“Commission support a major victory for continuous cover forestry” – EverCover forest certification launched, Sirpa Pietikäinen calls for Finland to take a leading role

Press release 24 September 2025

Forestry history was made in Brussels today. At the European Parliament, the non-profit expert organisation AEFC (Association for Ecological Forestry Certification) launched the EverCover forest certification. Its core principle is continuous cover forestry – strengthening carbon stocks and sinks while safeguarding biodiversity – delivering steady long-term returns for forest owners and driving demand for high-value, long-lived timber products. The European Commission’s much-anticipated response is highly positive: the certification is warmly welcomed.

“Yes. The standards of EverCover certification resonate well with the EU’s Closer-to-Nature Guidelines. We warmly welcome the certification, will closely follow its progress, and will take it into account in the Commission’s internal discussions,” emphasises Stefanie Schmidt, Policy Officer for Forests at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment.

The favourable reception from the EU is a significant step towards the rapid uptake of the certification, according to AEFC Chair, Dr Saija Kuusela (Ph.D. Ecology).

“Commission support is a major victory for continuous cover forestry. EverCover is built on the best available knowledge of what safeguarding forest biodiversity and effective climate action require in practice. The foundation is continuous cover forestry and moving away from clearcuts, protecting water bodies, and supporting biodiversity in multiple ways. We offer a clear and practical playbook for both forest owners and industry – a path towards forestry that is not only more sustainable but also more profitable,” Kuusela explained.

Sirpa Pietikäinen: Finland must take the lead

MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen, who hosted the launch in the European Parliament, sees an excellent opportunity for Finland both to set an example in transitioning to continuous cover forestry and to promote the global uptake of EverCover.

“Finnish forestry is known for expertise and quality. Precisely for that reason, Finland should take the best practices to Europe and the world – into regulation, public procurement, financing criteria, and market incentives. EverCover provides a model in which economic value, climate action, and biodiversity reinforce each other. Finland has every opportunity to take the lead,” Pietikäinen urges.

EverCover-certified wood is already available, and the certification is open for forest owners to adopt. Forest owners’ interest is likely to be boosted by the rapidly soaring demand for wood produced under continuous cover forestry.

“The demand for wood produced with continuous cover methods is already expanding explosively. In Sweden, the City of Malmö has banned the use of timber sourced from clearcuts, and the Stockholm region is preparing a broad initiative encouraging the use of continuous cover wood. Among companies, Artek stands out as a frontrunner: It immediately embraced the opportunity offered by EverCover to combine climate benefits, biodiversity, and economic profitability. Artek views EverCover as a bridge between forest owners and timber buyers that will substantially increase the use of responsibly sourced wood,” Kuusela says.

At the launch, Swedish sustainable design pioneer Johan Berhin (Green Furniture Concept) presented the rapid progress of continuous cover forestry in Sweden. Artek’s procurement criteria for continuous cover wood were outlined by Project Manager Julius Maise.

Further information

Saija Kuusela, Chair, AEFC, +358 40 588 0655, saija.kuusela@aeforest.org
Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of the European Parliament (EPP, Finland), +358 50 4666 222, sirpa.pietikainen@europarl.europa.eu

What is EverCover?

The EverCover certification makes continuous cover forestry the baseline standard: forests are regenerated without large-scale clearcuts, with small gaps permitted for light-demanding species; naturally mixed forests are favoured; at least 10% of the forest area is left entirely unmanaged; high conservation value forests are excluded from logging; 10–20 metre untouched buffer zones are left along water bodies; and retention trees and deadwood are maintained to secure habitats.

The result: Stronger carbon sinks, living forest ecosystems, and a higher share of quality sawlogs for long-lived products – creating significant economic added value for forests.