BirdLife Europe report shines light on Europe’s ecosystems

In Belgium, a new BirdLife Europe report shines light on the extraordinary carbon storage potential of Europe’s ecosystems. The EU could meet its climate targets by restoring and conserving these ecosystems.

Key findings:

·      13.22 billion tons of carbon storage potential: Fully restored natural ecosystems across the EU could store ≈ 13 billion tons of carbon, equivalent to 48.5 billion tons of CO₂ – more than the global annual CO₂ emissions from energy in 2021.

·      Annual sequestration potential: Restored ecosystems could absorb 378 million tons of CO₂ annually, exceeding the EU’s 2030 target of 310 million tons. This is comparable to taking 252 million petrol cars off the road annually. Repurposing lands used for biofuels to natural restoration could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 66.3 million tons annually, equal to the annual emissions of countries like Romania.

·      Forests as the largest carbon stores: Forests, which cover 38% of EU land, holdnthe greatest potential. Broad-leaved, coniferous, and mixed forests are capable of storing up to 9.24 billion tons of carbon, roughly equivalent to the CO₂ emissions of the United States over two years.

·      Peatlands and wetlands as critical sinks: Peat bogs and inland wetlands, though smaller in area, store significant amounts of carbon due to their high density of organic material.

Despite these figures, much of the EU’s land remains degraded. Intensive agriculture, deforestation, and bioenergy crop cultivation are major contributors. The report emphasises how prioritising ecosystem restoration over land-intensive practices like biofuel production and forest logging for bioenergy could significantly boost carbon storage and fight climate change. This shift could significantly accelerate progress toward the EU’s climate goals.