Issue 1 2019

The International Day of Forests (IDF) 2019 is celebrated on 21 March 2019 under the theme “Learn to Love Forests”.  The celebration in Geneva will feature a range of activities free and open to all, including:

In the Salle des Pas Perdus at the Palais des Nations:

• A Forest Breakfast from 9:00 to 10:00 hosted by the Polish Ministry of Environment together with UNECE and FAO – enjoy delicious forest food with berries, honey, game meat and juices
• Followed by a series of Forest Handicraft Workshops from 10:00 to 12:00 – make your own forest ecosystem in a jar or learn how to create beautiful wooden decorations
• A guided tour through a paper cave full of innovative wood products

At the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG, Room 4, 17 rue de Varembé) during the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the ECE region:

• A Forest Quiz from 12:45 to 14:30, where you can test your knowledge and win some exciting forest prizes while enjoying a light lunch

[Registration] [Programme and invitation] [Website]

Forest products are part of a sustainable fashion sector – watch out for this new trend!

To showcase the innovative potential of sustainably produced forest fibers, our Forests for Fashion Initiative participated in the largest global meeting on the environment: The Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly. From 10-15 March 2019, an exhibit of stunning and innovative clothes made by young designers using forest-derived materials were on display at the Sustainable Innovation Expo in Nairobi, Kenia, where more than 40 organizations and companies showcased innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

Camille Jaillant is one of the latest designers to produce a ‘Forest for Fashion’ piece, relying entirely on localized production in Portugal and using PEFC-certified fabric. “As a designer, you are inevitably inspired by nature. Protecting our source of creativity and of life is essential, and everyone’s responsibility. It is a challenge to create fashionable evening dresses that are at the same time sustainable – some designers would argue it limits your options. But Forests for Fashion shows that sustainability and fashion go hand in hand.”

[Check out the photos!] [Vancouver Invitation on Forest Products for a Better Future] [video Made in Forests] [F4F Initiative] [UN Alliance]

In recent years, Armenia has gone through severe structural changes that have affected the forest sector. Forests, which were formerly under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, are now the responsibility of the Ministry of Nature Protection, together with areas dedicated to nature conservation.

These changes allow for a harmonized and more efficient system for forest monitoring and management, and they create momentum for finalizing a national-level set of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. The set, which has been developed in recent years through a multi-stakeholder process, addresses forest-related topics such as the extent of the forest area, biological diversity, socio-economic impacts, and productive and protective functions. It strives to transparently measure Armenia’s progress in achieving national forestry targets, including the reduction of illegal logging and the protection of forests and forest lands, and thus it supports evidence-based policy making. The set of criteria and indicators also can go along with the development of a new national forestry program.

On 20–22 February 2019, more than 30 national forest sector experts gathered in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, to review and finalize the criteria and indicator set at a workshop organized by UNECE and FAO. Armenia is part of the project “Accountability Systems for Sustainable Forest Management for the Caucasus and Central Asia,” funded through the United Nations Development Account, which supports several countries in this process.

[English news] [Russian news]

Last December, the Commission published a progress report on the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy, discussed by the European Parliament in January. This report comes at a time when forests and the forest- based sector are recognised as essential players in responding to major societal and environmental challenges. In a round table organised on 4th February, the European forest-based sector conveyed a joint and clear message: an updated and stronger EU Forest Strategy is needed to ensure that in the coming decades forest- related EU policies are better coordinated and endorse sustainable forest management and the multifunctional role of forests in a consistent way.

Forests and the forest-based sector are increasingly expected to deliver on recent and coming horizontal and sectoral EU policies (e.g: the Renewable Energy Directive; the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy; the LULUCF Regulation; the future Common Agricultural Policy; Sustainable Investments). A coalition of forest and forest-based sector associations have brought together around 60 representatives from EU institutions, the Romanian Presidency of the Council, research and stakeholders to exchange views on the future of the EU Forest Strategy and to explore possible ways forward to strengthen sustainable forest management in EU forest-related policies.

[Full release] [Joint COP24 statement]

The Spanish fashion designer María Lafuente presented her new, retro-futuristic collection at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Madrid, Spain. Inspired by Thai nature, culture, textile handicraft and architecture, the collection called ‘Fah-Pratan’ (‘A gift from heaven’) presents a sustainable side of fashion. Besides silk from Thailand, the designer also used fabrics made from PEFC-certified forest fibres, supplied by Textil Santanderina. These fibres come from forests which have been managed sustainably, respecting rigorous environmental, social and economic requirements.

Combining sustainability with empowerment

The show was opened and closed with a live performance of Danza Down, an association working for the integration of mentally disabled people through dancing. The empowerment of women is also vital in the production of María Lafuente’s collection. The designer chose Lal La Buya, an organization which works with women at risk of social exclusion, for tailoring the clothes.

Women of the Royal Silk Foundation in Thailand produced the silk, while craftswomen from the Spanish region of Asturias processed the wool for Feltai. The wool used in the collection comes from the Xalda sheep, which is of great environmental and cultural value.

This choice goes hand in hand with the intentions of PEFC certification, which promotes gender equality, equal opportunities and non-discrimination, and strives towards achieving living wages to advance sustainable livelihoods.

Forests for Fashion

The show is part of the PEFC Forests For Fashion initiative with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with several partners: PEFC Spain, PEFC International, PEFC Italy including Textil Santanderina, María Lafuente and the government of Cantabria.

More info: https://www.pefc.es/moda-sostenible/moda-sostenible.html

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, declared on 1 March 2019 by the UN General Assembly, aims to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems as a proven measure to fight the climate crisis and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity.

The degradation of land and marine ecosystems undermines the well-being of 3.2 billion people and costs about 10 per cent of the annual global gross product in loss of species and ecosystems services. Key ecosystems that deliver numerous services essential to food and agriculture, including supply of freshwater, protection against hazards and provision of habitat for species such as fish and pollinators, are declining rapidly.

Restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded land between now and 2030 could generate USD 9 trillion in ecosystem services and take an additional 13-26 gigatons of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.

UNECE/FAO are jointly working on forest landscape restoration and organized the first Ministerial Roundtable on Forest Landscape Restoration and the Bonn Challenge in the Caucasus and Central Asia, held on 21-22 June 2018 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Roundtable led to commitments of over 2.5 million ha to be restored by the region by 2030. Follow-up activities and an expansion to provide a platform for more countries to pledge towards the Bonn Challenge are planned.

[press release] [Meeting website] [Meeting Report]

221 individuals and organisations responded to the European Commission’s public consultation on the product scope of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

The survey shows those responding as broadly in favour of expanding the scope of the EUTR to products currently excluded, particularly all printed material and ending the disparity between chairs and other wooden furniture.

Overwhelmingly, responders do not think the EUTR in its current scope is adequate for meeting the aims of the EUTR – namely, fighting illegal logging and the related trade.

Asked why they believed the product scope needed to be changed comments focused on the need to end loopholes and create an even playing field. The EUTR should aim for the ‘simplest and easy to understand system’. EU based printers said they were being undercut by paper produced elsewhere, they wanted a level playing field for domestic producers and companies importing from 3rd countries. And last but not least, the limits to the product scope is preventing the EUTR from reaching its core objective of countering illegal timber. If any timber product is reaching the EU market despite being made from illegally logged timber, due to it not being covered by the EUTR, then this clear loophole must be closed.

Others also emphasized the need to implement other reforms along with the product scope expansion. Suggestions included support for trans-border action with confiscation ability, harmonisation of enforcement procedures across member states and better education of authorities.

The full results can be downloaded here.

University of Limerick is one of several European partners in the BenchValue project (http://benchvalue.efi.int/), which is funded by EU FP7 ERA-Net Sumforest. It is well documented that renewable wood-based materials reduce GHG emissions in the construction sector. Modern wood product technology allows for the design of even high-rise buildings which are durable and pass strict fire regulations. In practice, however, the uptake of wood construction is very limited. A partial explanation is that the availability of sustainability assessments pertaining to renewable raw material value chains is limited, and where existing, are rarely comprehensive; mostly focusing on specific products and often lack benchmarking against use of non-renewable materials. Furthermore, decision makers (e.g. in public procurement) have difficulties understanding scientific results as they only give partial or even conflicting answers.

BenchValue will address these shortcomings by expanding the Tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment (ToSIA) with a method for benchmarking wood material value chains against mineral and non-renewable value chains, e.g., concrete and steel. ToSIA is an established and objective method for analysis and comparison of forest-wood-chains. In addition to leading the work package on case studies in five European countries, University of Limerick, in collaboration with NUI Galway, is conducting a case study in Ireland that will assess the sustainability of timber construction against the benchmark of conventional construction using metrics developed in BenchValue.

The Woodnat project consists of 9 participants from 5 different European countries – Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria and Romania, covering the Southern arch of Europe. Participants were recruited based on their capabilities, knowledge and complementary skills and how these will be useful to the achievement of the Woodnat objectives. In line with the type of action (IA, Innovation Action) 8 out of 9 are industrial partners, capable of transferring to the market the results of Woodnat project.

9 Partners

WOODNat aims at providing for the first time an integral approach to walnut hardwood supply chain from nurseries to close-to-market wood products. Although many projects and tools have been developed in the past to promote a sustainable management of hardwood plantations, most of them have failed due to lack of a global approach. Woodnat consortium gathers 9 players representing the whole walnut hardwood value chain across Southern Europe willing to collaborate to generate added value: SEISTAG, INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, CREA, BOSQUES NATURALES, ECM, WAF, LOSAN, ASIMOV and WALE.

More information: www.woodnat.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 728086

The first FSC-certification of all 5 ecosystem or natural services was presented in Rome on february 26th during a press conference hosted by italian Ministry of agricultural food, forestry and tourism policies (Mipaaft). This important achievement is the result of cooperation between FSC Italy; Waldplus Group, a FSC-certified forestry company and Etifor, a University of Padua’s spin-off company.

After a test phase conducted in more than 8 countries, Italy resulted to be the first to obtain the certification of all 5 environmental services: species conservation, water quantity and quality improvement, increase of soil nutrients, increase of carbon stock and improvement of recreational services. Thanks to a third-party verification system, FSC Ecosystem Services procedure provides forest managers, governments and investors a new, reliable tool to demonstrate, communicate and enhance natural values.

Waldplus Group forests stock 220,229 tons of CO₂, and filter 1,256,700 cubic meters of fresh water every year. 7.5 tons of soil are also preserved from erosion, and 458 hectares of natural land are now accessible for recreational purposes.

