

• Financing and legal aspects: The EU should establish dedicated financial instrument for tree planting, covering all costs. Member States should adapt legislation so that organisations can directly benefit from carbon credits, allowing for reinvestment. It is crucial to simplify bureaucratic processes and introduce flexible land use categories.
• Land use and ecological principles: The priority should be high-quality planting and restoration of existing forest areas and urban areas, with an emphasis on native and climate-adapted species. Member States should support regional plans to identify suitable areas and apply EU guidelines for biodiversity-friendly planting.
• Collaboration and awareness: Strengthen coordination between levels of management and involve all stakeholders – landowners, communities, NGOs, businesses – from the early stages of the project. Awareness-raising campaigns should highlight the broad benefits of trees for climate, biodiversity and human well-being. Streamlining administrative processes and promoting public-private partnerships can encourage wider participation.

Successfully delivering on the EU's commitment to plant three billion trees requires a comprehensive approach that integrates financing, legislative measures, environmental principles and intensive cooperation between all stakeholders. This will ensure long-term sustainability and benefits for biodiversity and climate resilience across the EU. Spring