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EUROPEAN WOOD POLICY PLATFORM (WOODPOP)

WoodPoP is an innovative policy dialogue platform which brings together all relevant actors to advance the sustainable use of wood. It develops wood-related policy solutions, measures and recommendations to strengthen wood-based circular bioeconomy.

What We Do

woodPoP provides a dedicated forum for multilateral policy, knowledge and experience exchange between public and private actors from the wood sector for developing policy solutions at national and regional levels.

It focuses on developing frameworks for sustainable wood-based value chains and their contribution to an innovative circular bioeconomy.

develops wood-related policy solutions, measures and recommendations and shapes the frameworks for sustainable wood-based value chains.

amplifies the visibility of wood as key driver for inclusive green growth.

creates joint understanding and actions on efficient, future-oriented wood-based pathways.

scales up cooperation and joint activities on effective wood policy development and implementation in the pan-European region.

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participating pan-European countries

Structure and activities

The European Wood Policy Platform (woodPoP), currently reunites 100 governmental representatives from 27 Pan-European countries as well as around 150 different experts from stakeholder organisations, research and industry.

High Level Meeting (HLM)

High Level Meeting (HLM) is the main decision-making body.

It is attended by delegations from Pan- European ministries led by high-level government officials (for instance Ministers, Secretaries of State, Director Generals, Directors) as well as regional and stakeholder organisations and observers.

Expert Group Meeting (EGM)

The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) is the main forum for exchange on an operational level.

National and regional ministries and private sector, representatives from stakeholder, research, as well as regional organizations and networks participate in the meeting.

Technical Working Groups (TWG)

Technical Working Groups (TWG) develop recommendations and policy solutions on specific subject matters. (see below)

Participation is open to representatives from public and private sector, interest groups, research organizations and networks, government officials and invited experts.

Informal Steering Group (ISG)

The Informal Steering Group (ISG) is composed of representatives of interested governments at working level for an initial duration of three years. Co-Leads of the Technical Working Groups and their mandated organisations are Members.

The current Members are: Austria, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Norway, Lithuania and Estonia. Other countries can express their interest to join the ISG and are invited to do so.

Secretariat

The woodPoP Secretariat runs the operational work on a day-to-day basis. It supports organization of meetings and serves as contact point for interested participants and the public sector.

Since December 2023, the Secretariat is hosted in International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).

Focus Areas

Technical Working Groups (TWG) develop joint activities, recommendations and policy solutions on specific matters.

Participation is open to representatives from public and private sector, interest groups, research organizations and networks, government officials and invited experts.

Technical Co-Leads

Georg Rappold, Head of Department for Wood Policy, Bioeconomy and Innovation,Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management of Austria

Lisa Lehner, Policy officer, Department for Wood Policy, Bioeconomy and Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management of Austria

Governance

Wood policy formulation and implementation, wood – related policies

WoodPoP Policy Paper. A Wood-based circular bioeconomy for a sustainabl Europe. Green construction and innovative wood solutions. (under development)
Wood Policy Lab ‚Developing key messages for policy-makers for Designing and Implementing National Wood Policy Programmes‘, 3-5 July 2024 Traunkirchen (learn more)
Update of the Study on Wood Policy in Europe (forthcoming)
Special meeting on Wood Governance in Europe and beyond on 29 November 2023 (learn more)

Technical Lead

Martin Behrens, EU and International Affairs, Agency for Renewable Resources, Germany

Building

Use of wood in construction and green public procurement

Dedicated Subgroup on public procurement - Study on national public procurement intiatives, tools and actions
1 March 2024 - Meeting on Carbon Accounting and Storage in and on Timber Buildings
23 May 2024 - Meeting on Health & Wellbeing and Timber Buildings.
Workshop on fire regulation in wooden building on 3 December 2023 (read the technical brief)

Technical Lead

Alfred Kammerhofer, Section Forest and Timber, Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Switzerland

with support from S-WIN (Thomas Näher) and Homo Silvestris Europae (Andreas Nikolas Kleinschmit v. Lengenfeld)

Innovation and Research

Research initiatives

Workshop on Financing for Wood Innovation, 19 - 20 September 2024, Zurich, Switzerland (register here)
Innovation mapping survey (ongoing - reply here)
Questionaire on national research initiatives

Technical Co-Leads

Sarko Sajko, Wood Industry Directorate, Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport

Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE, Slovenia

Education and Vocational Training

Qualifications along the wood-based value chain

Prologue at the International Wood Construction Forum, Perspectives from the New European Bauhaus Academy on upskilling and reskilling the wood construction sector, 4 December 2024 (learn more)
New European Bauhaus (NEB) Academy and NEBA Alliance, meeting on 17 April 2024,
Development of micro-credentials, meeting on 7 February 2024
Country survey on educational program, focus interdisciplinary training and attractiveness