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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=A0IUFRO's S= ciPol Programme presents an=C2=A0Expanded 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 laun= ched at a side-event titled "Vienna Call for Action: The power of forest-base= d bioeconomy", which is a follow-up to the Global Summit=C2=A0Advancing Sustainable Forest-bas= ed Bioeconomy Approaches, held in Vienna, Austria, in February 2026.<= br />
In recent years, the urgency of addressing interconnected global c= hallenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource insecurity, and= growing socio-economic inequalities has become increasingly evident. These p= ressures are further intensified by often inefficient production and consumpt= ion patterns. Consequently, there is a need for transformation to balance eco= nomic development with environmental and biodiversity goals and social well-b= eing.

A forest-based bioeconomy offers a powerful pathway to addre= ss these challenges. It goes beyond wood products and bioenergy, encompassing= the full range of forest types, their goods and ecosystem services. Sustaina= bly managed forests can provide renewable materials, bioenergy, and other eco= system services while supporting livelihoods, strengthening rural economies, = and contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Thes= e opportunities are already visible in practice across different regions. Fro= m mass timber buildings in cities like Singapore and Amsterdam to national pr= ogrammes supporting timber construction in Europe,=C2=A0the use of wood suppo= rted by strong sustainability safeguards is increasing as a low-carbon altern= ative in the built environment. At the same time, value chains based on non-w= ood 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 also requiring s= trong sustainability safeguards. These examples highlight that successful for= est-based bioeconomy pathways depend on context-specific solutions, strong go= vernance, and inclusive value chains.

As IUFRO President Profes= sor Daniela Kleinschmit notes, "When grounded in principles of sus= tainability, equity, and resilience, forest-based bioeconomy strategies can p= lay 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."=C2=A0
Global demand for wood and bio-based materials is expected to conti= nue 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.=C2=A0Biomass = currently supplies roughly a quarter of global material needs.=C2=A0Meeting t= his demand sustainably will require a combination of strategies, including im= proved productivity in both natural and planted forests, more efficient manuf= acturing and higher value use of wood resources, alongside strong governance = frameworks to ensure sustainability.

Dr. Nelson Grima, Coor= dinator of=C2=A0IUFRO's SciPol Programme and co-editor= of the publication explains, "This new Policy Brief is intended to inform po= licymakers, 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."=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 Hansen; Tim Payn; Lucia Pi= ttaluga; Ricardo Vargas Carpintero; Ivana =C5=BDivojinovi=C4=87=C2=A0
Contributing Authors (in alphabetical order) Maria Luiza Almeida L= uz; Siebe Briers; Lyndall Bull; Jimmy Chamberlain; Damiano Cilio; Jana=C3=ADn= a D.A.S. Diniz; Dietrich Darr; Peter Edwards; Herrick Fox; Martin Greimel; Ne= lson Grima; Stojan Ivanovi=C4=87; Felix Kanungwe Kalaba; Anu Laakkonen; Stefa= nie Linser; Nata=C5=A1a Lovri=C4=87; Robert Mavsar; Kathrin Meinhold; Rajat P= anwar; Mi Sun Park; Helga P=C3=BClzl; Maja Radosavljevi=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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M= edia contact: Gerda Wolfrum, wolfr= um(at)iufro.org, +43-664-142-6852

About the Science-Po= licy Programme (SciPol) of IUFRO:

The Science-Policy Prog= ramme (SciPol) of IUFRO provides a mechanism for effectively mobilizing scien= tific expertise and information to equip governments and intergovernmental pr= ocesses with solid knowledge for making decisions that affect forests, trees,= and land use regionally and globally.=C2=A0

Visit:=C2=A0IUFRO: Science-Policy Programme / Science in IUFRO=

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 o= f forests and trees. Founded in 1892, IUFRO is headquartered in Vienna, Austr= ia.=C2=A0

Visit:=C2=A0IUFRO - Home

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<= br />Banner: Optimization of timber to avoid waste. =C2=A9 Nelson Grima