## 3 Results
### SWOT Analysis
#### 3.1.1 Strengths  
There is agreement among respondents that the relevance of the forest-wood sector for the Salerno area is of paramount importance for the future implementation of CBE strategies. In a nutshell, interviewees summarize the strengths of the area for the CBE transition in its geographical extension, forestry vocation and tradition of the forest-wood sector, as well as its established industry. Figure 4: Destinations of wood waste and by-products in the Salerno province (N. of respondents). Figure 5: Summary of the SWOT analysis. Notes: RDP = Regional Development Plan; Icons are courtesy of Freepik: [[https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik](https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik)]([https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik](https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik)) (accessed 10 November 2022). The Salerno province possesses a considerable extent of wooded areas, also showing a high diversity of tree species. The botanical portfolio of the area includes species with good technological characteristics, mainly in the form of monospecific forests, that allows the production of quality raw material. Particularly relevant examples are beech (_Fagus sylvatica_), chestnut (_Castanea sativa_) and turkey oak (_Quercus cerris_). This is in line with the Italian national context, where the rich natural heritage, extended wooded area, and the great availability of wood resources, might be crucial for the future development of the sector. In the words of one of the stakeholders:  
_\"The sector's strengths certainly include the considerable land area and biomass available [... ] Furthermore, many forests in the area are mono-specific and this can foster the creation of well-structured supply chains focused on the technological characteristics of a species, such as beech or chestnut\"._  
The availability of economically relevant resources is accompanied by the regular uptake in the Salerno province of sustainable woodland planning, with high compliance with standards for environmental certifications. Due to their ability to absorb and store CO\({}_{2}\) in wood, forests play a key role in the fight against climate change, thus making the adherence to environmental certification schemes a useful strategy in order to increase future market opportunities for firms operating in the sector. As the Salerno area has a natural vocation for forestry activities, several forest-based companies are run by the third generation of entrepreneurs. In addition, these companies hold the highest share of forestry activities in the Campania region and are the largest and most organized firms, thus representing the driving force of the regional forest-wood sector. It is no coincidence that the Salerno province hosts the headquarters of the regional association of forestry companies of Campania (ARIFC), as well as most of its members. In this context, Salerno forest-based companies rely on a solid main market, made up of historical and reliable clients, also including rooted relationships in other Italian regions. One of the entrepreneurs stated the following:  
_\"One strength is the local forestry companies. I represent one of them. We have a long experience behind us, passed down through numerous generations. For example, my company is currently run by me and my brothers, but it started three generations ago, and will involve future generations, because my son and nephews have already been operating there for a few years. By the term 'experience', however, I do not only refer to the professional skills acquired over time, but also to the knowledge of the area in which we operate and the long-standing relationships with local workers. All these elements are crucial for the production process in this sector to continue, but more importantly to continue to grow\"._  
Therefore, as a potential consequence of the long-lasting forestry tradition in the transition into circular bioeconomy strategies, firms may be strong enough to diversify their activities and devote future investments to secondary markets related to CBE.