WaldPlus group first certification was issued in July 2014 and now counts 33 smallholders involved and 1,000 hectares of forests distributed between Trentino Alto-Adige, Veneto and Lombardy regions. Among these forest owners we find 10 public entities represented by Associazione Forestale di Pianura, and Parco Oglio Sud, the first regional park in Italy to obtain the FSC verification for Ecosystem Services. https://it.fsc.org/it-it/news/id/626

A Mountain Societies Research Institute study has found that the potential to develop nutritious food from wild plant species (fruit trees, shrubs, herbs) of Kyrgyz walnut forest ecosystems is neglected, though it could contribute to improved food security and raise incomes of local smallholder farmers. 

The Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) of the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Graduate School of Development examined the socio-economic aspects of wild walnut forest management in the countries alongside the Silk Road Routes, as part of SusWalFood research project, implemented by consortium of 11 partners from Germany, Central Asia and the Czech Republic. The area of Fergana and Chatkal mountain ranges in the south of Kyrgyzstan is the largest single natural source of walnuts on Earth and has a global importance as a biodiversity hotspot.

The study reveals that the relic Kyrgyz walnut-fruit forests are currently facing a serious threat for environmental conditions and health due to unsustainable patterns of forest management. Large parts of the forests are over-aged with only 5% of recovery rate and are exploited in an intensive manner for walnut kernels which constitute the most economically important product. More than 1,2 mln people depend on 644,000 ha of walnut forests and local communities show less interest in reproducing the walnut trees as there are no incentives for reforestation.

At least 130 wild berries and fruits could be used to produce high value products. The annual yield of hawthorn and barberry alone is estimated at hundreds tonnes. Marketing and processing facilities for wild fruits, berries and medicinal herbs could add value to new products and thus create incentives for more sustainable forest management. But still up to 96% of households rely on walnuts as the main source of income.

New areas for economic activities would decrease the anthropogenic burden on walnut forests and could therefore reduce environmental risks. At the same time there is a strong need for further application-oriented research and creating new market opportunities for local population. More information at: https://projects.msri.io/#!/project/23/details.html

The project is dedicated to the enhancement of rockfall protection, evaluation of ecosystem services in risk management and prevention policy. Forests play a vital role in the context of risk management.

More than third of the Alps are forested. When forests are present, technical measures for risk reduction are often less intensive and less expensive. Maintaining the protective function is key for development of an effective strategy for preserving the safety and quality of living in the Alps.  The biggest risk threatening the livability in the Alpine space is rockfall.

Some of the foundations for such a methodology have already been established over the past two decades, but they are not standardized for all countries and do not consider all the specific characteristics of the Alpine space. That's why all of Alpine countries have joined the project: France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. The French lead this 3-year project and there are 15 participating partners.

The main objective of this project is to prepare the first harmonized rockfall risk and protection forest map for the Alpine space. The main outputs in this project include:

• The first harmonized regional model for determining the risk of rockfall
• A unified mapping system of high-risk areas
• A reference report to support local authorities for policy implementation

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) and UNESCO have recently concluded a project which combined environmental protection with livelihood support for local communities, in the Danxia World Heritage site in Chishui, China.

Danxia World Heritage site has strict restrictions in place to preserve its natural environment and protect its resources. These restrictions, while important for environmental protection, have restricted local communities’ livelihood options, which traditionally included construction work, hunting and logging.

In 2018, UNESCO and INBAR worked together with Chishui Natural World Heritage Management Bureau to redress this imbalance. As a fast-growing, versatile resource and traditional part of culture and livelihoods, bamboo was chosen as a nature-based solution to bridge the gap.

The project promoted bamboo weaving, an integral part of Chishui’s cultural heritage. Training workshops helped teach local villagers new skills, to create high-value artisanal bamboo products. In addition, the project developed a ‘community-centred’ value chain, which identifies and nurtures community leaders to encourage more people to take up the practice. As part of the project, community leaders were invited to participate in activities such as the Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress, to communicate the importance of cultural heritage transmission. And in the long term, this community-centred value chain could also serve to help attract migrant workers to return home – a phenomenon which is already being seen in some bamboo-growing parts of Chishui.

For more information about INBAR’s work in Chishui, read on here.

GRIP on LIFE is an Integrated Project with funding from the EU LIFE Environment sub-programme. GRIP aims at improving the environment and the conditions for plants and animals living in wetlands and streams in the forest landscape. A central issue is to raise capacity concerning Natura 2000 and the implementation of measures according to the Swedish Prioritized Action Framework.

Natura 2000 is not a system of strict nature reserves from which all human activities would be excluded. It includes nature reserves to a certain extent, however most of the land remains privately owned. The approach to conservation and sustainable use of the Natura 2000 areas is wider, largely centered on people working with nature rather than against it. Therefore, an important part in GRIP is to strengthen and develop methods and models for managing sites and their surroundings in a sustainable manner, both ecologically and economically. A key to successful implementation is improved co-operation between authorities, forest owners’ associations, forest companies and other stakeholders. Within GRIP we test different ways of working together to become more effective and to use our resources efficiently. For example, to ensure better long term results for conservation it is necessary to ensure good consultation and local engagement.

With complementary funding, physical restoration will be carried out in streams and wetlands. Methods and models will be disseminated and developed beyond the areas of focus in GRIP to new regions, including new habitat types and involving other sectors than forestry.

