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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 Sci= Pol Programme presents an=C2=A0= Expanded Policy Brief on Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy Approaches<= /strong> at the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (= UNFF21) in New York, USA. 34 authors from 13 countries have contributed to th= is publication consolidating key scientific evidence, policy insights, and pr= actical perspectives on how sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches ca= n be advanced across different contexts worldwide. The Policy Brief is launch= ed at a side-event titled "Vienna Call for Action: The power of forest-based = 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 policy= makers, practitioners, and stakeholders engaged in the forest sector and the = broader bioeconomy transformation. It synthesizes scientific evidence and pra= ctical experience to identify actionable policy options that accelerate a sus= tainable, inclusive, just, and circular forest-based bioeconomy."=C2=A0
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Download:=C2=A0E= xpanded Policy Brief

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

Le= ad Authors: (in alphabetical order) Eric Hansen; Tim Payn; Lucia Pittalug= a; Ricardo Vargas Carpintero; Ivana =C5=BDivojinovi=C4=87=C2=A0

Contributing Authors (in alphabetical order) Maria Luiza Almeida Luz; Si= ebe Briers; Lyndall Bull; Jimmy Chamberlain; Damiano Cilio; Jana=C3=ADna D.A.= S. Diniz; Dietrich Darr; Peter Edwards; Herrick Fox; Martin Greimel; Nelson G= rima; Stojan Ivanovi=C4=87; Felix Kanungwe Kalaba; Anu Laakkonen; Stefanie Li= nser; Nata=C5=A1a Lovri=C4=87; Robert Mavsar; Kathrin Meinhold; Rajat Panwar;= Mi Sun Park; Helga P=C3=BClzl; Maja Radosavljevi=C4=87; Radek Rinn; J=C3=B6r= g Schweinle; Carsten Smith-Hall; Daniel Moura da Costa Teixeira; Diana Tomasj= ukka; Anne Toppinen; Richard Yao

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Media co= ntact: Gerda Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)i= ufro.org, +43-664-142-6852

About the Science-Policy Pr= ogramme (SciPol) of IUFRO:

The Science-Policy Programme (= SciPol) of IUFRO provides a mechanism for effectively mobilizing scientific e= xpertise and information to equip governments and intergovernmental processes= with solid knowledge for making decisions that affect forests, trees, and la= nd use regionally and globally.=C2=A0

Visit:=C2= =A0IUFRO: Science-Policy Programme / Science in IUFRO
About the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IU= FRO):

The International Union of Forest Research Organiza= tions (IUFRO) is a non-profit and non-governmental worldwide network of 15,00= 0 forest scientists across 120 countries, who work together to enhance the un= derstanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and tre= es. Founded in 1892, IUFRO is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.=C2=A0
Visit:=C2=A0IUFRO - Home

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