Forests and the bioeconomy: creating opportunities for economic development
Nov 26, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Conference room
Description
Forests contribute significantly to rural economies through the production of timber, non-timber products, tourism, and carbon sequestration. Balancing economic use with ecosystem protection is critical for long-term sustainability and resilience. A forest-based bioeconomy can drive rural and regional revitalisation by creating green jobs, supporting local enterprises, and retaining population in rural areas. It leverages the complete forest value chain—from sustainable management to processing—to deliver bioenergy, wood for construction, textiles, chemicals, packaging, and food ingredients. The rising demand for renewable, forest-based materials is opening up new markets, from long-lived wood construction to bioplastics, which replace fossil-based inputs and help advance climate goals. Successful development requires coherent policy frameworks connecting forestry, rural development, innovation, and industrial transformation. This session will examine how OECD countries are leveraging the forest bioeconomy to foster sustainable growth
