STAKEHOLDER GLOBAL
STAKEHOLDER GLOBAL CHALLENGES NEED A STRONG FOREST BIOECONOMY The shift to a bioeconomy is of central change ambitions of the Paris Agreement as well as reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. Forests cover more than 40 percent the bioeconomy with renewable raw materials and other ecosystem services. In order to allow the forestry sector to fully employment, research and development, climate change and energy, education and social inclusion, the renewed EU Bioeconomy Strategy should: IMPROVE POLICY COHERENCE To deploy investments, the market must have a clear political direction. A long-term vision and commitment to developing the European bioeconomy are needed, including ambitious goals to be set and actions to be monitored over time. RECOGNIZE THE TRIPLE CLIMATE BENEFITS FORESTS PROVIDE Sustainably managed forests and wood use deliver a triple carbon effect in mitigating climate change through: (1) emissions removal, (2) carbon storage, and (3) carbon displacement, if wood is used to substitute for non-renewable and energy intensive materials. VALUE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS In order to allow for adequate conditions and the elaboration of best practices in forestry, the development of and research into silvicultural techniques need to be strengthened and technological developments and digitalization need to be supported. SUPPORT NEW MARKETS Policy should promote innovative pathways and new market opportunities for the use of wood. For example, improved product design rules could provide better opportunities for the recycling and reuse of forest materials. AVOID RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF BIOMASS Restrictions on biomass use could result in sub-optimal value cycles, limit innovation and penalize certain areas or industries over others. ENCOMPASS THE ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT DIMENSION Enhancing the market value of sustainable products can be achieved by promoting the sustainable management of forest ecosystems and the supply of raw materials. The ecosystem services and non-wood products which forestry provides to society should be better recognized and more fully valued. IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF FORESTRY In developing the bioeconomy, the mobilization of woody biomass needs to be encouraged following the principles of Sustainable Forest Management. To that end, technological development, workforce education and the enhancement of silvicultural practices should be incentivized. FOSTER AWARENESS AND PROMOTE COOPERATION In moving towards a bioeconomy, full advantage must be taken of the synergies created by using wood and improving land management, by raising consumer awareness about the full bio-based value cycles and by promoting cooperation among experts and stakeholders. Read more about how the European state forests boost the bioeconomy at: www.eustafor.eu/boostbioeconomy/ EUSTAFOR, the European State Forest Association, gathers together 33 State Forest Management Organizations from across Europe, which are often the largest forest managers and biomass suppliers in their Member States. State Forest Management Organizations provide biomass to a multitude of forest-based value cycles and, thanks to their scale, stability, reliability and openness to cooperation, they can catalyze the development of the bioeconomy. www.eustafor.eu
BIOECONOMY IS A WIN/WIN STRATEGY FOR FINLAND "The big problem in the world today is a lack of resources and a lack of bio-diversity," says Finnish environment minister Kimmo Tiilikainen. His country plans to produce what the world needs the most. By Lisbeth Kirk BUSINESS IN EUROPE MAGAZINE 2018
