European Wood Policy Platform defines framework conditions for a sustainable timber industry
On November 6, 2024, WoodPoP high-level representatives adopted the policy paper entitled “A Wood-Based Circular Bioeconomy For A Sustainable Europe”. The policy paper provides a solid foundation for political decision-makers. It contains a joint commitment to an economically valuable, ecologically sensitive and socially responsible timber industry, which is a crucial piece in the mosaic for achieving climate targets.
WoodPoP is a country-driven initiative which reunites all relevant public and private stakeholders along wood-based value chain, bringing together politicians and administrators as well as scientists and researchers around the same table. Its aim is to develop a common understanding of sustainable wood policy in Europe. The economic, ecological and social benefits of a sustainable timber industry for people in Europe are evident on many levels.
In Austria alone, the sector generates a gross value added of over 20 billion euros and creates over 300,000 jobs, especially in rural areas. In Europe (EU, UK and Norway), the wood-based generates a direct gross value added of 527 billion euros / year. That is 3.3 percent of the direct share of the total economic output. The total added value (direct, indirect and induced) amounts to a total of 1,114 billion euros per year. That is 7.1% of the total European economic output. Wood offers ecological and climate-friendly solutions for a sustainable present and future.
Source: Econmove, Economica (2023). The economic impact of the forestry and wood industry in Europe in terms of bioeconomy, Vienna.
In addition to Austria, representatives of the following countries are participating in WoodPoP: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland – and with observer status Luxembourg and the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Five technical working groups have started work: Governance, led by Austria; Building, led by Germany and Finland; Research and Innovation, led by Switzerland; Education and Training, led by Slovenia; and Communication and Information, led by the Czech Republic.
What's next? Upcoming WoodPoP dates
The 28th International Timber Construction Forum (IHF) will take place in Innsbruck from 4 to 6 December 2024 under the motto ‘From practice – for practice’. All information can be found at https://www.forumholzbau.com/IHF/Programm.php.
The WoodPoP working group ‘Education and Vocational Training’ is organising the ‘IHF Prologue 5’ on 4 December on the topic of ‘Perspectives of the New European Bauhaus Academy on education and training in the timber construction sector’. Know more about Prologue V: https://woodpop.eu/event/28th-international-wood-construction-conference-ihf/
Further Reading
The Austrian Wood Initiative was launched to strengthen the material and energy utilisation of this sustainable raw material. It contains concrete measures and activities at national, European and global level that make efficient and innovative use of wood as a building and construction material as well as an energy source and expand cooperation. WoodPoP has been a measure within the Austrian Timber Construction Initiative since 2022.
Info in German: https://info.bml.gv.at/themen/wald/waldfonds/oesterreichische-holzinitiative.html
Project Brochure in German: https://info.bml.gv.at/service/publikationen/wald/oesterreichische-holzinitiative-2024.html
