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Forest Products Markets in Western European Urbanized Society;the Dutch experience
Nico A. Leek, Consultant wood market
IUFRO Division 5, Taiwan 2007
Introduction
• Changes & developments in the roundwood supply and demand in Western Europe
• Illustrated by the Dutch situation
• The Netherlands is a consumer country:consumption 14 million m3 RWEproduction 1 million m3
• In urbanized societies Agriculture, Forestry and Nature conservation strongly influenced by “urban votes”
Introduction
• Wood Supply influenced by increasing demand for more natural forests
• International NGO’s and government have pushed the forest certification process for SFM and recently for legal origin increased demand for Certified Wood Products (CWP)
North Western Europe
Source: Nota Ruimte 2006
The Dutch Forest
13%2%
13%
10%62%
Infrastructure and building
Recreation areas
Forest and nature areas
Water
Agriculture
Source: CBS
Land use in The Netherlands
The Dutch Forest
Characteristics:
• Total area 360,000 ha
• Relative young
• Fragmented woodlots
• Species composition:coniferous 54%broadleaves 46%
Source: SBB
Population density
484 The Netherlands
246 United Kingdom
231 Germany
110 France
31 USA
20 Sweden
3 Canada
The Dutch Forest
Forest area per inhabitant:
NL 0,022 hectare
UK 0,4 ,,
SW 3,1 ,,
Forest Management
Changes in Forest Management since 1980:
Before: wood production dominant with monocultures and clearcut management in relative young forests
After: Focus on natural processes for more natural variety and improved recreational experience
Forests exclusively for Nature Development and Forests for Multiple Use
Nature Forest Management
• Originally started with non-intervention
• Later on interventions aiming at nature development: > grazing by cattle > simulating storms (& wind damage)> more dead trees> more veteran trees
• In principle management without commercial wood harvesting
Nature Forest Management
Nature Forest management
Nature Forest Management
Integrated Forest Management (IFM)
IFM transforms the Dutch multiple use forests from even-aged single species plantations into small scale mixed, uneven-aged forests with native spp
Wood production of minor importance
Wood harvesting = management tool
Integrated Forest Management
IFM characteristics:
• Selective thinnings, no clearcuts
• Natural regeneration
• Uneven-aged and mixed
• More native, especially deciduous spp
• More dead wood (standing and on the ground)
• Large Dimensioned Trees
Integrated Forest Managementconiferous groupplanting in beech
Integrated Forest Management‘before and after’
Integrated Forest Managementdead wood
Integrated Forest Management‘before and after’
Dutch Forest Policy
“Nature for people, people for nature” 2001, confirms the trends in Dutch forestry:
• Forestry embedded in the Dutch nature conservation policy
• The recent policy supports SFM and strives at 70% of the forest area for multiple-use, 30% for Nature conservation (without wood harvesting)
• Wood harvesting: relevant in relation with SFM and as a part of multiple-use forests; harvest not allowed during nesting-season (from mid March up to July)
Wood Harvesting
Results of 25 years of IFM:
• Improved ecology and nature values, increased variation in forest structure
• Improved recreational benefits, nicer forests
• BUT: wood production and wood harvesting in secondary position
Wood Harvesting
How to create better opportunities for timber harvesting?
The Dutch Forest Based Industries sounded the alarm bell: going East or is there still a future?
Together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality a VISION ON TIMBER HARVESTING was set up tostimulate the use of wood from Dutch woodlands (a set of actions)
Similar trends in Germany: in different Bundeslander cluster studies show the importance of the Forest-Wood chain for the German economy
Forest Certification
Sustainable Forest Management:
• Certification is an effective instrument to communicate about sound Forest Management including wood harvesting
• Sustainability not only implies care for social and environmental aspects but also economic profitability timber harvesting is very crucial
• In NL 140.000 hectares = 40% of the area
Certified Wood Products (CWP)
• Strong support for FSC by NGO’s and politicians
• The Netherlands: a FSC-country; FSC is known by 67% of the public!
• Increasing demand for Certified Wood Products stimulated by FSC and NGO’s
• Dutch Forest Based Industries: not only FSC but also PEFC, CSA, SFI, MTCC….
Certified Wood Products
Source: Probos 2006
Certified Wood Products
Dutch Timber Traders Association:
• In 2009 the origin of all the wood imported by their members is known
• In 2009 75% of the wood imported by their members is from certified forests
Dutch Public Procurement Policy:
• In 2010 public authorities will buy 100% CWP
• Similar developments in UK, Germany, Denmark and Belgium
How to stimulate wood harvesting?
• The Forest Based Industries should consolidate SFM and legal origin in the market (SFM legitimates wood harvesting)
• Acceptation by managers and forest owners that wood harvesting is an effective tool to enhance biodiversity values
• Better cooperation between forest owners; offering “full service contracts” for carrying out timber harvesting operations
Wood for Renewable Energy
Immense additional demand for woody biomass in 2020:
NL: 14 million m3
EU: 340 – 420 million m3
200 – 260 million m3 deficit = 25% of forecasted demand (EU study McKinsey, 2007)
Wood for Renewable Energy
McKinsey study:
To ensure enough supply of biomass, Europe will have to significantly stimulate biomass production and imports:
• Free up land for energy crop production
• Maximize mobilization of wood
• Facilitate overseas supplies
Great impacts on European agriculture, forestry and environmental policies.
Conclusions I
• Society in Western Europe demands for more ‘Nature’ in the forest
• Area of forest NOT available for wood harvesting will increase
• Area of forest that is not producing for the market needs will increase
• Wood consumption will strongly increase, especially for RES significant deficit is expected
Conclusions II
• The Netherlands:- is a large importer- own resource restricted and limited
- BUT 2,5 million m3 increment can contribute substantial in improving self sufficiency- HOWEVER increasing wood harvesting is complex
• Great need to reposition the role of wood harvesting in Nature Oriented Forest Management.
Thanks for your attention
