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A forest-based bioeconomy can = replace carbon- and resource-intensive materials with long-lived wood product= s and advanced bioproducts.
With the right regulation and investment,= a forest=E2=80=91based bioeconomy can support climate and nature goals, rura= l livelihoods, and low=E2=80=91carbon industries.
A new publication b= y the Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) of the International Union of Forest = Research Organizations (IUFRO) offers guidance to harness the full potential = of forests while safeguarding their ecological integrity globally.=C2=A0

(Vienna, 12 May 2026)=C2=A0Today=C2=A0I= UFRO's SciPol Programme presents an=C2=A0= Expanded Policy Brief on Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy Approac= hes at the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on F= orests (UNFF21) in New York, USA. 34 authors from 13 countries have contribut= ed to this publication consolidating key scientific evidence, policy insights= , and practical perspectives on how sustainable forest-based bioeconomy appro= aches can be advanced across different contexts worldwide. The Policy Brief i= s launched at a side-event titled "Vienna Call for Action: The power of fores= t-based bioeconomy", which is a follow-up to the Global Summit=C2=A0Advancing Sustaina= ble Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches, held in Vienna, Austria, in F= ebruary 2026.

In recent years, the urgency of addressing interconn= ected global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource i= nsecurity, and growing socio-economic inequalities has become increasingly ev= ident. These pressures are further intensified by often inefficient productio= n and consumption patterns. Consequently, there is a need for transformation = to balance economic development with environmental and biodiversity goals and= social well-being.

A forest-based bioeconomy offers a powerful pa= thway to address these challenges. It goes beyond wood products and bioenergy= , encompassing the full range of forest types, their goods and ecosystem serv= ices. Sustainably managed forests can provide renewable materials, bioenergy,= and other ecosystem services while supporting livelihoods, strengthening rur= al economies, and contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
These opportunities are already visible in practice across differen= t regions. From mass timber buildings in cities like Singapore and Amsterdam = to national programmes supporting timber construction in Europe,=C2=A0the use= of wood supported by strong sustainability safeguards is increasing as a low= -carbon alternative in the built environment. At the same time, value chains = based on non-wood forest products, such as baobab in Africa or a=C3=A7a=C3=AD= in the Amazon, show how forests can generate income and innovation, while al= so requiring strong sustainability safeguards. These examples highlight that = successful forest-based bioeconomy pathways depend on context-specific soluti= ons, strong governance, and inclusive value chains.

As IUFRO Presi= dent Professor Daniela Kleinschmit notes, "When grounded in pri= nciples of sustainability, equity, and resilience, forest-based bioeconomy st= rategies can play a central role in advancing circular economies and deliveri= ng on multiple global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goal= s (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the Global Biodiversity Framework among ot= hers."=C2=A0

Global demand for wood and bio-based materials is exp= ected to continue rising, driven by population growth, urbanization and the t= ransition away from fossil-based resources. Overall material use has more tha= n tripled over the past 50 years and could increase by a further 60% by 2060.= =C2=A0Biomass currently supplies roughly a quarter of global material needs.= =C2=A0Meeting this demand sustainably will require a combination of strategie= s, including improved productivity in both natural and planted forests, more = efficient manufacturing and higher value use of wood resources, alongside str= ong governance frameworks to ensure sustainability.

Dr. Nelson = Grima, Coordinator of=C2=A0IUFRO's SciPol Programme<= /u> and co-editor of the publication explains, "This new Policy Brief is = intended to inform policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders engaged in t= he forest sector and the broader bioeconomy transformation. It synthesizes sc= ientific evidence and practical experience to identify actionable policy opti= ons that accelerate a sustainable, inclusive, just, and circular forest-based= bioeconomy."=C2=A0

Download:=C2=A0Expanded Policy Brief

Editors: Ivana =C5=BDivojinovi=C4=87, Nelson Grima, Maja Radosavljevi= =C4=87=C2=A0

Lead Authors: (in alphabetical order) Eric Han= sen; Tim Payn; Lucia Pittaluga; Ricardo Vargas Carpintero; Ivana =C5=BDivojin= ovi=C4=87=C2=A0

Contributing Authors (in alphabetical order= ) Maria Luiza Almeida Luz; Siebe Briers; Lyndall Bull; Jimmy Chamberlain; Dam= iano Cilio; Jana=C3=ADna D.A.S. Diniz; Dietrich Darr; Peter Edwards; Herrick = Fox; Martin Greimel; Nelson Grima; Stojan Ivanovi=C4=87; Felix Kanungwe Kalab= a; Anu Laakkonen; Stefanie Linser; Nata=C5=A1a Lovri=C4=87; Robert Mavsar; Ka= thrin Meinhold; Rajat Panwar; Mi Sun Park; Helga P=C3=BClzl; Maja Radosavljev= i=C4=87; Radek Rinn; J=C3=B6rg Schweinle; Carsten Smith-Hall; Daniel Moura da= Costa Teixeira; Diana Tomasjukka; Anne Toppinen; Richard Yao

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Media contact: Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org, +43-664-142-6852

About the Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) of IUFRO:

T= he Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) of IUFRO provides a mechanism for effect= ively mobilizing scientific expertise and information to equip governments an= d intergovernmental processes with solid knowledge for making decisions that = affect forests, trees, and land use regionally and globally.=C2=A0

Visit:=C2=A0IUFRO: Science-Policy Prog= ramme / Science in IUFRO

About the International U= nion of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO):

The Intern= ational Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is a non-profit and no= n-governmental worldwide network of 15,000 forest scientists across 120 count= ries, who work together to enhance the understanding of the ecological, econo= mic and social aspects of forests and trees. Founded in 1892, IUFRO is headqu= artered in Vienna, Austria.=C2=A0

Visit:=C2=A0IUFRO - Home=

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