Risks of massive tree planting in Europe should be considered by the EU Forestry Strategy 2030

The EU Forestry Strategy 2030 includes an ambitious reforestation/afforestation plan aimed at planting 3 billion trees that should lead the European Union toward carbon neutrality by 2050. We argue that important ecological aspects were not sufficiently considered in the Strategy. The consequences of large-scale afforestation plans on biodiversity-rich open areas were poorly considered. “Where to plant” is a key aspect, as one of the targets for planting trees may be biodiversity-rich open areas, that are already declining due to natural shrub and tree encroachment. We suggested that urban areas and areas near linear infrastructures should be themain targets of afforestation. Concerning “What to plant” non-native species should be avoided in all cases. Among native species, certain geno-ecotypes may not equally perform under the effects of climate change. We therefore suggest a throughout revision of the EU Forestry Strategy 2030 with the inclusion of ecologically driven principles.