A forest-based bioeconomy can replace carbon- and resource-intensive materials with long-lived wood products and advanced bioproducts.
With the right regulation and investment, a forest‑based bioeconomy can support climate and nature goals, rural livelihoods, and low‑carbon industries.
A new publication by 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.
(Vienna, 12 May 2026) Today IUFRO's SciPol Programme presents an Expanded Policy Brief on Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy Approaches at the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) in New York, USA. 34 authors from 13 countries have contributed to this publication consolidating key scientific evidence, policy insights, and practical perspectives on how sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches can be advanced across different contexts worldwide. The Policy Brief is launched at a side-event titled "Vienna Call for Action: The power of forest-based bioeconomy", which is a follow-up to the Global Summit Advancing Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches, held in Vienna, Austria, in February 2026.
In recent years, the urgency of addressing interconnected global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource insecurity, and growing socio-economic inequalities has become increasingly evident. These pressures are further intensified by often inefficient production 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 pathway to address these challenges. It goes beyond wood products and bioenergy, encompassing the full range of forest types, their goods and ecosystem services. Sustainably managed forests can provide renewable materials, bioenergy, and other ecosystem services while supporting livelihoods, strengthening rural economies, and contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
These opportunities are already visible in practice across different regions. From mass timber buildings in cities like Singapore and Amsterdam to national programmes supporting timber construction in Europe, the 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 açaí in the Amazon, show how forests can generate income and innovation, while also requiring strong sustainability safeguards. These examples highlight that successful forest-based bioeconomy pathways depend on context-specific solutions, strong governance, and inclusive value chains.
As IUFRO President ProfessorDaniela Kleinschmit notes, "When grounded in principles of sustainability, equity, and resilience, forest-based bioeconomy strategies can play a central role in advancing circular economies and delivering on multiple global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the Global Biodiversity Framework among others."
Global demand for wood and bio-based materials is expected to continue rising, driven by population growth, urbanization and the transition away from fossil-based resources. Overall material use has more than tripled over the past 50 years and could increase by a further 60% by 2060. Biomass currently supplies roughly a quarter of global material needs. Meeting this demand sustainably will require a combination of strategies, including improved productivity in both natural and planted forests, more efficient manufacturing and higher value use of wood resources, alongside strong governance frameworks to ensure sustainability.
Dr. Nelson Grima, Coordinator of IUFRO's SciPol Programme and co-editor of the publication explains, "This new Policy Brief is intended to inform policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders engaged in the forest sector and the broader bioeconomy transformation. It synthesizes scientific evidence and practical experience to identify actionable policy options that accelerate a sustainable, inclusive, just, and circular forest-based bioeconomy."
Editors: Ivana Živojinović, Nelson Grima, Maja Radosavljević
Lead Authors: (in alphabetical order) Eric Hansen; Tim Payn; Lucia Pittaluga; Ricardo Vargas Carpintero; Ivana Živojinović
Contributing Authors (in alphabetical order) Maria Luiza Almeida Luz; Siebe Briers; Lyndall Bull; Jimmy Chamberlain; Damiano Cilio; Janaína D.A.S. Diniz; Dietrich Darr; Peter Edwards; Herrick Fox; Martin Greimel; Nelson Grima; Stojan Ivanović; Felix Kanungwe Kalaba; Anu Laakkonen; Stefanie Linser; Nataša Lovrić; Robert Mavsar; Kathrin Meinhold; Rajat Panwar; Mi Sun Park; Helga Pülzl; Maja Radosavljević; Radek Rinn; Jörg Schweinle; Carsten Smith-Hall; Daniel Moura da Costa Teixeira; Diana Tomasjukka; Anne Toppinen; Richard Yao
About the Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) of IUFRO:
The Science-Policy Programme (SciPol) of IUFRO provides a mechanism for effectively mobilizing scientific expertise and information to equip governments and intergovernmental processes with solid knowledge for making decisions that affect forests, trees, and land use regionally and globally.
About the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO):
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is a non-profit and non-governmental worldwide network of 15,000 forest scientists across 120 countries, who work together to enhance the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees. Founded in 1892, IUFRO is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