Please visit our website to learn more about GRIP on LIFE IP: www.griponlife.se

The issue of invasive woody species is not well studied in Georgia, which means that no field identification has been conducted (only expertise opinions). There is no detailed description of exact locations (areas), bio-ecological condition and distribution character, status and range of invasiveness of invasive woody species in Georgia. Moreover, natural forest habitat types with high risk of the distribution of invasive woody species are not yet identified and accordingly there are no potential distribution models and strategy of their control and management.

Considering the above mentioned, within the framework of this project we determined to identify of potential invasive alien woody species (PIAWS) in Protected areas of Georgia, study their bio-ecological characteristics and distribution. Based on the acquired data define their status and potential range of invasiveness under climate change.

This type of research will be implemented for the first time in Georgia, therefore this fact can be considered as novelty of the research.

The project is done by research team from Vasil Gulisashvili Forest Institute of Agricultural University of Georgia, among them three young scientists, with collaboration of high-level foreign experts will be involved in the project, Dr. Jan Pergl (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Botany) and Dr. Petr Vahalík (Mendel University in Brno). The project is supported by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG). [ FR-18-3569 ]

2019 is a very special year for PEFC, as it marks the organization’s 20th anniversary!

It was back in 1999, when European small-forest owners came together to create an international forest certification system that had their needs at heart. On 30 June 1999, PEFC was born.

By providing family and community forest owners, who own 25% of the world’s forests, with the opportunity to gain certification, PEFC led a great leap forward for sustainable forest management. Until today, PEFC continues to work hard to ensure forest certification stays accessible and relevant to forest owners worldwide.

Over 18 months, PEFC will be celebrating the achievements from 20 years of caring for forests globally and locally. Through a series of chapters, PEFC will tell its story, from the early ideas until today, and share early publications and photos from the first years. Voices of the past and present will speak about highlights from the last 20 years, key events that have shaped the organization, and the future of PEFC.

There will be many opportunities to get involved. In April, it is time again to get cameras and phones ready, as PEFC will be looking for the 2019 Photographer of the Year. For a second contest running throughout the year, make sure to take a picture of the PEFC label and share it online with the hashtag #myPEFCmoment.

The hashtag #20yearsofcaring provides a collection of activities of PEFC members around the world.

[More information]

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) and Tsinghua University, China, have published the first remote sensing assessment of Madagascar’s bamboo resources.

Madagascar is a very biodiverse bamboo country, and the grass plant already forms an important part of Malagasy livelihoods and culture. Bamboo is also critical to the country’s biodiversity: the bamboo lemur and the ploughshare tortoise are two of the critically endangered domestic species which rely on bamboo for food and shelter.

Although Madagascar’s forests are often considered a global conservation priority,  there was previously almost no accurate information available on the country’s bamboo forest distribution. The INBAR-Tsinghua team travelled throughout eastern and northern Madagascar, collecting 1318 bamboo samples and several other land cover samples. They also used modern GIS technology to provide satellite images of Madagascar’s forest cover. Together, these assessments enabled INBAR and Tsinghua to create detailed maps showing the location of bamboo across the country. Overall, the team found over 1100 km² of bamboo forest cover in Madagascar.

The report is part of INBAR’s Global Assessment of Bamboo and Rattan for green development (GABAR): a worldwide initiative to create policy-relevant information and materials, to support the use of bamboo and rattan in sustainable development. From 2017 to 2018, GABAR mapped bamboo forest coverage in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda and Vietnam, as well as 13 provinces in China; in 2019, further assessments are expected from Cameroon and Ghana.

For more information about the assessment, read here.

Sustainable forest management is great for the environment and the people living and working in forests. But who are those people and how do forests, timber and sustainable management affect their lives?

The UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development will see the launch of PEFC’s new project: Humans of the Forests. In the video series, people around the globe who are in touch with timber and forests in their daily lives share their stories and what forests mean to them.

The first videos take the viewers to the Italian village Campi di Norcia, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 2016, and to the forest that will give it new life.

Anna, who manages a PEFC-certified forest in Northern Italy, introduces the viewers into the daily work of a forest manager and tells them about women in forestry. Roberto, who lost his home in the earthquake, is determined to rebuild Campi di Norcia with PEFC-certified wood.

After the devastating earthquake, Anna donated the timber from her forest for the reconstruction of Campi di Norcia. Destroyed itself a hundred years earlier during World War I, her forest shall help to revive the devastated community.

Looking beyond certification, the stories highlight the impact sustainably managed forests can have for people and communities.

Look out for more instalments on different social media platforms in the next months and meet the Humans of the Forests!

Official launch: UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
When: 21 March – the International Day of Forests
Where: International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG)

[Meet the Humans of the Forests]

Ibá launched an explanatory video on climate change in which presents how the planted forests sector plays a fundamental role in minimizing the effects of this scenario and how it helps to establish a low carbon economy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfZdKxxurjg&t=7s

It is a very dynamic multi-language platform in which users can stay up-to-date about contents, events and job offers that are related to forest fire topics. The user is able to generate debates, to share quality information, to find documents in an organised way, to find expert people and even to ask professional opinion about the integration of forest fire risk in the European landscape.

LoF Contents & Topics

The contents of Lessons on Fire are organised in communities. Currently there are a total of 39 communities. The topics of the communities go from very specific wildfire related topics, to very transversal topics across forest disciplines. For instance; on ecosystem services, sustainable forest management or ecological modelling.

Moreover, to make things easier for users: the contents of LoF is connected to Riskplatform, an online platform that is manage by the European Forest Risk Facility collecting study cases on several forest risks.

