Press Releases
Displaying Results 26 - 50 of 107
Forests cover 42 percent of the UNECE region, which embraces countries of North America, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Forests are not only the dominant type of land cover but also a critical element for ecosystem maintenance and sustainability. While studies and reports on the region’s
Forests are rare in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and, as any rare good, should be valued, protected and cared for. This is because as of today still little is known about their values and state. To enhance the knowledge of forests in this
Innovative and sustainably produced wood products, when coupled with sustainable forest management, can ‘build the future’ and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a sector like construction, which globally accounts for 6% of total energy consumption and
Spruce, pine and fir are the main families of coniferous trees fueling the global forest products sector. They provide the raw material for just under 60% of wood products in the world. Products derived from these species are used as construction materials for buildings, for paper and paper
Given the many threats to global water supply, forest management and planning will increasingly need to deploy strategies for optimizing watershed services – such as water purification, the regulation of surface flows, and erosion control. The services provided by forest ecosystems for water
Malaysian-born film star and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh will attend the High Level Political Forum in New York today to put the spotlight on the role that clothing manufacture and consumer fashion can have for a better planet with a new video, called “Made in Forests.”“The connection
The fashion industry has seen a spectacular growth in the early 21st century. It is now valued at more than 2.5 trillion dollars and employs over 75 million people worldwide. Between 2000 and 2014, clothing production doubled with the average consumer buying 60 percent more pieces of garment
If we try to picture how humanity can “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by the year 2030” (Sustainable Development Goal 7), solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal plants, heat pumps, tidal power plants or other technical solutions come to mind. But
Forests are fundamental to sustainable development, from their role as carbon sinks and the vital ecosystem services they perform, to the many wood-based products and renewable energy they provide. Monitoring the status of forests to ensure their sustainable management is therefore essential if
Forests are one of the most valuable natural resources in Georgia. They cover about 40% of the country and have significant potential for production of wood and wood products. About 98% of Georgian forests are natural forests, which are crucial for the country’s biodiversity, providing important
Countries from the UNECE region gathered in Warsaw this week to ensure that their forests are sustainably managed and used for the well-being of all. They agreed that sustainably managed forests and long lasting, sustainably sourced wood products can make important contributions to climate
Forest products markets are doing well, with improvements forecasted to continue into next year although barriers to cross-border trade are an ongoing concern for the forest products industry, according to the market statement at Las2017, the Joint Session of the Committee of Forests and the
The consumption of forest products continues to increase across the UNECE region, driven by the use of wood as a “greener choice” in building and energy use, and supported by favourable economic growth. However, trade restrictions are a growing challenge for the sector. These are the key findings
Certification at the centre of debates as UNECE and FAO celebrate 70 years of cooperation on forests
Eighty-five per cent of the world’s forests certified as sustainably managed are located within the 56 countries of the UNECE region, which includes Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the United States and Canada. Today, this region contains 42 per cent of the world’s forests and
The future of “green jobs” in the forest sector is the focus of an international workshop opening today in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.Nearly 70 participants from 18 European countries – representing the UN system, the European Commission, government Ministries and organizations, nongovernmental
Traditionally forestry and forest-related jobs have always been in the domain of men. This is no longer the case. Women have been entering the work force for some time carrying out what is typically known as “a man’s job” and the share of women working in the forest and owning forests is
How will the world look 50 years from now? Visions of life in the future often show shiny cityscapes of glass and steel. Cities with tall buildings of flowing shapes. It would seem that wood is not what we associate with our future yet “the 21st Century will be seen as the century of wood” said
The certified forest area coverage extended across 11% of global forests in 2015. The UNECE region, with about 40% (1.6 billion hectares) of the global forest estate, accounted for 87% of the total global certified forest area (graph 1). Of
Robust data on the availability of European forests for wood supply is essential for the analysis of the sustainability of forest management and for planning and forecasting the use of wood resources, biomass and renewable energy. But it is also highly relevant for the analysis of global climate
Forest ecosystems safeguard clean water supply, aquatic wildlife and increase landscape resilience to water-related hazards. As global demand for freshwater rises and demand for water resources increase, land managers and policy-makers need to carefully manage this resource. “One third of the
Wood energy accounts for 3.5% of the total primary energy supply (TPES) and 38.2% of the renewable energy supply (RES) in the UNECE region, making it the first source of renewable energy in the region. Woody biomass covers 21 to 23% of the primary energy demands of Finland and Sweden and 14 to 16
Thirty-nine countries from Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia, the Caucasus and North America pledged this week to continue their efforts to build climate change into national forest programmes, plans and strategies. The countries made their pledge during Silva 2015, the joint session
Markets show signs of rising consumption for some forest products, though the picture is far from consistent In Europe and North America, forest products consumption is strongly related to construction. The hoped-for recovery from the trough of the 2008 global financial crisis has not