http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/Welcome.html Press releases from UNECE/FAO Timber Section http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07tim_p01e.htm Joint press release issued with the Liaison Unit Warsaw of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Geneva, 23 January 2007 -- Wood is gaining an increasing attention, in the framework of climate change discussions and energy security, as a carbon neutral energy to replace non-renewable energy sources. This, combined with rising energy prices, is leading to an increase in wood demand. "Since traditional use of wood in Europe, notably by the pulp and paper industry, continues to expand as well, the competition between wood for bio-energy and for traditional wood processing industry is an increasing challenge", emphasizes Bernard de Galembert, Forest Director at CEPI, the Confederation of European Paper Industries. Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07tim_p02e.htm The primary role of forests in Uzbekistan is to protect agricultural lands, populated areas and soil of surrounding territories from water and wind erosion, to prevent mudflows, and to stabilize sands of deserted areas. At the same time, the country’s forests are the source of some low-quality timber (also used for energy purposes), as well as of non-wood products such as nuts, fruits, medical plants and fodder. Tue, 15 May 2007 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07tim_p03e.htm There are still hundreds of serious even fatal accidents in forestry work all over the UNECE region, although specialists in occupational safety and health have a clear idea of how to reduce them, notably through reinforced training and better enforced safety procedures. The Second International Conference on Safety and Health in Forestry, organized by France and Switzerland on 23-25 May 2007 in Annecy, France under the auspices of the Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Experts Network on Implementing Sustainable Forest Management, brought together 70 participants from 4 continents to share experience and map out realistic strategies. Tue, 5 Jun 2007 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07tim_p04e.htm The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) just released the UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2006-2007. It covers forest products market and policy developments in the UNECE member States. The comprehensive report will be presented at the first joint UNECE Timber Committee and International Softwood Conference Market Discussions on 8-9 October 2007 in Geneva. Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07tim_p05e.htm The recent surge of interest in renewable energies and, in particular, biomass energies has complex consequences all over the world. UNECE and FAO are together exploring these impacts and opportunities for the forest sector in the European region, so that policy making may be based on the most reliable and recent information and analysis Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07tim_p06e.htm The UNECE Timber Committee has just conducted joint market discussions for the first time with the International Softwood Conference. They analyzed current markets developments for forest products in 2007 and forecast markets for 2008 in view of current policy issues. Major themes were: 1. softwood market developments, and 2. wood energy and wood mobilization. The full text of the Committee’s approved market statement is attached as are the summary tables of forecasts. 1 Of related interest is the companion press release coming from the Timber Committee’s Policy Forum on “Bioenergy policies and targets: opportunity for, or threat to, the European forests”. Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:00:00 +0100