 LoF Functionalities

LoF has eight different functionalities to make your network and knowledge experience much comfortable and enriching. Particularly we have launched recently four new features thanks to Net Risk Work. A project co-funded by the European Civil Protection Mechanism that aimed at creating networking opportunities across different forest risks. 

Data LoF has already reached a directory of 350+ profiles and 720+ documents.

Links: Lessons On Fire: https://lessonsonfire.eu/ Net Risk Work: http://netriskwork.ctfc.cat/

The Chilean forest sector has a proven track record of combating the historic soil degradation and widespread deforestation problems of the country, due in part to its industrial planted forest model. Today, three private companies own over half of the country's planted forests, resulting in an industry concentration that clearly differs from the path followed by other neighbouring countries which are equally dependant on planted forests including exotic species, such as the state policy of Uruguay. These differing policies on forest recovery lead to different consequences for tribal and landowner disputes, and for the harmonisation of planted and natural forests.

[full article]

Through dedicated Focus Groups, the European Innovation Partnership on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) is focusing its attention on good practices and tools that can support the European forest sector.

The report of the EIP-AGRI Focus Group on “Forest practices and Climate Change” is the latest available outcome. Twenty experts, including foresters, advisers, researchers and business representatives collaborated during a period of one year, to take stock of opportunities and best practices. The group also suggested ideas for further research and for potential innovative projects, such as EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, to catalyse climate innovation in forestry.

The global challenges posed by climate change show strong regional differences. Strategies to fight and adapt to climate change must fit the region-specific climate change effects expected, and local circumstances. The Focus Group presented some suggestions for the future of our forests, including:

• Improving forest management at stand level, with special attention to small-scale forests.
• Scaling up strategies through integrated landscape management and by implementing early warning and innovative risk management strategies.
• Enhancing knowledge exchange and awareness beyond the forest community, using effective communication methods and bringing together views from science, policy and practice.

Some cross-cutting issues, already spotted by previous EIP-AGRI Focus Groups on “Sustainable mobilisation of forest biomass” and “Agroforestry”, were highlighted again. This includes prioritising forest fire prevention (e.g. silvopastoralism), giving a key role to economic incentives to foster the right practices, and considering the big potential of new value chains (e.g. new products and uses of wood and biomass). www.eip-agri.eu

Starting in September 2019, a new MSc program with the study direction Forestry will be taught in English at Ilia State University in Tbilisi (leading research institution of the region, according to SCImago ranking). The study program has a strong management focus with a large proportion of field teaching to enable graduates applying their new knowledge in forestry. Read the full description of the program here.

What skills do you need to accomplish complex tasks of nature conservation? Ability to analyse and solve problems? Understand biodiversity conservation……?

Now it is possible to learn and acquire your Master of Science Program without interruption from your current employment. The Carinthian University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with E. C. O. Institute of Ecology offers an International postgraduate Master of Science Program in English.

Whether you are manager who want to enhance skills or employee, student who want to become managers of conservation areas, national parks, biosphere reserves or world heritage sites, this program is specially tailored for you.

The duration of the University program is 4 terms (2 years) and 19 courses. All courses requiring your presence are conducted in eight blocks (in total days of presence 64 days). It allows to combine the training without interruption of your employment. Substantial components of the program are provided by e-learning. Courses requiring your presence will be held in different venues: seminar facilities of different parks and conservation areas in central Europe.

Interested to learn more? Please follow the link or contact Program Director, Susanne Glatz at [email protected]

Do not miss the deadline! Submission of application is not later than June 30th, 2019.

Deadline for applications: June 30^th, 2019. Start of study: September 30^th 2019. Period of study: 4 terms (2 years), 120 ECTS.  Venue: Carinthia, Austria.

Ecosystem services are the benefits that we obtain from nature such us water, carbon, biodiversity, soil, and recreational services. They provide society with a wide range of benefits from reliable flows of clean water to productive soil and carbon sequestration.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forest managers already preserve ecosystem services and bear the associated costs. Nevertheless, as rates of deforestation increases globally, FSC developed in 2018 a new procedure (FSC-PRO-30-006) that offers additional economic support by providing forest landowners, smallholders and communities with tools to verify and derive value from their positive impacts on ecosystem services. Latin America Regional Office (LARO) has been leading and supporting different activities to raise awareness about ecosystem services preservation and this new procedure among  stakeholders across the region, focusing on how these tools will provide timely, audited and verified information about the impact of its investments.

For this purpose, on February 25th, FSC participated in "Opportunities for private investment in landscape restoration workshop" in Buenos Aires, an event organized by the National Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina with the collaboration of World Resources Institute (WRI). Then, on March 22nd FSC will lead a business round table with the Social and Environmental Management Foundation (La Fundación Gestión Social y Ambiental) and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Risaralda (CARDER), to promote private investment in ecosystem services in Colombia. For more information about ecosystem services click here.

Since November 2010 the Finnish Forest Centre has been developing a platform for the distribution of forest data on private forests, in order to support the decision-making of forest owners and to create an electronic service for forest owners and forestry operators. Development of the eServices continues, and the number of users utilizing Metsaan.fi eService and the Open Data Transfer Interface Service, built for downloading forest data, is growing.

