6.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 152/173
4.
Specific comments: the economic and social role of forests 4.1.
Forests respond to a wide variety of everyday needs, providing raw material for industrial and consumer products, space for recreation, and healthy food for direct household use.
Forests thus play an essential role in both the wood- and non-wood-based bioeconomy, as well as contributing to health and mental well-being.
4.2.
The forest-based bioeconomy rests on diverse value chains, covering forest-owners and many kinds of industries and services, from forest machine and transport entrepreneurs to wood-processing companies, and from local micro-enterprises, cooperatives and SMEs to big international companies.
Consequently, the forest-based bioeconomy provides jobs in many fields and in various locations, with high importance for rural areas.
4.3.
Most roundwood in the EU is used as industrial raw material (logs and pulpwood), while the use of wood for fuel varies considerably between the Members States (5).
Except in the case of printing paper, global demand is predicted to grow for both traditional and new wood-based products.
The EESC recommends ensuring that norms and standards do not hamper, but rather encourage, the use of wood-based products and construction, while also ensuring that consumers are correctly informed about the possible presence of non-wood materials in those products through appropriate labelling.
4.4.
Current good practices suggest that different kinds of trees and different parts of a tree are used for the purpose and products to which they are best suited and, in this way, generate the greatest added value without wasting natural resources.
Much forest-based energy is produced from thinnings, logging residues or side-streams of woodworking.
Pulp mills are a good example of plants that produce electricity and heat as a by-product.
Moreover, side-streams and residues are used as raw materials in existing industrial processes and, increasingly, for new bioproducts.
4.5.
The EESC highlights the importance of intensively developing technologies and solutions for sustainable and climate-resilient biomass production, energy and material efficiency, and circular economy practices across forest-based value chains.
Digital technologies, including AI, have considerable potential to support the development and optimisation of forest management, industrial processes, logistics and interaction between supply-chain partners.
4.6.
The most far-reaching innovations generate new materials and products, including biochemicals, advanced biofuels and textile fibres, some of which are low-volume products with high added value.
As the development of new products is often carried out in the context of current production, traditional production units give rise to new business ecosystems that involve a wide variety of enterprises, particularly SMEs.
4.7.
Development of skills is one prerequisite of the digital and green transition for forest-based activities.
It is also a necessary means to ensure that no one is left behind.
The new demand for skills must be considered in vocational training and university studies, as well as in organising upskilling and reskilling.
Moreover, practical advisory services are needed, to help businesses, especially small enterprises, meet the new requirements.
4.8.
The EESC highlights the role of social dialogue in developing skills and health and safety at work.
Allocating ESF+ funds to enhancing quality jobs and adequate working conditions in the wood-based bioeconomy may help to combat poverty and reduce migration from rural areas.
Poverty reduction also contributes to reducing illegal wood felling, especially for heating purposes.
4.9.
As forest-related jobs are dominated by men and as the average age of people in these jobs is relatively high, it is important to attract more female workers and entrepreneurs, as well as young people, into the sector.
This will require cooperation to develop the image of forestry and forest-based industries, and to increase public awareness of the opportunities provided by the modern bioeconomy.
Solid societal communication is also needed on the ways of and prerequisites for enhancing the vitality and resilience of forests.
(5)
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/12069644/KS-FK-20-001-EN-N.pdf/a7439b01-671b-80ce-85e44d803c44340a?t=1608139005821