1. Member States shall put in place the restoration measures necessary to enhance biodiversity of forest ecosystems, in addition to the areas that are subject to restoration measures pursuant to Article 4(1), (4) and (7), while taking into account the risks of forest fires.
2. Member States shall achieve an increasing trend at national level of the common forest bird index, as further specified in Annex VI, measured in the period from 18 August 2024 until 31 December 2030, and every six years thereafter, until the satisfactory levels as set in accordance with Article 14(5) are reached.
3. Member States shall achieve an increasing trend at national level of at least six out of seven of the following indicators for forest ecosystems, as further specified in Annex VI, chosen on the basis of their ability to demonstrate the enhancement of biodiversity of forest ecosystems within the Member State concerned. The trend shall be measured in the period from 18 August 2024 until 31 December 2030, and every six years thereafter, until the satisfactory levels as set in accordance with Article 14(5) are reached:
(a)
standing deadwood;
(b)
lying deadwood;
(c)
share of forests with uneven-aged structure;
(d)
forest connectivity;
(e)
stock of organic carbon;
(f)
share of forests dominated by native tree species;
(g)
tree species diversity.
4. The non-fulfilment of the obligations set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 is justified if caused by:
(a)
large-scale force majeure, including natural disasters, in particular unplanned and uncontrolled wildfire; or
(b)
unavoidable habitat transformations which are directly caused by climate change.