Meeting place for forest owners and forest operators

The main purpose for developing eServices for forest owners and operators was to create a tool that can be used to create a holistic view on forest property, including forest management, logging and valuable nature sites. The aim of the Metsaan.fi service was to provide forest management information collected by the Finnish Forest Centre widely to forest owners and foresters, to digitize private forest management (forest use notifications, state aids) and to create a meeting place for the forest industry, forest operators and forest owners. An important target of the Metsaan.fi eService was to have a modern internet-based tool that can be used for guiding and advising the forest owners. Read the full article here. 

Further information: 

• Metsään.fi eService for Forest Owners and Service providers
• Collecting Forest Resources Data from Privately Owned Forests in Finland
• An Operational Level Forest Inventory in Finland
• Broschure for forest owners

Finland has updated her National Forest Strategy up to 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry points out, that the strategy update was guided by the need to take greater account of the sustainability of forest management and use from the economic, ecological, social and cultural point of view. involving extensive stakeholder cooperation.

The Strategy was first approved in 2015. The vision and three strategic objectives comprise of the following:

• Finland is a competitive operating environment for forest-based business
• Forest-based business and activities and their structures are renewed and diversified
• Forests are in active, economically, ecologically and socially sustainable, and diverse use

The updated strategy puts more emphasis on the measures needed for climate-change mitigation and adaptation, whilst at the same time safeguarding forest biodiversity. New projects added to the strategy include climate-proof forestry, international forest policy / EU policy and lobbying, as well as wood-based products. The strategy’s cross-cutting projects include “Forest knowledge and the platform economy” and “Forestry sector interaction and communication”.

The target for annual forest growth up to 2025 is 110 million cubic meters for commercial forests and 115 million cubic meters for all of Finland’s forests. The growth target supports climate objectives and creates opportunities for the use of wood resources. The annual timber harvesting target of 80 million cubic meters is maintained in the strategy. Finland’s forest carbon sink target is set to at least on the level of EU 2030 LULUCF benchmark for climate and energy policy.

The Forest Products Annual Market Review 2017-2018 provides a comprehensive analysis of markets in the UNECE region and reports on the main market influences outside the UNECE region. It covers the range of products from the forest to the end-user: from roundwood and primary processed products to value-added and housing. Statistics-based chapters analyse the markets for wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels, paper, paperboard and woodpulp.

Other chapters analyse policies and markets for wood energy. Underlying the analysis is a comprehensive collection of data. The Review highlights the role of sustainable forest products in international markets. Policies concerning forests and forest products are discussed, as well as the main drivers and trends. The Review also analyses the effects of the current economic situation on forest products markets. Read more...

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 undertaken so far provided extensive information on their state and functions in general, there is little information about their owners and managers.

To address this gap and to learn more about forest ownership, how it is changing, and the implications for management and policy, the UNECE and FAO, in cooperation with the COST Action FACESMAP as well as with support of the European forest owners’ organizations developed a study on the “State of Forest Ownership in the UNECE Region”, based on a survey of national data and expert opinion.

Although over 80 percent of the UNECE region’s forests are publicly owned, the region is characterized by the most diverse ownership structures in the world. However, apart from Canada and the Russian Federation which share almost two thirds of the UNECE region’s forests, in the remaining part of the region the shares of public and private forests are almost equal. Within the two broadest categories of ownership, public and private, forests are owned and managed through a variety of tenure and institutional arrangements. Pan-European region adds to this complex picture even more than the others.

[press release] [extract of the publication] [inter-active database] [ownership website]

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 quality are largely underestimated. The joint UNECE and FAO study “Forests and Water – Valuation and payments for forest ecosystem services” showcases how payments for ecosystem services schemes can be applied to forests, in particular focusing on forest’s hydrological functions for the mutual benefit of both humans and the environment.

In addition, this study contains the most comprehensive database of case studies currently available on water-related payment for forest ecosystem service schemes in the UNECE region. Overall 259 schemes were identified in 23 UNECE member States, most of them located in the European Union and North America.

[UNECE press release] [FAO press release] [publication] [ecosystem services website]

ECE/TIM/DP/71, the study Green Jobs in the Forest Sector provides an overview of existing Green Forest Jobs and identifies possible areas for future activities and jobs in the forest sector, and may serve as starting point for further analysis and discussion on the future of Green Forest Jobs. It offers a framework for classifying Green Forest Jobs under seven thematic work areas, outlined in the seven main sections of the study, with a particular focus on major trends, needs and challenges as well as opportunities and prospects for the forest sector. The findings suggest that to promote Green Jobs in the forest sector it is key to: (i) look at forest ecosystem services management as the frame for Green Forest Jobs; (ii) recognize the progress made in the development of Green Forest Jobs and to identify avenues for the future; (iii) enhance the public perception of jobs in the forest sector; (iv) revise existing curricula and develop new ones for catering to the needs of the sector to close the skills gaps; and (v) to facilitate an inclusive transition to green economy through training and support.
Read more..

Designed as a sister product to the 2018 State of Canada’s Forests report, the 2018–2019 Forest Fact Book provides quick access to key forest industry facts and figures in a format that is concise and easy to read. As well as presenting an overview of Canada’s national forestry picture, the report also highlights regional economic trends and presents statistics about Canada’s main forestry products. This year, the report also provides more information on bioenergy and bioproducts, including regional breakdowns. 

View the 2018—2019 Forest Fact Book online at https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/fact-book/21682, or download a copy at http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=39505.

