Wood For Globe

About

WOOD for GLOBE aims at creating a global wood policy platform to support the use of sustainable wood for a carbon-neutral bioeconomy worldwide. The project is led by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Centre for Bioeconomy of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).


High-Level Dialogue "Wood for Globe" - Outcome Statement

Joining efforts to accelerate the adoption of wood-based solutions

The High-Level Dialogue “Wood for Globe: Leading pathways to carbon neutrality and resilience” on 19 July 2024 generated a collective call for scaling-up sustainable wood-based pathways and to join forces to promote enhanced policy and technical dialogue and exchange.


Wood: a potential solution for urgent global challenges

Moving towards a sustainable low-carbon bioeconomy has emerged as a global goal. The forest sector is in a unique position to contribute significantly to the achievement of this goal.

Wood and non-timber forest products and their respective value chains can play an important role in securing people’s livelihoods in rural but also in urban areas. Under the premise that potential negative impacts on forest ecosystems must be avoided, the use of these natural resources can make significant contributions to achieving the global sustainability goals as well as international agreements on climate, biodiversity and combating desertification.

To benefit from these contributions, it is necessary to shape wood policies in a more structured way on the global level. WOOD for GLOBE aims to strengthen wood policy dialogues by exchanging knowledge and good practices and mobilizing scientific evidence to support decision making.


Activities

The project comprises the following main activities:

  • Technical knowledge and policy experience exchange: Convening and connecting policy, technical experts, and practitioners to share “good practice” expertise on priority topics related to sustainable wood use to enable concrete learning and exchange to strengthen networking and exchange practices.
  • Scientific knowledge and experience exchange: Identifying and mobilising scientific expertise to inform policy dialogues and technical exchanges by providing syntheses of latest scientific innovations and knowledge in view of supporting a transition to an increased use of wood as a renewable, climate-neutral resource in circular and resilient economies in global policy.
  • Global and regional policy dialogues: Organising and implementing global and regional policy dialogue on experiences on up-scaling the contribution of sustainable wood-based materials in ways that build on synergies and successfully address potential trade-offs.


Events


WOOD for GLOBE is building on existing initiatives such as:

Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood

The Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood was announced at the XV World Forestry Congress, where country representatives came together in the Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Wood to call for scaling-up sustainable wood-based pathways and committed to join forces together to promote enhanced policy and technical dialogue. They invited the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and members of the Collaborative Partnership of Forests (CPF) to support these efforts. As a member of the CPF, IUFRO answered this call with the proposal of Wood for Globe. Read the Ministerial Call on Sustainable Wood

Access the event recording and press release: https://www.fao.org/event/world-forestry-congress/wfc-programme/special-events/ministerial-forum-on-sustainable-wood---towards-carbon-neutral-and-resilient-economies/en

SW4SW Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World (fao.org)

Wood for Globe is aligned with the CPF Joint Initiative Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World and strives to leverage synergies with SW4SW through close coordination, as well as joint activities and outreach.


Scientific Contributions

After almost one year intensive scientific support and knowledge exchange by six senior and seven junior scientists coming from different countries across the world – Austria, Bangladesh, Chile, Finland, Madagascar and Switzerland – a comprehensive Scientific background paper focusing on wood in construction, textile and packaging sector was developed.It provides insights into country-specific best practices in terms of carbon-neutral bioeconomy and the relevant transferability in other countries as well as Key messages and recommendations.

All this expertise was presented during different international events addressing not only scientific audience but also politicians from various countries worldwide (e.g. the High-Level Dialogue on 19 July 2024 in Rome).

Participation and Presentations at International Events



Further links and information


The project is financed through the Austrian Forest Fund, an initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BML).

If you want to learn more about the project or become involved, please contact:
Janice Burns, burns(at)iufro.org

Social media: #WoodForGlobe