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UNECE/FAO Policy Forum “Opportunities and impacts of bio-energy policies and targets on the forest and other sectors
The Policy Forum will take place during
the 65th session of the UNECE Timber
Committee. This event will build on open
questions and recommendations from the
“Wood Mobilization Workshop” held
in January 2007 in Geneva, and other
related conferences convened by FAO
and ITTO.
Concerns about climate change
and energy security have led policy and
decision makers to expect wood to make a
signifi cant contribution to energy supply,
and to introduce policies to promote
this. Relevant policies along with rising
energy prices have increased the demand
for wood for energy. At the same time,
Europe’s wood processing industries
(sawnwood, paper, panels) continue
to expand, resulting in increasing
competition for raw material.
UNECE/FAO statistics show that
the volume of wood that is harvested from
forests throughout the UNECE region at
present is less than the volume increase.
The challenge is how to bring enough
wood to the market without compromising
the sustainable management of the forest
and without undesirable impacts on other
sectors and geographical regions. Another
challenge is to defi ne what is a sustainable
level in the new circumstances.
The Policy Forum will focus on
the availability of wood resources in
the region and how to mobilize them. In
addition, the event will also discuss the
impacts and consequences of increased
wood utilization on and by other sectors
and geographical regions.
For the first time the UNECE Timber
Committee (TC) will meet together with
the International Softwood Conference
(ISC) and hold joint market discussions.
This year’s discussions should be richer for
participants as each group brings a wealth of
information from their perspective.
The one and half day’s discussions
will have two themes: (a) Softwood
market developments to meet the ISC’s
main interests; (2) Wood energy and
mobilization (linked with the Policy
Forum (see article.
The Market Discussions will have the
traditional basis: Forest Products Annual
Market Review, 2006-2007; countrysupplied
market forecasts for 2007-2008;
and country market statements.