The 2018 State of Canada’s Forests report provides a comprehensive annual picture of Canada’s sustainable forestry, oriented around six key questions. The report provides national statistical data and trend information for 19 sustainability indicators, ranging from forest area and volume harvested, to forest fires, carbon emissions and removals, and exports. It also provides a provincial breakdown of statistics for disturbance, forest management, and economic indicators.

The theme of the 2018 State of Canada’s Forests report is “the faces of forestry,” and articles in the report focus on the stories of people within Canada’s forest sector. Readers are introduced to leaders in Canada’s forest bioeconomy, a First Nation community forging strategic Indigenous‑industry forestry partnerships, and forest-based educational programs aimed at children and youth in Canada.

View the 2018 State of Canada’s Forests report online at https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/report/16496, or download a copy at http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=39336.

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is not just any tree. It is arguably one of the most controversial tree species in Europe. This controversy is mostly due to its success on this side of the Atlantic; it is the second most common non-native tree species in Europe and thus creates a lot of conflict potential. The debate has become somewhat polarised around the presumed invasiveness in sensitive natural areas on the one hand, and the production of high-quality wood on the other hand.

This issue of What science can tell us provides science-based support for decision-making by synthesizing relevant research results on various aspects of growing non-native tree species in Europe using Douglas-fir as an example.

Many foresters see Douglas-fir as the perfect replacement for Norway spruce which has been suffering from drought stress and bark beetle outbreaks in recent years. The tree grows fast and produces excellent timber, while remaining rather inconspicuous in its central European surroundings, resembling Norway spruce or Silver fir.

This publication by the European Forest Institute is based upon work from COST Action FP1403 NNEXT, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).https://resilience-blog.com/2019/01/17/douglas-fir-a-controversial-species-or-an-option-for-europe/

In the context of forest and landscape management, the use of introduced tree species is an important and controversial topic. The publication Introduced tree species into European forests: Opportunities and Challenges is a compilation of scientific knowledge and practical experience on the topic and includes contributions by 89 authors from 18 countries.

Introduced species have the potential to seriously threaten biodiversity and/or disrupt natural ecosystems, and cause high costs. For example, introduced biological agents that cause tree diseases are a co-factor that determines whether an introduced species becomes invasive or not. In addition, the frequency and extent of disturbances in Europe can amplify the effects.

However, economic, social and cultural aspects need to be considered as well. In some regions of Europe, some industries depend on the forest sector and certain productive native species, such as spruce and Scots pine. These can be particularly affected by climate change and thus the need for alternative species, such as the Douglas-fir. Introduced tree species are an opportunity for wood production and can be alternatives for a changing species composition in forests under the influence of climate change. https://efi.int/intree

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has collaborated with the Swedish Bioenergy Association (Svebio), with support from the Swedish Energy Agency, to produce a study of sustainable bioenergy potential from boreal forests.  Read the full study at: https://www.irena.org/publications/2019/Mar/Bioenergy-from-boreal-forests-Swedish-approach-to-sustainable-wood-use

Due to sustainable management practices in Sweden and other countries, the volume of wood in boreal forests is growing, and so is the amount that can be extracted for energy and other uses. The study reviews sustainable forestry practices and supply chains in Sweden, identifies key success factors for sustainable forestry in Sweden and elsewhere, and estimates the potential for sustainable expansion of forests and forest-based bioenergy in different extraction scenarios. It is organised into chapters as follows:

Chapter 1: Bioenergy in Sweden as an anchor of security and sustainability

Chapter 2: Swedish wood supply chains and technology

Chapter 3: Sustainability in managed productive forests

Chapter 4: Carbon balances in a managed forest system

Chapter 5: Enhancing bioenergy supply and carbon uptake from Swedish forests

Chapter 6: European potential for forest biomass production and carbon uptake

Chapter 7: Boreal forest biomass potential in Canada and Russia

Chapter 8: Global forest resources and carbon balances

This paper presents green economy related definitions and concepts, and internationally developed assessment methods, notably natural capital accounting approaches, and in this way explore aligning forest sector approaches to those being used in wider contexts. It also proposes preliminary suggestions on how the forest sector’s contribution to a green economy could be measured. Read more...

As global consumer trends and demands continue to shift at an escalating pace, a new Forest2Market report shows that both structural and temporal market shifts in recent decades have impacted the markets for wood fiber residuals. The report, Changes in the Residual Wood Fiber Market 2004 to 2017, analyzes data from the US Forest Service, Forest2Market’s proprietary database of timber transactions and other scientific research to understand the relationship between the supply and demand of wood residual materials in the US South and the Pacific Northwest.

The study found that the underlying market forces that most impacted the residual market in these two regions are:

• The structural decline in printing and writing papers and other end products derived from hardwood fiber. The hardwood pulp and lumber markets have been in a state of decline for years as consumer preferences are moving away from products made from hardwood fiber.
• Buoyant demand for softwood fiber driven by strong pulp markets and bioenergy in the form of pellets.
• Renewed softwood lumber demand and announced capacity in the US South present challenges, though more for landowners than producers of residuals.
• Fiber constraints in the PNW that have hindered growth and led to stagnant, but stable markets. The market for all products in the PNW is structurally static, as the region’s limited timber availability gates the size of the market.

To read further details from the report or to download a full version, click here.

