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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=A0IUF= RO's SciPol Programme presents an=C2=A0Expanded Policy Brief on Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy Approaches<= /u> at the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Fores= ts (UNFF21) in New York, USA. 34 authors from 13 countries have contributed t= o this publication consolidating key scientific evidence, policy insights, an= d practical perspectives on how sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approache= s can be advanced across different contexts worldwide. The Policy Brief is la= unched at a side-event titled "Vienna Call for Action: The power of forest-ba= sed bioeconomy", which is a follow-up to the Global Summit=C2=A0Advancing Sustainable Fore= st-based Bioeconomy Approaches, held in Vienna, Austria, in February = 2026.

In recent years, the urgency of addressing interconnected gl= obal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource insecurit= y, and growing socio-economic inequalities has become increasingly evident. T= hese pressures are further intensified by often inefficient production and co= nsumption patterns. Consequently, there is a need for transformation to balan= ce 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, encomp= assing the full range of forest types, their goods and ecosystem services. Su= stainably managed forests can provide renewable materials, bioenergy, and oth= er ecosystem services while supporting livelihoods, strengthening rural econo= mies, and contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

These opportunities are already visible in practice across different region= s. From mass timber buildings in cities like Singapore and Amsterdam to natio= nal 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 also requi= ring strong sustainability safeguards. These examples highlight that successf= ul forest-based bioeconomy pathways depend on context-specific solutions, str= ong governance, and inclusive value chains.

As IUFRO President = Professor Daniela 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 mu= ltiple 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 continue rising, driven by population growth, urbanization and the transit= ion away from fossil-based resources. Overall material use has more than trip= led over the past 50 years and could increase by a further 60% by 2060.=C2=A0= Biomass currently supplies roughly a quarter of global material needs.=C2=A0M= eeting this demand sustainably will require a combination of strategies, incl= uding improved productivity in both natural and planted forests, more efficie= nt manufacturing and higher value use of wood resources, alongside strong gov= ernance frameworks to ensure sustainability.

Dr. Nelson Grima, Coordinator of=C2=A0IUFRO'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 s= ector and the broader bioeconomy transformation. It synthesizes scientific ev= idence and practical experience to identify actionable policy options that ac= celerate 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<= br />
Lead Authors: (in alphabetical order) Eric Hansen; Tim Payn= ; Lucia Pittaluga; Ricardo Vargas Carpintero; Ivana =C5=BDivojinovi=C4=87=C2= =A0

Contributing Authors (in alphabetical order) Maria Luiz= a Almeida Luz; Siebe Briers; Lyndall Bull; Jimmy Chamberlain; Damiano Cilio; = Jana=C3=ADna D.A.S. Diniz; Dietrich Darr; Peter Edwards; Herrick Fox; Martin = Greimel; Nelson Grima; Stojan Ivanovi=C4=87; Felix Kanungwe Kalaba; Anu Laakk= onen; Stefanie Linser; Nata=C5=A1a Lovri=C4=87; Robert Mavsar; Kathrin Meinho= ld; Rajat Panwar; Mi Sun Park; Helga P=C3=BClzl; Maja Radosavljevi=C4=87; Rad= ek Rinn; J=C3=B6rg Schweinle; Carsten Smith-Hall; Daniel Moura da Costa Teixe= ira; 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:

The Science-P= olicy Programme (SciPol) of IUFRO provides a mechanism for effectively mobili= zing scientific expertise and information to equip governments and intergover= nmental processes with solid knowledge for making decisions that affect fores= ts, trees, and land use regionally and globally.=C2=A0

Vis= it:=C2=A0IUFRO: Science-Policy Programme / Science in I= UFRO

About the International Union of Forest Resea= rch Organizations (IUFRO):

The International Union of For= est Research Organizations (IUFRO) is a non-profit and non-governmental world= wide network of 15,000 forest scientists across 120 countries, who work toget= her to enhance the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspec= ts of forests and trees. Founded in 1892, IUFRO is headquartered in Vienna, A= ustria.=C2=A0

Visit:=C2=A0IUFRO - Home

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