Press Releases
Displaying Results 76 - 100 of 107
As part of the review of its work, the Economic Commission for Europe has changed the name of the Timber Committee to “Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry” in order to better reflect the Committee’s current focus and tasks. Through a joint programme with the European Forestry Commission
2013 is a special year for forests, with many activities and initiatives underway to recognize and strengthen the important role forests play in our lives. The 21st of March will mark the first ever official International Day of Forests and the Tree, as declared in November 2012 by the General
The European Forest Week (9-13 December 2013) will be celebrated with events in Rovaniemi Finland at Metsä2013 (joint meeting of the UNECE Timber Committee and the FAO European Forestry Commission), and throughout Europe via a variety of events. The week will highlight the contribution of forests
The trends towards creating a sustainable economy represent a bright spot for the future of forests. The trends towards increased use of wood for construction and other uses of wood through innovation of new and improved products, the potential of wood energy, the sustainability of wood and its
A green economy must be based on natural, environmentally sound and sustainable materials and goods. For this, wood is surely the ideal candidate. It’s a renewable material, and products made from it store carbon. Through forest products, forests, as well as sequestering carbon, also play a
An event organized by UNECE in cooperation with FAO, WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY ACTION FOR THE FOREST SECTOR TO SHOW THE WAY TOWARDS A GREEN ECONOMY? was held today in Rio de Janeiro to discuss priority actions for the forest sector in a green economy.In his opening statement, Mr. Sven Alkalaj, UNECE
Real estate markets and real estate regulations can have an enormous impact on a nation’s economy; according to a 2010 IMF estimate, economic losses from the global financial crisis of 2008 may total $2.28 trillion. Real estate forms a significant part of a country’s capital stock and is an
A one-day event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held yesterday in Rio to highlight the role of forests and forest industries in building the green economy. The event discussed how sustainable production and consumption of forest-based bio-
Recent studies have shown that more wood is used for energy than previously estimated, and that a substantial part of this comes from non-forest resources such as industrial co-products, landscape care wood and recovered wood. Strong political support has seen wood energy markets grow
The United States and Canada have experienced large changes in their forest sectors over the past 50 years. The UNECE/FAO North American Forest Sector Outlook Study (NAFSOS) looks at these changes and projects possible futures for the forest sector in 2030. This study is a companion to the
GenevaWood energy accounts for 3% of the total primary energy supply (TPES) and 47% of the renewable energy supply (RES) in the UNECE region[1] in 2009, confirming its role as the leading source of renewable energy. Wood covered almost 20% of the
GenevaA web-based resource tool based on the joint FOREST EUROPE/ECE/FAO State of Europe's Forests 2011 report was released today; containing the new unpublished data on forests, forest management and forest industry in the pan-European region. In addition to the English version, for the first
GenevaWhat will European and North American forests look like in 2030? Will they store carbon, preserve biodiversity or help countries meet renewable energy commitments? Are trade-offs unavoidable? A distinguished group of experts from governments, international organizations, NGOs and industry
GenevaExperts forecast a continuing upturn in wood and paper products markets (consumption, production and trade) in 2011 and 2012 for the UNECE region, with an increase in overall consumption of 0.8% in 2011 and 1.1% in 2012. Production in the same years is forecast to rise by 1.5% and 1.7%
Geneva Increasing environmental, social and economic expectations are putting unprecedented pressure on forests in the ECE region. Balancing the competing demands of climate change, while protecting the forests’ rich biodiversity, yet satisfying a growing requirement for renewable energy and the
GenevaTo mark the International Year of Forests, in early 2011 the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched a PhD Thesis Award on Sustainable Forest Management in the UNECE region, sponsored by Pictet, one of Switzerland’s
GenevaEuropeans have high expectations of their forests which must meet increasing and sometimes conflicting environmental, social and economic demands. Policy makers must balance the conservation of biodiversity, the need to sequester and store carbon, adaptation to a changing climate and the
To celebrate the World Forest Day of the International Year of Forests, on 21 March 2011, the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section held a tree planting ceremony in the “Parc Ariana” which surrounds the Palais des Nations in Geneva. A tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) from the “Art of
Today, on the occasion of World Forest Day, experts gathered in Geneva to review the status of and trends in forests and forest resources in Europe and North America, discuss related finding from the FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010) and consider the preliminary
GenevaIn order to promote scientific research on sustainable forest management, the ECE/FAO Forestry and Timber section has launched a PhD Thesis Award. The prize of 10,000 USD dollars will be awarded to the best PhD thesis providing new data and insights into forest management, and how
Geneva The UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section is launching the Joint Wood Energy Enquiry for the UNECE region for the reference year 2009. Wood energy statistics are often scattered among different entities and concealed within statistics on energy from renewables and waste. The Enquiry
Geneva Within the UNECE region, three countries alone—Russia, Canada and the United States— account for 35% of the world’s forest coverage. Together with the remaining countries in the region, this figure rises to 41%. Since 1990, protected forests in the UNECE region have increased by
Geneva During annual Market Discussions at the UNECE Timber Committee on 11-12 October in Geneva, experts forecast an upturn in wood and paper products markets (consumption, production and trade) in 2010 and 2011 for the UNECE region. Forest products markets are rebounding from a
Geneva This year, for the first time, national experts from both the forestry and energy sectors in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Turkey came together to examine policy options for accelerating the production and use of cost-effective wood energy in the region. They concluded
Geneva, Switzerland The Timber Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) meets again this year at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, to review the latest international developments affecting the forest sector. The event brings together delegates from Governments,