Sustainability impact assessment of the forestry-wood chain (EFORWOOD)

 

Summary

The diagram shows one of many possible wood chains starting with the planting of a beech forest, and its subsequent tending and eventual harvesting. This timber is converted into sawn timber which is used to manufacture a solid wood table. This finally ends up many years later at the energy plant.

The main aim of the programme is to assess the long term sustainability of the European forestry wood chain, in relation to the three pillars of sustainability:

• Economic
• Environmental
• Social.

Forests fulfill multiple functions and provide the raw material for a wide range of goods such as timber, fibre and bio-energy, as well as services such as protection of water, soil, biodiversity and recreation. Forestry, forest-based and related industries, including transport, and downstream stakeholders comprise a major economic cluster in Europe.

Through this research, the forest-based sector will be in the front line in identifying means by which the strategic and political decisions on sustainable development currently being discussed all around Europe can be put into practice.

Programme website.

Research objectives

• Collect data and information on simplified wood chains that are representative of operations across Europe
• In collaboration with stakeholders, develop prototype models (tools) that can simulate the forestry wood chain at a regional scale
• Bring tools together to represent the entire European forestry wood chain and use this integrated system to evaluate different future scenarios.

Funders and partners

The programme is funded under the EU ‘Global change and ecosystems’ research activities in the Sixth Framework Programme.

List of partners.

Forest Research involvement

• Full partner
• Contributions to Module 2 (Forest Resources Management) and Module 3 (Forest to Industry Interaction)
• Deputy leader of Module 3, and leader of Work Package 2.3 (Social and Cultural Values)
• Responsible for a British test chain (location to be decided).

Reports

 Social and Cultural Values associated with European Forests in Relation to Key Indicators of Sustainability ^(PDF-283K)

Status

The programme was launched in November 2005. It is a four-year integrated project involving 38 organisations in 18 countries.

Contacts

Forest Research contact

Bill Mason
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY
UK

Tel: +44 (0)131 445 2176
Tel direct: +44 (0)131 445 6953
Email: bill.mason@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

EU programme co-ordinator

Prof. Kaj Rosen
Skogforsk,  The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden
Skogforsk
Uppsala Science Park, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 36 A,
S-751 83 UPPSALA
Sweden
 
Tel: +46 18-18 85 00
Fax: +46 18-18 86 00
Email: kaj.rosen@skogforsk.se