The theme of the 2019 International Day of Forests is "Forest and Education". This theme will be one of the five key topics to be discussed at a scientific symposium on 21-23 March as part of the 2019 World Wood Day celebrations in Stübing, Austria. The symposium “CHANGE – from tradition to innovation” is jointly organized by IAWA, IAWS and IUFRO. Sandra Rodríguez-Pineros from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Mexico, and Coordinator of the Joint IUFRO-IFSA Task Force on Forest Education, will deliver a keynote speech on “Education – an essential tool for forest sustainability and wood utilization”. Other symposium topics are proper tree species identification and illegal timber use, wooden buildings, wood-based musical instruments, and non-wood products.

World Wood Day is an annual event to celebrate the importance of wood, demonstrate the beauty of wood, and share the knowledge about wood. This year’s celebrations will take place under the motto “CHANGE”. A variety of programs such as woodcraft activities, folk art workshops and events for children will be organized for the public with free admission.

The 2019 WWD event in Austria is jointly organized by the World Wood Day Foundation (WWDF) and the International Wood Culture Society (IWCS). The event will bring more than 500 participants from over 90 countries and regions from around the world to the Austrian Open Air Stübing and Graz.

[WWD Symposium] [WWD] [Joint IUFRO-IFSA TF] [https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-5/50000/51500/IUFRO Forest Products Culture] 

The Montréal Wood Convention 2019 will take place March 19-22 at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montréal, Canada. The 2018 edition brought together nearly 1,000 participants from March 20 to 22 and more than 110 exhibitors. In addition to Canadians from 7 provinces and Americans from 26 states, the Convention welcomed visitors from Mexico, France, China, Japan, Germany, Austria, Hong Kong, Jordan and Senegal.

“The Convention is really the trade event to be where all North-American wood manufacturers and buyers can meet in the same place at the same time. Participants can attend industry seminars on economy and wood markets, visit the exhibit hall, hear a keynote speaker and network”, says the manager of the event, Sven Gustavsson, from the Quebec Wood Export Bureau, one of the four organizing industry associations. For more information: wwwmontrealwoodconvetion.com.

Conference registration is now live. If you would like to register, click “register now” to be redirected to our vendor site, the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel.

The registration website also lists additional information about the conference.

[meeting website]

Our April ThinkForest event focuses on how to respond to forest disturbances in Europe, and aims at providing a better understanding of forest disturbances and the role climate change plays in their increase. It connects science to policy, looking at the ecological, economic and social impacts of disturbances, as well as risk prevention and forest management.

The seminar has two parts: in the morning we will hear such speakers as Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany and Prof. Rupert Seidl, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria. Prof. Tomáš Hlásny, Czech University of Life Sciences will present a new EFI study on Bark beetle outbreaks and responses.

In the afternoon, there will be a session on managing and preventing disturbances with views on the past, present and future.

Note that there will be interpretation from English to Czech. The event is free of charge and registration in open until 28 March 2019.

More information: https://www.efi.int/policysupport/thinkforest/disturbances

This event is organized in cooperation with the ThinkForest forum and Forest Europe – Ministerial Conference on Protection of Forests in Europe.

23 – 24 May 2019, Helsinki

We are pleased to announce that the ERA-NET Cofund “ForestValue – Innovating forest-based bioeconomy” will hold the ForestValue Research Programme Kick-Off Seminar in Helsinki, Finland on 23-24 May 2019.

This public kick-off seminar of the ForestValue Joint Transnational Call 2017 (17 international RDI projects selected) will bring together researchers and stakeholders from industry, academia and policy-making organisations in the forest-based sector. The call was launched in 2017 with support from the European Commission through the H2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The aim of the seminar will be to learn about the objectives of the selected projects, to facilitate information exchange and networking between the projects and their stakeholders, and to gain feedback and ideas for the further development of the ForestValue Research Programme.

Please mark your calendar for 23-24 May 2019.

The venue will be confirmed later. Stay tuned!

ERA-NET Cofund ForestValue, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, Ministry of the Environment, Academy of Finland and Business Finland as event organizers and hosts look forward to welcoming you in Finland.

EFI 2019 Scientific Seminar - 19 September in Aberdeen, UK

Mark your calendar! Come to discuss planted forest evolution in the UK and more globally. It will be a great opportunity to understand how planted forests can contribute to answer to the increasing wood demand induced by bioeconomy emergence, the challenge they face and their capacity to deliver multiple ecosystem services with native or non-natives species.

Registration will open in May.  Further info: https://www.efi.int/membership/ac/2019

Conference “Wood – Science – Economy”, 21-22 October 2019, Poznan, Poland, is the third international scientific conference organized by the Wood Technology Institute in cooperation with the State Forests National Forest Holding.

Both in Poland and abroad scientific conferences have so far been organized separately by the scientists in the field of forestry and those in the field of wood industry. However, the issues regarding forestry and wood management are so complex that they require multidisciplinary approach and new, innovative technological and organizational solutions. In the modern world fast exchange of the latest knowledge from the perspective of the entire wood chain is necessary.

The conference goal is to present the latest research findings in wood science, forestry and in the related fields, with particular emphasis placed on research with great implementation potential. The exchange of knowledge and experience in the contemporary challenges of wood-based industries among international specialists is the key to indicate research direction with the greatest potential for implementation and will contribute to increasing the competitiveness of the forest-based sector in the international area.
The conference is addressed to the representatives of science and economic practice in the field of forestry, wood industry, and neighbouring fields.  More information: https://www.wood-science-economy.pl/