Scientists warn MEPs against watering down EU deforestation law

More than 50 experts say proposal redefining forest degradation could undermine net zero emissions plans

More than 50 scientists have warned MEPs that a high-level move to water down EU legislation on deforestation could undermine Europe's net zero emissions plans.

European environment ministers rewrote a draft regulation last week to define forest degradation" as the replacement of primary forest by plantations or other wooded land. In the EU, which has about 3.1m hectares of primary forest amid 159m hectares of overall forest, it would limit the law's reach to only 2% of the total area.