Balance between EU biodiversity and timber-based bioeconomics

The European Union’s biodiversity strategy in 2030 aims to stop biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems, but what does this mean for European timber supply? In the new study, researchers will look at how different modes of implementing strategy conservation goals affect the EU forests and timber-based bioeconomics.

Forests are essential for mitigating climate change. Not only does it allow for carbon sequestration and storage, it also generates bio-based materials and bioenergy that replace fossil fuel-based products and energy sources.

However, recent studies highlight the gap in the juxtaposition of biodiversity conservation and knowledge of forest use for timber-based bioeconomy, including the use of wood as a raw material for various sectors.

In this study published in Global Environmental Change and led by IIASA researcher Fulvio DiFluvio, scientists will explore how different approaches to implementing the EU biodiversity strategy conservation goals will affect the EU wood-based bioeconomics.

Important findings:

Future harvestable biomass is expected to increase in all conservation scenarios. The most balanced scenario would be to allocate the same percentage of protected areas in each member state – growth in timber harvests of up to 24% and net exports of net exports. In the most strict protection scenario, EU wood harvests could still increase by 20%, but net exports of timber products could decrease. A decrease in logging in the EU could lead to increased yields in other global regions, particularly boreal forests.

“Forest management policies are important to balance the role of forests in both biodiversity and bioeconomics,” says Di Fulvio.

“We are trying to lay the foundation for such policies, our study used cutting-edge Globiom models to simulate the impact on timber harvesting and trade under seven different forest conservation scenarios until 2100.

The study highlights that as the EU advances its green deal and decarbonization efforts, policymakers need to leverage synergies to ensure that environmental policies contribute to a resilient and sustainable future for both nature and society.

This study is the result of collaboration between IIASA scientists and several reputable research institutes, including the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Jibaskira University. Finland Institute of Environmental Studies. Finland’s Institute of Natural Resources. Norway’s Institute of Bioeconomics. University of Life Sciences in Norway; Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape.